Student Trainee (Physical Science) Job in Boise, ID

Vacancy No. BOR-CPN-25-PW-12698919-AS Department Bureau of Reclamation
Salary $36,049.00 to $46,868.00 Grade 4 to 4
Perm/Temp Temporary FT/PT Full-time
Open Date 2/27/2025 Close Date 3/13/2025
Job Link Apply Online Who may apply Status Candidates
Locations:
Boise, ID


Summary

Reclamation is seeking a career professional looking for an opportunity to capitalize on their expertise as a Student Trainee (Physical Science). You can make a difference in the West by assisting in meeting increasing water demands while protecting the environment.

Duty Location: Boise, Idahohttps://www.usbr.gov/pn/about/hr/area-information.html

This job is open to

Clarification from the agency

Student Program Eligibles Students who are accepted for enrollment or currently at least half-time enrolled and seeking a degree (high school or college diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, including eligible veterans meeting these criteria.

Duties

  • Performs a wide variety of physical and chemical water quality tests; e.g., pH, electrical conductance, biological oxygen demand, chlorophyll-a, turbidity, bacteria, and total suspended solids. This includes using the following equipment: pH and conductivity meter, oxygen meter, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, turbidimeter, incubators, balances, and centrifuges.
  • Filters and prepares samples for determination of dissolved constituents.
  • Cleans and sterilizes glassware for chemical and biological determinations, and prepares reagents associated with assigned analyses.
  • Assists in collection and measurement of reservoir waters including the operation of a multi-parameter sonde unit and the use of a deep sampler to collect water samples for laboratory analyses.
  • Assists in sample collection, preparation, and analysis. This involves representative water sample collection from water bodies, filtering, and proper preservation of samples. Serves as a deckhand/observer on the boat.

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

To be eligible, you must meet one of the following:

  1. A student who has been accepted for enrollment or is currently enrolled and seeking a degree or certificate in a qualifying educational institution, at least part-time in good academic standing. OR,
  2. An individual who has completed a qualifying career or technical education program which may include Registered Apprenticeship Programs, Job Corps, Climate Corps, AmeriCorps, and Peace Corps or specific Volunteer Service Programs.
You must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S. National.
You must be suitable for federal employment, determined by a background investigation.
You must submit a resume and supporting documentation (see Required Documents).
You must be at least 16 years old at the time of appointment.
Upon appointment, selected candidate(s) will be required to sign a Pathways Participant Agreement.
You must submit eligibility documents for veterans consideration (see Required Documents).
You must meet any minimum education and/or experience requirements (see Qualifications).
You must submit transcript(s) to verify education requirements (see Qualifications/Education).
You will be required to obtain a successful pre-employment physical examination by a licensed physician certifying your ability to perform the duties of this position. A physical exam may not be required if a comparable agency approved examination was performed within the last 12 months. The cost of the exam will be reimbursed by the agency.

Who May Apply:
  • Pathways - Internship NTE


All Interns must meet all eligibility and qualification requirements by the closing date of the announcement, 03/13/2025. In addition, they must continue to meet these eligibility requirements throughout the duration of the appointment. Students that have graduated are not eligible for this position.

Qualifications

GS-04: Completion of 2 academic years post-high school study OR an Associate's degree OR completion of 1 academic year of post high school study and 2 periods of student trainee work experience; or completion of 1 1/2 academic years of post-high school study and 1 period of student trainee work experience OR 1 year of general work experience OR a combination of education and experience."

General work experience shows his/her ability to perform progressively more complex, responsible, or difficult duties; and that shows his/her ability to learn the specific work of this job.

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. The applicant will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

A period of student trainee work experience is equal to 320 hours of work experience.

Academic Year: At the undergraduate level, 30 semester hours or 45 quarter hours is comparable to 1 year of undergraduate education. Four years of progressive study or 120 semester hours meets the degree requirements. At the graduate level, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours.

This position has a positive education requirement for conversion. The required education must lead to a degree with specialization in or directly related to the field in which the student trainee is participating in the Intern program. The degree of specialization in this field must satisfy, on graduation, the specific requirements as listed in the qualification standard for professional engineering positions. Review the positive education requirements at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/0800/all-professional-engineering-positions-0800/ -General Schedule Qualification Standards

The term positive education requirement (also called a basic education requirement) refers to an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) determination that the duties of a scientific, technical, or professional position cannot be performed by an individual that does not have the prescribed minimum education.

