Trainee Ai Researcher Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Summary
The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) invites students to apply to our Intern positions. The ideal candidates are current Certificate Program, Undergraduate or Graduate students who demonstrate innovation and self-initiative. You will have an opportunity to train and develop your skills in career fields such as human resources, policy, healthcare, insurance, retirement, or information technology and have a positive impact on the people and communities that OPM serves.
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Duties
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What You May Be Doing:
As a Student Trainee, you will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of tasks and projects. Some of the responsibilities you may undertake include:

• Assist with SQL queries, data extraction, and data transformation activities using established procedures and direct guidance.
• Support data pipeline monitoring, execute predefined data validation scripts, and document results for review.
• Prepare and maintain documentation for data pipelines, schemas, and data engineering activities using approved templates.
• Learn and apply cloud data platform concepts, Databricks, Azure, GitHub, Azure DevOps, and AI-assisted development tools.
• Participate in Agile ceremonies, capture meeting notes, track assigned tasks, and provide status updates to the team.
• Use AI tools to research technical concepts and draft documentation or summaries for review by higher-graded engineers.

The Skills to be Successful as a Student Trainee:

• You work smart (not just hard), and know how to drive projects, meet deadlines, and get things done.
• You have a bias for action and are proactive.
• You don't sweat the small stuff, but also understand the importance of paying close attention to detail and being very precise.
• You are flexible, creative, curious, and a willing to take initiative.
• You are a quick and flexible learner: open-minded, adaptable, comfortable with ambiguity, and excited by dynamic change.
• You inspire trust, forge relationships quickly, and earn the confidence and cooperation of your business partners.
• You have high standards, integrity, and ethics.

What We're Looking For:

• Currently enrolled in an educational institution
• A solid team player who's also an independent thinker
• Deadline-driven, organized, and able to multitask
• A robust analytical skill set
• Strong verbal, written and presentation skills
• Endless curiosity and a penchant for thinking the impossible
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office software products
• Attentive to team needs as demonstrated by rapid and high-quality responsiveness to requests
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to maintain solid rapport with team members as well as maintain professionalism with those outside of the team
• Excellent oral and written communications skills that demonstrate a professional demeanor and the ability to interact with others with discretion and tact
• Keen attention to detail
• Capable of identifying and completing tasks independently, with a sense of urgency and ownership
• Demonstrated success at maintaining high personal work standards
• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and tact
• Strong presentation skills to audiences comprised of all levels of leadership
• Highly motivated, self-starter able to work autonomously and drive the work they own forward effectively

Requirements
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Conditions of employment
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen or National
Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin
You will be required to report to an OPM assigned office.
Selective Service: Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered for Selective Service.
Age: You must be at least 16 years of age
Background Investigation: Must be suitable for Federal employment as determined by a background investigation.
Availability for Work: Applicants hired on a temporary appointment will be afforded the opportunity to work a part- or full-time schedule during the period of August 2026 through December 2026.
Availability for Work: Applicants hired on an indefinite appointment will be afforded the opportunity to work a part- or full-time schedule until the completion of their current degree requirements.
Student Status: Applicants must have at least 1 academic year (fall and spring session) remaining in their studies before they complete their current degree requirements.
Graduation Status: Applicants that graduate prior to August 2027 will not be considered for this position unless you have been accepted into a follow-on degree or certificate program and provide verification of future enrollment status prior to start date.
Pathways Agreement: If selected, you will be required to sign a Pathways Agreement which specifies the conditions of your employment as we've indicated in this job announcement. You must continue to meet the Pathways Program requirements throughout the duration of your appointment. To verify that you do, we will require proof of your continued enrollment and good standing each semester or grading period throughout your internship. Failure to do so will result in termination of your internship and employment.
Trial Period: Selectee must complete a trial period while on the Pathways internship appointment.
Bargaining Unit:

• This position is not eligible for inclusion in a bargaining unit

Qualifications
You must meet the education requirements detailed below by the close of the vacancy.
GS-4: Completion of two academic years of post-high school study or associate's degree.
An academic year of undergraduate education is defined as 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or the equivalent in an accredited college or university.
An academic year of graduate education is based on normal course loads for a full year of study in the graduate program. If that information cannot be obtained from the school, 18 semester hours or 27 quarter hours is considered as satisfying the 1 year of full-time study requirement.
To meet the Intern Eligibility requirements, you must be a student accepted for enrollment or enrolled and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in a qualifying educational institution, on a full or half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which you are enrolled).
Certificate programs must be at least one-year duration of full-time academic study in post-secondary education.
Accepted for Enrollment: If you have been accepted for enrollment in an institution or career or technical education program, but have not yet begun coursework, you must submit an Acceptance Letter from the institution and your most recent academic transcript from your previous program.
NOTE: You will NOT be considered under Pathways unless you provide supporting information from your school. Documentation may be provided in letter format from your academic advisor, school counselor, admission office, etc. to prove enrollment OR it may be provided in the form of several official documents from your school such as a copy of your official transcripts and a copy of your class schedule for next semester. Copies of documents from your school website are acceptable if they contain all relevant information as listed above. Letters from advisors or other school officials must be on school letterhead. Official transcripts will be required prior to final offer of employment.
Education
Additional information
We understand that not everyone will demonstrate proficiency in all of the duties listed in this job posting. At OPM, we strive to raise the bar! We encourage all to apply if you feel your skills and life experiences are transferable to some of the duties listed in this vacancy.
What Do We Offer?
Upon graduation and completion of the student internship program requirements you MAY BE non-competitively converted, without a break in service, to a term (time-limited), career, or career conditional (permanent) appointment in the federal government, to a position up with a full performance level up to the GS-12. Grade level upon conversion will be determined by management and neither conversion nor promotion is guaranteed.
Interns must meet the qualification requirements for the position to which promoted or converted.
This appointment allows for conversion to a permanent appointment. Conversion Eligibility Information Requirements
Extensions: If hired on a temporary appointment, it may be extended without further competition based on the need of the organization for the work to continue and provided the individual continues to meet the eligibility requirements.
If you are unable to apply online and would like to request information about the Alternate Application process, please use the contact information at the bottom of this announcement.
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional similar vacancies across OPM.
Relocation expenses will not be paid.
For more information on the Pathways Program, please visit: Pathways Program Fact Sheets
As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:
- your performance and conduct;
- the needs and interests of the agency;
- whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
- whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
Upon completion of your trial period your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.
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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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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.
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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.