The incumbent of this position will be part of the Pathways Program as a Student Intern for a temporary duration of time. This program is designed to provide students enrolled in a variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while still in school.

Duties

The duties may include, but are not limited to: Preparing specimens to be kept in a collection, labeling, handling, orienting, and processing entomology, botany, or pathology specimens with complete accession information. Adding all relevant information about specimens to an electronic database. Sorting identified specimens to the lowest taxonomic level. Photographing specimens and archiving images in the batabase. Examining the collection on a regular basis, and replacing old or unusable specimens with fresh, high quality specimens. Maintaining collections in clean, orderly, and pest-free state, communicating with the identifiers about material and possible steps to take in order to curate them adequately. Participating in field trapping, collection, and detection of insects and other agricultural pests as necessary.

Requirements

• You must be a US Citizen or US National.
• Individuals who were born male after 12/31/1959 must be Selective Service registered or exempt.
• Must be in good academic standing as defined by their academic institution.
• Complete at least 640 hrs of work experience prior to completion of degree.
• Enrolled at least half-time at a qualifying educational institution.
• A signed participant agreement is required for employment under Pathways.
• Satisfactory Background investigation and/or fingerprint check.
• Successful completion of two-year trial period.
• Direct Deposit: Per Public Law 104-134 all Federal employees are required to have federal payments made by direct deposit to their financial institution.
• Successfully pass the E-Verify employment verification check. To learn more about E-Verify, including your rights and responsibilities, visit https://www.e-verify.gov/
• Must be available to work a regular schedule when classes are in session as well as during scheduled breaks.
• All USDA employees are required to be enrolled in Continuous Vetting, which authorizes government agencies to receive notifications of criminal activity on individuals who hold low risk, public trust, or national security positions.
• The incumbent will handle chemicals normally associated with collections of specimens, and will be required to use gloves, dust masks, and other personal protective equipment.

Qualifications

Applicants must meet all qualifications and eligibility requirements by the closing date of the announcement, including specialized experience and/or education, as defined below. ELIGIBILITY: Students who are currently enrolled or accepted for enrollment on at least a half-time basis at a qualifying educational institution in a certificate, degree, or diploma program. Applicants can qualify by meeting the EDUCATION requirements specified below. EDUCATION: GS-4: Completion of 2 full academic years (60 semester or 90 quarter hours) of post-high school study or an associate's degree. Preferred fields of study: Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, or chemistry

Education

Upon graduation and completion of internship, you must meet the following requirement to be eligible for conversion to a permanent or term position:

Plant Protection and Quarantine Technician, 0421 series. Education requirements for conversion: Successful completion of 4 years of study that included at least 16 semester hours in courses such as: biology, plant pathology, entomology, zoology, botany, forestry, chemistry, agriculture, or physics or one year of specialized experience equivalent to a GS-04.

OR

Plant Protection and Quarantine Officer, 0401 series. Education requirements for conversion: Degree in Biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or related disciplines appropriate to the position, or courses equivalent to a major in a degree shown above, plus appropriate experience or additional education.

Contacts

• Address Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service USDA APHIS MRPBS 250 Marquette Avenue, Suite 410 Minneapolis, MN 55401 US
• Name: MRP Human Resources
• Phone: 612-336-3227
• Email: [email protected]