The specific qualification requirements for scientific and professional positions must also be met in order to be converted. Please review the specific qualification requirements for scientific and professional positions at: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualification/general-schedule-qualification-standards/#url=GS-PROF

Individuals serving in Intern-Not to Exceed appointments may be non-competitively converted to a permanent position within 180 days of successful completion of the program, but conversion is neither promised nor guaranteed. To be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position, these Interns must also:
  • Be a U.S. Citizen or National;
  • Complete at least 480 hours of work experience acquired through the Internship Program;
  • Complete their degree or certificate requirements;
  • Meet the Office of Personnel Management's qualification standards for the position to which the Intern will be converted (which may include a positive education requirement);
  • Meet all agency and program specific requirements as specified in their individual Participant Agreement;
  • Perform their job successfully as documented through performance evaluations; and
  • Be recommended for conversion by their manager or supervisor.
If converted to permanent or term appointment, the anticipated target position is GS-1399-04; grade level will be determined at the time of conversion, based on the qualifications of the selected candidate and the needs of the organization. The full performance level of the target position will be dependent on the type of position and will be determined at the time of conversion.

Education

Accreditation: Only education from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education is acceptable to meet education requirements or to substitute for experience, if applicable. For additional info, refer to the Office of Personnel Management and U.S. Department of Education.

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. For additional info, refer to the U.S. Network for Education Information.

You will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications, if selected. An official transcript must be sent directly from the University's Registrar's office and must be provided from the institution awarding the degree. Academic transcripts certified by notary publics are NOT official. Official transcripts must be submitted prior to reporting to work as a condition of employment. Failure to submit official transcripts may be grounds for dismissal or rescission of the job offer.

Students must provide a copy of up-to-date transcripts (unofficial) at the end of each academic year, unless requested more frequently by the supervisor or Human Resources Office, for verification of enrollment and academic standing as proof of continuing eligibility for participation in the Intern Program.

Additional information

This is a temporary student internship opportunity under the Pathways Program. The major objective of the Pathways Program is to employ students, giving them a chance to work in a Federal agency and resume or continue their education without interruption caused by financial pressure. Students appointed may work part-time while school is in session and full-time (depending upon the needs of the agency) when students are on a vacation period or whenever the school is officially closed.

For more information about the Pathways Internship program please visit: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/hiring-information/students-recent-graduates/#url=Program-Fact-Sheets

This opportunity is intended for (but not limited to) students and apprentices who are pursuing a degree path, courses, or have the career goal of employment in the field of physical sciences.

You may be required to serve an initial probationary period.

Reclamation has determined that the duties of this position are suitable for telework and you may be allowed to telework with supervisory approval.

DOI uses E-Verify to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. To learn more about E-Verify, including applicant rights and responsibilities, please visit https://www.e-verify.gov/

This position is designated as a LOW RISK position. It requires a fully completed and favorably adjudicated SF85 Background Investigation (T1 or equivalent) that is current (within the last 5 years). This is a condition of employment.

Male applicants born after December 31, 1959 must certify registration with the Selective Service System or that the applicant is exempt from having to do so under the Selective Service Law. Go to: https://www.sss.gov

Additional vacancies may be filled using this job announcement.

Housing is not provided.

Benefits

A career with the U.S. government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.

Review our benefits

Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

How You Will Be Evaluated

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

After the vacancy announcement closes, a Human Resources Office representative will review your application/resume to ensure you meet the basic eligibility and minimum qualification requirements of the job. Your eligibility and qualification status will be based on an assessment questionnaire conducted using qualification standards, your responses to job-related questions, information provided in your resume and required supporting documents (see the Required Documents section). Applicant's answers to questions will be verified against information provided in their online resume. Be sure that the resume clearly supports the responses to all the questions by addressing experience, education and/or training relevant to this position.

Veterans' preference applies to the selection for positions in the Pathways Program. The examination and selection of applicants will be made in accordance with the requirements of 5 CFR 302.

Applicants must make a fair and accurate assessment of their qualifications. Applicants rating themselves higher than is apparent in their description of experience, competencies, skills, and/or education/training OR whose resume/application is incomplete may be removed from employment consideration.

Eligible, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring official in an unranked order by preference status: (1) Preference eligible having a compensable service-connected disability of 10% or more (CPS and CP); (2) Other preference eligible; (XP); (3) Applicants eligible for 5-point veterans' preference (TP); and (4) Applicants not eligible for veteran's preference (NV).

