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Recent Graduate Environmental Science Jobs in Tennessee

If you are a recent graduate of a CODA-accredited program but are not yet licensed, you may be ... Earn an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene and qualify for state licensure exams through the ...

If you are a recent graduate of a CODA-accredited program but are not yet licensed, you may be ... Earn an Associate of Science in Dental Hygiene and qualify for state licensure exams through the ...

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Recent Graduate Environmental Science information

What is a recent graduate environmental scientist?

Recent graduate environmental scientists are individuals who have recently completed a degree in environmental science or a closely related field and are beginning their professional careers. They typically work in entry-level positions, assisting with environmental research, data collection, fieldwork, and reporting. Their roles may include monitoring environmental conditions, supporting sustainability initiatives, or helping with regulatory compliance. These positions provide valuable hands-on experience and opportunities to develop specialized skills in the environmental sector.

What are the typical responsibilities of a recent graduate environmental scientist?

As a recent graduate in environmental science, your daily tasks may include collecting and analyzing environmental data, conducting fieldwork and site assessments, assisting with report writing, and supporting senior scientists in research projects. You'll often collaborate with interdisciplinary teams, including engineers, policy experts, and laboratory technicians. Early in your career, you'll have opportunities to develop technical skills, gain exposure to regulatory compliance, and participate in community outreach or public education efforts, all of which can pave the way for advancement in specialized areas.

What is the difference between Recent Graduate Environmental Science vs Environmental Technician?

AspectRecent Graduate Environmental ScienceEnvironmental Technician
Required CredentialsBachelor's degree in environmental science or related fieldBachelor's degree often preferred; certifications like OSHA or EPA may be advantageous
Work EnvironmentLaboratory, fieldwork, research settingsField sites, laboratories, environmental monitoring locations
Employer & Industry UsageUniversities, research institutions, government agencies, environmental consultanciesEnvironmental consulting firms, government agencies, industrial sites
Common Search & Comparison IntentEntry-level roles for recent graduatesEntry-level or early-career environmental monitoring roles

Overall, Recent Graduate Environmental Science roles focus on entry-level research and data analysis, while Environmental Technicians typically perform field sampling and monitoring tasks. Both roles often require similar educational backgrounds but differ in work environment and specific responsibilities.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a recent graduate environmental scientist?

To thrive as a recent graduate in Environmental Science, you need a solid understanding of environmental principles, research methods, and data analysis, typically backed by a bachelor's degree in environmental science or a related field. Familiarity with tools such as GIS software, statistical analysis programs, and laboratory equipment is often required. Strong communication, teamwork, and problem-solving abilities help set candidates apart in this field. These skills are essential for effectively collecting and interpreting data, collaborating with diverse teams, and contributing solutions to environmental challenges.
What are popular job titles related to Recent Graduate Environmental Science jobs in Tennessee? For Recent Graduate Environmental Science jobs in Tennessee, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What cities in Tennessee are hiring for Recent Graduate Environmental Science jobs? Cities in Tennessee with the most Recent Graduate Environmental Science job openings:
Infographic showing various Recent Graduate Environmental Science job openings in Tennessee as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 94% Full Time, and 6% Part Time. Highlights an 94% In-person, and 6% Remote job distribution.

General Engineer (Recent Graduate)

Department of Energy - Agency Wide

Oak Ridge, TN โ€ข On-site, Remote

$50K - $65K/yr

Full-time

Posted 2 days ago

New


Job description

Summary
This position is part of the Office of Science - ORNL Site Office. The Recent Graduates Program is a dynamic, one-year developmental program that promotes careers in the Federal Government to recent graduates. Recent Graduates who successfully complete Program requirements may be eligible for non-competitive conversion to a term or permanent position in the civil service.
Learn more about this agency
Duties
Help
The following are the duties of this position at the GS-9. If you are selected at a lower grade level, you will have the opportunity to learn to perform all these duties and will receive training to help you grow in this position.
As a General Engineer, you will:
  • Research, analyze, interpret, evaluate, and carry out difficult but conventional engineering assignments in support of DOE programs/projects.
  • Conduct preliminary engineering analyses to assist higher graded Federal engineers in accomplishing work on large and complicated projects.
  • Review reports, plans, specifications, change orders, modifications, and other documents prepared by others and apply knowledge of technological advances in the appropriate engineering discipline to identify discrepancies or potential issues.
  • Prepare recurring technical reports to inform stakeholders of status of projects issues that may impact program/project objectives and goals.

