Student Trainee (Biological Sciences)

The Pathways Internship Program connects current college students to paid internships, throughout the Department of the Interior. The program offers structured training, professional development, and meaningful hands-on experience, preparing interns for an impactful career in public service and offers a direct pipeline to full-time employment upon graduation. Interns may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment.

Major duties

GS-07: $50,460-$65,599 GS-09: $61,722-$80,243 First time hires to the Federal government normally start at step 1 rate. Some of the major duties you will perform include but are not limited to the following: Participates in the planning and execution of studies and assessments concerning biological, chemical, and physical processes that affect ecosystems. Coordinates, collects and processes field specimens for analysis according to established procedures, methods and techniques. Performs preliminary analysis of quantitative and qualitative data using established methods and software in ways that support project needs. Maintains computer databases; conducts geospatial analysis; and gathers, analyzes, tabulates and summarizes scientific, programmatic, and/or budgetary data. Participate in partnerships/collaborative groups and meet with partners, stakeholders and general public to communicate mission. Utilizes established data visualization methods and techniques to accurately and effectively communicate data and data analysis findings to various audiences. Duties will be developmental in nature when filled below the full performance level. This is an indefinite, Excepted Service appointment that may continue if you continue to meet the eligibility requirements under the Pathways Internship program and funding is available. Physical Demands: The work may involve a varied amount of field work. When engaged in field activities, the work is at times strenuous, requiring exertion such as walking over wet, rough, uneven or rocky surfaces; bending, crouching, stooping, stretching, reaching, or similar activities. The work requires average agility and dexterity. Travel to remote study sites may be required via boats, small aircraft, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and/or on foot. Extended periods of camping in tents or cabins in remote field camps may occur. Incumbent must be able to cope with the pressure of short time deadlines, responsibilities of logistics to remote areas, cultural conflicts, and adverse weather conditions. The incumbent may be required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds. Work Environment: The work requires both office and outdoor work. The office is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. The work requires both office and outdoor work. The office is adequately lighted, heated and ventilated. Frequent travel by various means of surface and air transportation is required to attend meetings and to conduct field work. A variety of temperature and weather extremes may be encountered while in the field. The incumbent may be subject to large numbers of biting insects and may be required to work in close proximity to large animals such as deer, elk, bear and moose. In addition, the incumbent may be exposed to work situations involving hazardous substances, and must comply with FWS health and safety policies, including use of appropriate safety clothing and equipment. Following proper safety training and in limited instances, he/she may need to carry a firearm for personal protection from wildlife. The incumbent is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow workers, or property. The duties of this position are suitable for telework and the selectee may be allowed to telework with supervisor approval.

