Student Trainee (Biological Science)

Summary

The Pathways Internship Program allows students to join VA in career positions that emphasize long-term training and development. This student trainee position offers hands-on experience in a research laboratory under the supervision of a Principal Investigator. The trainee will develop knowledge of scientific principles, laboratory procedures, and modern research techniques while assisting with clinical, data, or biomedical research projects.

Duties

This position is being filled under the Pathways Internship Program. The program is designed to provide students enrolled in a wide variety of educational institutions, from high school to graduate level, with paid work opportunities in agencies to explore Federal careers while still in school. The Internship provides managers a ready source of student employees and potential permanent employees upon completion of the program requirements. It also provides the student with work experience directly related to the curriculum studies or career goals while offering eligibility for non-competitive conversion to permanent employment upon completion. For more information on Internship opportunities within the Department of Veterans Affairs, please visit: https://www.va.gov/EMPLOYEE/pathways-internship-program/. Major Duties: Assist with biomedical and clinical research. Enter and analyze research data. Perform laboratory experiments and cell-culture procedures. Care for and feed research animals. Follow approved protocols, safety standards, and laboratory procedures. Use laboratory equipment and data-analysis tools. Work under the supervision of the Principal Investigator. Work Schedule: Part-Time, 20-25 hours per week, Work schedule at management discretion

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement, 11/19/2026. Internship Program: To be eligible, applicants must be accepted for enrollment or currently 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. You may qualify based on education and/or experience as described below: To qualify for a Pathways Internship as a GS-04, students must have completed two (2) full academic years of post-high school study or have an associate's degree. You will be rated on the following Competencies for this position: Attention to Detail Flexibility Interpersonal Skills Learning Problem Solving Self-Management Technology Application Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. Note: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment. For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management's website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/. Physical Requirements: The work is not always sedentary due to the regular laboratory work where lifting, walking,standing, sitting, manual dexterity and a large degree of mental concentration are required. These will be above the average demands and levels of sedentary office work.

Education

A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.