Multi-Year Internship - Student Trainee (Life Science, Engineering, Physical Science)

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Requirements

Conditions of Employment

• You must submit transcripts & proof of enrollment--see Required Documents.
• You must be enrolled at least half-time during your appointment.
• You must be age 16 or older.
• If you are selected, a written participant agreement must be signed.
• You must submit a resume and required documents--see How to Apply section.
• You must be a U.S. citizen.
  
  

If you are selected, the entire period served under the Internship Program will be a trial period.

This position is designated as Low Risk and requires a background investigation. Unless an appropriate background investigation is already on record with the Office of Personnel Management, you must undergo a background investigation. All conditions of the pre-employment security process must be met before an official letter of employment can be issued with a report for duty date.

You must have and maintain good academic standing as defined by your academic institution (typically a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0).

You must be enrolled at least half-time and maintain at least a half-time course load as defined by your academic institution (typically 6 undergraduate credit hours or 4.5 graduate credit hours per semester).

Qualifications

NOTE: You must meet qualification requirements by the closing date of this announcement.

In Addition To The Eligibility Requirements For The Pathways Internship Program, Pathways Interns Qualify For An Initial Appointment Based On Their Educational Achievements As Described Below:

To qualify for the GS-04 level, you need to have completed two full academic years of post-high school study or an associate’s degree.

To qualify for the GS-05 level, you need to have completed four academic years of post-high school leading to a bachelor’s degree or equivalent degree.

NOTE: One full academic year of education is the number of credit hours determined by the college, university, or school to represent one year of full-time study.

Additional information

If you are graduating from your present course of study at the end of the current semester/quarter: You may be hired prior to graduation; however, to continue in this program after graduation, you must be continuing your education next semester/quarter and be accepted for enrollment seeking a diploma, certificate, bachelor’s degree, graduate degree, or professional degree from a qualifying educational institution on a full- or half-time basis.

Except in special circumstances, those new to the federal government will be hired at the starting salary (step 1) of the applicable grade range listed in the Overview section.

EPA participates in E-Verify. E-Verify is an Internet based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that enables participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of their newly hired employees. For additional information: EPA Announcement Policies and Procedures.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are core values at EPA. Our excellence can only be fully realized by staff who share our commitment to these values. Successful candidates are committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the Agency’s workplace and mission. We encourage applications from candidates with a variety of personal experiences, values, and worldviews that arise from differences of culture and circumstance. At EPA, diversity is a vital element in bringing a balance of perspectives to bear on every challenge we face. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce because we know that the individual strengths and abilities of our employees make us a stronger organization. The more inclusive our employee base is, the greater the variety of ideas that are generated, and the more representative we are of the nation we serve. To learn more about how EPA values and supports our diverse workforce, visit Equal Opportunity Employment at EPA.

Interns without not-to-exceed dates who successfully complete the program may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service without further competition; however, if you are being considered for conversion to a position that has positive education requirements, you must be enrolled in a degree program directly related to the position’s duties to be eligible for conversion to that position. The grade level you may be converted to will be dependent on the grade for which you qualify (based on your education and/or experience), but the grade level can be no higher than the promotion potential indicated in this announcement.

NOTE: To be eligible for conversion, you must complete 640 hours of work (if you meet all required criteria, up to 320 hours may be waived if: (1) you complete 320 hours of career-related work experience under an Internship Program appointment and have demonstrated high potential by outstanding academic achievement and exceptional job performance; or (2) you complete comparable non-federal internship experience in a field or functional area related to your target position).

If you are selected, travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will not be paid by EPA. Any travel, transportation, and relocation expenses associated with reporting to work in this position will be your responsibility.

This position is in the bargaining unit.

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• Help Help 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.
  
  

Join EPA in protecting human health and the environment and enjoy many work life quality options! Working for the EPA offers you a comprehensive benefits package that includes, in part, paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, life insurance, health benefits, and participation in the Federal Employees Retirement System. To learn more about us, visit Life and Careers at EPA.

EPA offers workplace flexibilities as described on the EPA Benefits page. These flexibilities are not guaranteed, and eligibility will be determined in accordance with position requirements, policy, and/or applicable Collective Bargaining Agreement after you are hired.

This position has portable work. If selected for this position, you may be eligible for partial work-from-home flexibilities after meeting eligibility requirements, as allowable by agency policy and/or applicable collective bargaining agreement.

PUBLIC SERVICE LOAN FORGIVENESS (PSLF): As a federal employee, you may be eligible for student loan forgiveness under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The PSLF program forgives the remaining balance on federal Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying payments while working full-time for a qualifying employer, including EPA. Learn more: pslf.gov

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.