The application questionnaire can be previewed here: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/12698919

Applicants who apply under this job opportunity announcement agree to have their application, associated documents and applicable personal information shared with other Bureaus/Offices within the Department of the Interior (DOI) who have vacancies with the same occupational series, grade, full performance level and in the same geographic location(s). Applying to this announcement does not replace the need to apply to other job opportunity announcements for which you wish to receive consideration. You may choose to opt in of having your information shared with other agencies when applying for this position. If an agency requests a copy of a certificate you are on, you will be notified.

Required Documents

To be considered for this position, applicants are required to submit a resume, an on-line assessment questionnaire, and the following supporting documents, as appropriate:

Resume: Applicants must submit a resume that demonstrates how skills and experiences meet the qualifications and requirements listed in the job announcement to be considered for the job. Each job experience should at least include start and end dates (month and year) and number of hours worked per week. For more information: https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/faq/application/documents/resume/what-to-include/

Transcript(s): All applicants MUST furnish a copy of his/her college transcript(s) (unofficial copy is acceptable), if applicable. Transcripts must include the name of the college or university, specific courses, and the number of semester/quarter hours currently enrolled. A typed list of courses, grades, semester/quarter hours, GPA, etc. will not be accepted. Applicants not currently enrolled must provide a student schedule for the upcoming semester/quarter verifying at least half-time enrollment status. If selected, applicants will be required to provide official college transcripts to verify educational qualifications prior to reporting for work.

Proof of Pathways Eligibility:
As a student, the applicant must show proof such as a letter from his/her accredited U.S. educational institution that verifies:

  • have been accepted for enrollment;
  • the degree/diploma/certification program in which the applicant is enrolled;
  • enrolled at least half-time (as defined by the school);
  • number of semester/quarter hours or class schedule for next semester/quarter; and
  • anticipated graduation date.
As a career or technical participant, the applicant must show proof such as a letter from his/her qualifying career or technical education program that verifies:
  • Participants of AmeriCorps and similar programs are required to fulfill at least 1700 workhours within a twelve (12) month period and those who meet this requirement within ten (10) or eleven (11) months are considered to have successfully completed the program.
DD-214, Certificate of Release from Active Duty, if applicable; Applicants entitled to veterans' preference must provide a copy of his/her DD-214 (Member 4 Copy preferred, including character of service), and should indicate on his/her application materials the type of veterans' preference they are claiming. Veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency.

-- For 5-point veterans' preference, submit a copy of the applicant's DD-214 (Member 4 Copy preferred, including character of service), or an official statement of service from his/her command if he/she is currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves his/her military service was performed under honorable conditions.

-- For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214 (Member 4 Copy preferred, including character of service), and the required documentation requested by this form.

--For information on veteran's eligibility visit: https://www.fedshirevets.gov/hire/hrp/vetguide/index.aspx

SF-50, Notification of Personnel action if the applicant is currently employed with the Bureau of Reclamation.

As part of the on-line application process, applicants may be required to submit supporting documents. Failure to submit the requested supporting documents may result in the applicant not being considered for this position.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Applications (resume, assessment questionnaire, and supporting documentation) for this vacancy MUST be received online BEFORE midnight Eastern Time (Washington, DC time) on 03/13/2025 . To apply, click the blue APPLY ONLINE button at the top of the page.

Do not submit photographs with the application package. Documents with photographs may not be seen by hiring officials - applicant must remove any images from badges, licenses, etc.

Agency contact information

BOR C-PN Region 9 Human Resources Office
Address
Regional Office
Bureau of Reclamation
Regional Office
1150 N. Curtis Road, Suite 100
Boise, ID 83706
US

Next steps

Upon successful submission of the application packet, applicants will receive a confirmation email from USAJOBS. If this email confirmation is not received by the applicant, the application has not yet been accepted by the system.

After all application packages have been received, resumes and transcripts will be reviewed to ensure applicants meet the basic qualification requirements. Each applicant who meets the basic qualifications will be further evaluated on the information provided in the resume and Assessment Questionnaire. Eligible applicants will be referred to the selecting official. After making a tentative job offer, a suitability and/or security background investigation will be conducted. A final job offer is typically made within 40 days after the deadline for applications. Applicants should monitor their status for positions with the Bureau of Reclamation by regularly checking their public status notifications in the USAJOBS profile.


Note: We cannot accept applications on behalf of Federal Agencies. Application instructions are listed within the Job Description.


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