WHERE CAN I FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PATHWAYS PROGRAM? For additional information regarding the Pathways Program, please refer to the following website: USAJOBS Help Center | Students & recent graduates
Requirements
Help
Conditions of employment
  • Must be a U.S. Citizen, National, or Foreign National who meets both Immigration and Annual Appropriations Laws.
  • This employer participates in the e-Verify program.
  • Males born after 12/31/1959 must be registered for Selective Service.
  • Suitable for Federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
  • A Pathways Recent Graduate Participant Agreement is required.
  • Recent Graduates serve a trial period for the entire duration of their excepted service appointment.
  • Applicant must provide proof that they have obtained an associate's, bachelor's, master's, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or a certificate from a qualifying educational institution with the previous 2 years.; OR
  • Applicant must provide proof that they have completed a qualifying career or technical education program within the previous 2 years.
  • Veterans precluded by a military service obligation have up to 6 years after completion of degree or certificate to apply.

Qualifications
You must meet the eligibility and qualifications by the closing date of this announcement.
To be eligible for the Pathways Recent Graduate program you must be a:

  • Recent graduate who has completed, within the previous two years, a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program that awards a recognized postsecondary credential (such as a Registered Apprenticeship Program or Job Corps).

-OR-
  • Students who within the closing date of this announcement meet the education requirements and will graduate with a qualifying associates, bachelors, masters, professional, doctorate, vocational, technical degree, or certificate from a qualifying educational institution or completed a qualifying career or technical education program. A student may not be appointed to a position until they have graduated.

-OR-
  • Preference eligible veterans who have been precluded from applying due to their military service obligation begin their two-year eligibility period upon release or discharge from active duty. Eligibility for these veterans cannot exceed six years after degree or certificate completion. You MUST submit a copy of the DD214 showing the duration and dates of service that precluded you from applying due to the military service obligation.

For the GS-07: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-05 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-7 includes:
  • Performing basic engineering work, such as entry-level calculations, measurements, or standard technical analyses; AND
  • Gathering and organizing technical project data from field visits, research, or laboratory tests.

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON EDUCATION: 1 year of graduate-level education. Graduate education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in the position. Please see the information under Education.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON SUPERIOR ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT: Bachelor's degree with superior academic achievement is defined as:(1) Class standing You must be in the upper third of the graduating class in the college, university, or major subdivision based on completed courses, (2) Grade-point average (G.P.A.) You must have 3.0 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on 4 years of education, or as computed based on courses completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum OR 3.5 or higher out of a possible 4.0 based on the average of the required courses completed in the major field or the required courses in the major field completed during the final 2 years of the curriculum, or(3) Election to membership in a national scholastic honor society You are a member of one of the national scholastic honor societies recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies (https://www.achshonor.org/). The Bachelor degree must still show the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in this position.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-7 BASED ON A COMBINATION OF EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent.
For the GS-09: You must have one year of specialized experience at a level of difficulty and responsibility equivalent to the GS-07 grade level in the Federal Service. Specialized experience for this position at the GS-9 includes:
  • Performing routine engineering calculations, technical analyses, or draft designs using standard engineering methods; AND
  • Reviewing or drafting preliminary plans, technical specifications, reports, or engineering test data; AND
  • Gathering and analyzing technical information during studies or field visits to support engineering projects.

OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON EDUCATION: 2 years of progressively higher-level graduate education leading to a master's degree or master's or equivalent graduate degree. Graduate education must provide the knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform in the position. Please see the information under Education.
OR YOU MAY QUALIFY FOR THE GS-9 BASED ON COMBINATION: You may qualify on a combination of education and experience, the total percentage of experience at the required grade level compared to the specialized experience requirement, as well as the percentage of completed education compared to the educational requirement must equal at least 100 percent. Only graduate level education in excess of the first 18 semester hours (27 quarter hours) may be combined to be considered for qualifying education.
Education must be obtained from an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Education
You must meet the following Basic Education Requirement listed below in order to qualify for the 0801 series:
Degree: Engineering. To be acceptable, the program must:
(1) lead to a bachelor's degree in a school of engineering with at least one program accredited by ABET; or
(2) include differential and integral calculus and courses (more advanced than first-year physics and chemistry) in five of the following seven areas of engineering science or physics: (a) statics, dynamics; (b) strength of materials (stress-strain relationships); (c) fluid mechanics, hydraulics; (d) thermodynamics; (e) electrical fields and circuits; (f) nature and properties of materials (relating particle and aggregate structure to properties); and (g) any other comparable area of fundamental engineering science or physics, such as optics, heat transfer, soil mechanics, or electronics.
OR Combination of education and experience college-level education, training, and/or technical experience that furnished: (1) a thorough knowledge of the physical and mathematical sciences underlying engineering, and (2) a good understanding, both theoretical and practical, of the engineering sciences and techniques and their applications to one of the branches of engineering. The adequacy of such background must be demonstrated by one of the following:
  1. Professional registration or licensure Current registration as an Engineer Intern (EI), Engineer in Training (EIT)1, or licensure as a Professional Engineer (PE) by any State, the District of Columbia, Guam, or Puerto Rico. Absent other means of qualifying under this standard, those applicants who achieved such registration by means other than written test (e.g., State grandfather or eminence provisions) are eligible only for positions that are within or closely related to the specialty field of their registration. For example, an applicant who attains registration through a State Board's eminence provision as a manufacturing engineer typically would be rated eligible only for manufacturing engineering positions.
  2. Written Test Evidence of having successfully passed the Fundamentals of Engineering (FE)2 examination or any other written test required for professional registration by an engineering licensure board in the various States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico.
  3. Specified academic courses Successful completion of at least 60 semester hours of courses in the physical, mathematical, and engineering sciences and that included the courses specified in the basic requirements under paragraph A. The courses must be fully acceptable toward meeting the requirements of an engineering program as described in paragraph A.
  4. Related curriculum Successful completion of a curriculum leading to a bachelor's degree in an appropriate scientific field, e.g., engineering technology, physics, chemistry, architecture, computer science, mathematics, hydrology, or geology, may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor's degree in engineering, provided the applicant has had at least 1 year of professional engineering experience acquired under professional engineering supervision and guidance. Ordinarily there should be either an established plan of intensive training to develop professional engineering competence, or several years of prior professional engineering-type experience, e.g., in interdisciplinary positions. (The above examples of related curricula are not all-inclusive.)

FOREIGN EDUCATION: Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the requirements. You must show proof the education credentials have been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in a conventional U.S. education program. It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying. For special instructions pertaining to foreign education and a list of organizations that can evaluate foreign education, see the Department of Education website. If you are qualifying on foreign education, you MUST submit proof of creditability of education as evaluated by a credentialing agency. Refer to OPM Instructions.
What constitutes a valid certificate program: The Pathways Programs regulation (see 5 CFR 362.102) defines certificate program as post-secondary education at either:
  • A qualifying educational institution (trade or vocational school, 2-year or 4-year college or university, or graduate or professional school) 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
  • A qualifying career or technical education program of at least one year that awards a recognized postsecondary credential.

What types of programs would meet the eligibility criteria for a qualifying career or technical education program?
Three types of programs meet these criteria:
  • Federally administered educational programs that provide rigorous academic content, technical skill proficiency, and a recognized postsecondary credential to prepare the individual for further education and/or a career in a current or emerging profession.;
  • Registered Apprenticeship Programs; and
  • Federally administered local, state, national, or international volunteer service programs.

What is a Federally administered career or technical education program?
A Federally administered career or technical education program is subject to programmatic oversight by a federal agency that includes:
  • The nature and scope of work to be performed by participants,
  • The type(s) and scope of training to be provided to participants,
  • The types of skills participants will acquire or develop during the program (e.g., teaching, environmental, business, scientific, public health/health care, languages),
  • The level and extent of mentoring participants will receive, and
  • The metrics for successful completion of the program.

Programmatic oversight may be reflected in partnership or cooperative agreements.
Additional information
  • We may select from this announcement or any other source to fill one or more vacancies.
  • This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill