Student Trainee (Biological Science) null

Your role

Summary:

This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), Plains Area (PA), at the Hard Winter Wheat Genetics Research Unit in Manhattan, KS. In this position, you will help to develop and provide genetic solutions to several economically important biotic and abiotic stress problems in hard winter wheat.

Duties:

• Performs routine and recurring techniques and studies using a variety of specialized equipment.
• Keeps details records of experimental data.
• Tabulates and summarizes data using personal computers and software packages.
• Maintains the inventory of chemicals, and prepares solutions, and reagents for use in the laboratory, field, or greenhouse.

About you

Requirements

Conditions of Employment:

• Males born after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Must be in good academic standing and hold a GPA of at least 2.0.
• Complete at least 640 hours of work experience before completion of the degree.
• Enrolled at least half-time at a qualifying educational institution.
• If selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Student Internship Participant Agreement before the entrance-on-duty date.
• Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of a two-year trial period.
• Direct Deposit – Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities.
• Must be a U.S. citizen before non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position.
• U.S. citizens and nationals and permanent residents and foreign nationals must meet immigration law and appropriations law requirements concerning employment.
• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements by 11:59 pm Eastern Time on the closing date of the announcement. Program Eligibility Requirements Applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment from a qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis. Applicants must be seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) and be in good academic standing (GPA of 2.0 or equivalent) throughout their program. Please see "Required Documents". The duties of the position must be related to either the student's academic or career goals.

Pathways Eligibility:

• All applicants must be currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a student on at least a half-time schedule at a qualifying educational institution in a certificate, degree, or diploma program.
• All applicants must have academic or career goals that are related to the duties and responsibilities of the position, which include related to plant biology, plant genetics/breeding, or agricultural science/agronomy.

GS-02, GS-03 & GS-04:

• Education: Completion of high school or GED diploma.
• Education: Completion of I full academic year of post-high school study.
• Education: Completion of 2 full academic years of post-high school study or an associate's degree.

Other Considerations:

• Motor Vehicle or Commercial Driver's License Required.
• Applicants will be assessed/evaluated through the application of the agency-developed qualification standard for internship positions, which is based solely on the level of education.

Compensation & benefits

The salary for the role ranges from $34,803 - $45,982 per year.

If you join as a full-time employee, you will get the following benefits:

• Competitive annual salaries with cost of living increases
• Promotional opportunities
• Vacation and sick leave
• Health and life insurance
• Retirement plan
• 401K equivalent, with up to a 5% matching government contribution
• 10 paid federal holidays
• Family Friendly Leave
• Flexible hours and alternate work schedules
• Telework arrangements may be available
• Possible student loan repayment
• Recruitment and Relocation Bonuses may be offered for difficult-to-fill positions
• Join ARS to tackle agricultural challenges and help secure food, fibre, feed, and fuel for future generations in a diverse and impactful community.

Training & develpoment

As part of the USDA Pathways Programs, students and recent graduates are encouraged to engage in professional development through networking, mentoring, training, and career planning.

Career progression

Upon successful completion of the Pathways Student Internship Program, an intern may be non-competitively converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service and may be converted to a position with a promotion potential higher than that of the internship position. Please note that conversion to the competitive service is not mandatory or guaranteed for participants.

How to apply

You must complete this application process and submit all required documents electronically by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the closing date of this announcement.

Applying online is highly encouraged. They are available to assist you during business hours (normally 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday). If applying online poses a hardship, contact the Agency Contact listed below well before the closing date for an alternate method. All hardship application packages must be complete and submitted no later than noon ET on the closing date of the announcement to be entered into the system before its closing.

Source

The following sources were used in researching this page:

• intern.usajobs.gov
• youtube.com/@USDARD
• help.usajobs.gov/working-in-government/benefits
• ams.usda.gov/about-ams/careers/student-opportunities-T&D