Summary
Make an impact while you learn. The Semester of Service Program offers students a volunteer project-based opportunity to support real Federal missions, gaining hands-on experience and valuable career-ready skills. The government-wide "Semester of Service" Student Volunteer Program enables Federal agencies to engage students in unpaid, project-based assignments of limited duration aligning with each agency's strategic priorities.
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Duties
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Work Schedule and Flexibilities:
8 - 20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days
In office (or work site) only
Number of Positions: 1
Term(s): Fall 2026 (90 day term between August 15 - December 15)
This vacancy will be open until Wednesday, July 15th at 11:59pm ET or until 50 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages.
The U.S. Geological Survey Mercury, Metals, and Microplastics (M3) Research Laboratory is seeking a student volunteer to assist with method development and analysis for microplastics detection in waters and biological tissues. As part of this opportunity the student will receive hands on training within a federal laboratory and work with cutting-edge instrumentation. The goal of this volunteer opportunity is to aid in sample preparation methods for microplastics in waters and tissues from the National Park Service Great Lakes Inventory & Monitoring Network. The objective is for the student to complete sample processing and analysis of environmental samples and prepare a simple report to laboratory management. The student will also be involved with the eventual publication of the work. Milestones as part of this volunteer program include developing competency for general laboratory tasks (i.e., pipetting, working with chemicals, and sample processing), learning how to operate analytical instrumentation (i.e., infrared and Raman spectroscopy), learning data quality control and assurance methods (as outlined in the USGS QMS), and improving data visualization skills. This work supports the following secretarial (SO) and executive (EO) priorities: (1) SO 3441-restoring the gold standard of science by developing transparent and broadly applicable analytical methods that aid in the development of data driven decision making, (2) EO 14212-supporting the "Make America Healthy Again" initiative by assessing the distribution of an environmental microplastics, which was recently included list of contaminants for drinking water, and (3) EO 14314 by supporting science in our National Park system that provides data to managers for the conservation and use of our public lands.
Requirements
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Conditions of employment
To participate in this Program, you must:
- Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National. Any remote work must be completed domestically within the United States.
- Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution (at least Bachelor's degree or above) throughout the 90 day Semester of Service opportunity. Students graduating before December 1, 2026 are not eligible.
- Qualifying educational institutions must be located within the United States.
- 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.
- Not be a current federal employee. Current federal employees can reach out to the contact below to inquire about job detail opportunities.
Qualifications
Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs. Specifically, applicants should:
- Be enrolled for a bachelor's degree or above with coursework in General Biology, Chemistry, Environmental Science, or related fields.
Education
To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited college, university, or other accredited educational institution (Bachelor's degree or above). You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification.
Additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
Benefits
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This is an unpaid volunteer experience. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than injury compensation and laws related to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and service is not creditable for leave accrual or other employee benefits.
- Professional experience: Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision and federal mentorship.
- Skill Development: Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
- Career Exploration: Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
- Protection and support.
- Coverage under Federal Tort Claims Act
- Workers' compensation for service-related injuries
- Structured onboarding and ongoing supervision