Sea Turtle Data Analysis and Research Support

Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support real Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience and valuable career-ready skills. The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration aligning with each agency's strategic priorities.

Major duties

Work Schedule and Flexibilities: 20 hours per week, part-time, Remote (100% work off site) Number of Positions: 2 Term: Spring 2027 (90 day term between mid-January and mid-June) This vacancy will be open until Thursday, October 29th, 2026 at 11:59pm ET or until 50 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages. Two student volunteers will collaborate with the Chief of the Division of Sea Turtle Science and Recovery (STSR), a renowned Kemp's ridley sea turtle expert, and a secondary Supervisor to organize and analyze specified endangered species data and draft a scientific manuscript for submission in a peer-reviewed journal. The students will utilize a backlog of previously collected data to disseminate the results of decades of research and monitoring by the STSR program. The students will utilize R, ArcGIS, and statistical modelling to analyze and process large datasets. In return, the STSR Chief and a secondary Supervisor will provide the endangered species data, share their scientific and federal career expertise, foster the students' scientific writing development, provide historic context for the project, and fund the manuscript's submission. Due to the confidentiality of the endangered species data, a signed data sharing agreement will be required. The STSR Division Chief will be lead author on any resulting publications, posters, and presentations. The students' co-authorship positions will be ranked according to contributions. Duties: Data Entry and Management Statistical Analysis Scientific Writing Monitoring a Government Email The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program, as authorized under 5 U.S.C §31114 and 5 CFR Part 3085, enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration. These assignments are designed to align with each agency's strategic priorities, offering participants practical experience within Federal operations while supporting the advancement of targeted initiatives.

Qualifications

Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should have: Possess a Bachelor's degree in Biology or related field and be pursuing a Master's degree in Biology or related field Proficiency in R, ArcGIS, and statistical modelling; Experience with Microsoft Office products (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) Experience with Microsoft Outlook and Teams Experience in scientific or technical report writing

Education

To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution. You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification.

Requirements

Conditions of employment To participate in this Program:

• Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad
• Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution (at least undergraduate or above) throughout the 90 day Semester of Service opportunity. Students graduating before May 1, 2027 are not eligible. Selectees will be responsible for contacting a school official to sign a Semester of Service approval form indicating you are currently enrolled at least half-time and in good academic standing. Qualifying educational institutions must be located within the United States.
• Be in good academic standing as defined by your institution.
• Commit to volunteering 8 - 20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days.
• Complete all required onboarding documentation assigned by the Department of the Interior and your academic institution.
• Agree to volunteer. This position is unpaid. No compensation, stipends, or hiring preference will be granted from this work. You may use this volunteer experience to qualify for future jobs you choose to apply for.
• Agree to understanding volunteers are not Federal employees.
• Not be a current federal employee. Current federal employees can reach out to the contact below to inquire about job detail opportunities.