Qualifications

All qualifications must be met by the closing date of this announcement-10/15/2026-unless otherwise stated in this vacancy announcement. To be eligible for a Pathways Program internship program, you must meet the following requirements: You must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled in a degree or certificate program on a full or half-time basis as defined by the school (certificate program means post-secondary education, in a qualifying educational institution, equivalent to at least one academic year of full-time study that is part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum), or career or technical education programs, (which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps); AND Enrollment is with a qualifying educational institution such as a high school or state-approved homeschool; or accredited technical or vocational school; a 2- or 4-year college or university; a graduate or professional school (e.g., law school, medical school); or a post-secondary home school curriculum; AND Must be in good academic standing; AND You must continue to meet these eligibility requirements throughout the duration of your appointment under the Pathways Internship Program. The duties of this position should be related to your academic or career goals. This internship is geared toward students majoring in one of the following areas of study: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related fields. To qualify for this position at the GS-07 grade level: EXPERIENCE: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Conduct biological monitoring and research wildlife (birds and mammals); write technical reports on a specific topic or project; gather biological data and organize information for further analysis; conduct statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics and frequencies or produce written, oral and visual media products to disseminate research results. You must include hours per week worked.-OR- EDUCATION: Successful completion of at least one (1) full year of graduate study in one of the following fields:biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related fields. (One year of graduate education is 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours). You must include transcripts. -OR- Superior Academic Achievement (SAA): Successfully completed a bachelor's degree in a directly related field AND meet one of the following: (1) Class Standing: rank in the upper 3rd of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision, based on the completed courses; OR (2) Grade-Point Average (GPA): earn a GPA of (a) 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on 4 years of education, or based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum -or- (b) 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 ("B" or better) based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field, or the required courses completed during the final two years. Note: GPA will be rounded to one decimal place, for example, 2.95 = 3.0, 2.94 = 2.9; OR (3) Membership in a National Scholastic Honor Society.-OR- Combination of Education and Experience: You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first year or 18 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. Add the two percentages. The total percentage must equal at least 100% to qualify. You must include hours per week worked and transcripts. To qualify for this position at the GS-09 grade level: EXPERIENCE: You must possess at least one full year of specialized experience comparable in scope and responsibility to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal service (obtained in either the public or private sectors). Examples of specialized experience include but are not limited to: Assisted with planning, permitting, or implementing habitat restoration projects along Great Lakes shorelines or within adjoining tributaries; Participated as part of a partnership or collaborative conservation effort with representatives from Tribal, State, non-profit or University organizations; Gathered, organized, summarized and presented biological, ecological, or public use data to a variety of audiences; Used a variety of methods and techniques for coastal habitat restoration including monitoring and removing invasive plant species, seeding or planting native vegetation, or restoring wetland through dike, tile, or culvert removal.-OR- Education: Successful completion of Master's Degree or equivalent or at least two full academic years of graduate education related to the occupation, or a master's or equivalent graduate degree or LL.B. or J.D. Directly related graduate study include: biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related fields (Two years of graduate education is defined as 36 semester hours). You must include transcripts. -OR- Combination of education and experience: You must have equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate level education (in excess of the first year or 18 semester hours) and specialized experience to meet total experience requirements. You must include hours per week worked and transcripts. Volunteer Experience: Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

Education

PROOF OF EDUCATION: All applicants must submit copies of official or unofficial transcripts which include grades, credit hours earned, major(s), grade point average or class ranking, academic standing, institution name, and student name. If any required coursework is not easily recognizable on transcripts, or if you believe a portion of a particular course can be credited toward meeting an educational requirement, you must also provide a memorandum on letterhead from the institution's registrar, dean, or other appropriate official stating the percentage of the course that should be considered to meet the requirement and the equivalent number of units. Unofficial transcripts are acceptable; however, if you are selected for the position, you will be required to produce the original official transcripts. PASS/FAIL COURSES: If more than 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass/fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society. GRADUATE EDUCATION: One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study. Foreign Education: To receive credit for education completed outside the United States, you must show proof that the education has been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and such education has been deemed at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs. Recognition of Foreign Qualifications | U.S. Department of Education.https://www.ed.gov/about/initiatives/international-affairs/recognition-of-foreign-qualification

Requirements

Must provide proof of U.S. citizenship or Foreign National who meets both Immigration and Annual Appropriations Laws. Appointment subject to background investigation and favorable adjudication. Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service. Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more, visit www.dhs.gov/EVerify/. Selectee will be required to participate in the Direct Deposit Electronics Funds Transfer Program. Must have and maintain a valid driver's license throughout employment. You will be required to sign a Pathways Internship Participant Agreement. You are required to wear a uniform and comply with the uniform standards. A uniform allowance will be provided. You are required to complete training, obtain and maintain a government credit card with travel and purchase authority. Housing may be available for this position. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, the duration of the Pathways Internship in the excepted service is counted as a trial period. During this time, your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest will be evaluated. This trial period is an extension of the appointment process and therefore requires the agency to determine if continued employment would advance the public interest, meet the organization goals and mission of the agency, and/or otherwise promote the efficiency of the service. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, the agency will consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Under applicable law, the employment of an individual serving a probationary or trial period automatically terminates when that period ends unless the agency affirmatively certifies, in writing, that the individual's employment should continue and that their appointment should be finalized. In the absence of agency action to affirmatively certify continued employment beyond the probationary or trial period, such appointments are terminated. Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.