Clarification from the agency

Current Students

Work Schedule and Flexibilities:

Work schedule: 8-20 hours per week depending on the week, potentially some field work which would require invitational travel.

In-person work.

Project Description:

Research support mainly for a Great Lakes Fishery Commission funded cohabitation study to determine if melanoma cancer is transmissible in brown bullhead. The study will begin mid-May and last 6 months, but the student's help for a single academic term (summer) would be sufficient. Duties include:

• Helping with fish care and data collection during the experiment but would also get the opportunity to work on other ongoing collaborative studies with things such as extracting DNA/RNA from samples waiting to be extracted
• Helping with field sampling fish for different projects
• Helping with histology related lab work.

Conditions of employment

To participate in this Program, you must:

• Be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National studying in the U.S. or abroad. International students on valid visas may participate if they meet applicable immigration, visa, and agency authorities.

• Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution.

• 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.

Qualifications

Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should have: An interest in science and research, everything else can be taught on the job. Training will be required and provided for certain activities such as laboratory safety, first aid/CPR for field work, defensive driving course, basic laboratory skills such as pipetting, RNA/DNA extractions, PCR, immunohistochemistry, histology, etc., basic field sampling skills such as fish necropsy and sample collection best practices.

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.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

Your application will be evaluated by DOI personnel to determine your eligibility for the position and your application will be forwarded to the opportunity manager for review.

To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:

1. Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing:

   - Your work experience including start and end dates.

   - Education information, such as the name of your school and dates of attendance.

   - Any knowledge, skills or abilities you've gained through education that relate to the project.

2. Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution.

Next steps