What are the responsibilities and job description for the Student Trainee (Data Scientist) position at Office of Inspector General?

Summary

To be eligible for the Pathways Intern Program, individuals must have been accepted for enrollment or be enrolled during the current (SPRING 2025) or next upcoming semester (FALL 2025) and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an accredited / qualifying educational institution on a full or half-time basis. The absence of this information will result in an ineligible rating.

This job is open to

Students

Current students enrolled in accredited educational institutions from high school to graduate level. Includes internships, pathways and other student programs.

Clarification from the agency

Students Enrolled or Accepted for Enrollment During the Current or Next Upcoming Semester in a Degree-seeking Program (diploma, certificate, etc.) in an Accredited / Qualifying Educational Institution, on a Full or Half-time Basis.

Duties

Research and apply mathematical, statistical and text analyses using software and in coordination with other analysts, using CRISP-DM / Agile methods.

Effectively communicate analytical methods and results to teammates and prepare technical documentation around defensible, repeatable, and impactful statistical results.

Assist project teams by translating requirements into useful mathematical, statistical, or text analyses that contribute value to the organization's mission.

Assist with preparation of proposals by outlining the hypothesis, requirements, and potential impact of conducting the analysis.

Provide data preparation for statistical analysis and prepare final tabulations, tables, charts, or graphs for presentations, dashboards, and other DAT products.

Effectively work in teams to complete analytical projects.

As a participant in the Pathways Internship Program, you will receive both formal and on-the-job training to develop the required knowledge and skill to successfully perform the duties of the position,

Requirements

Conditions of Employment

Must be a U.S. Citizen or National..

Position has been designated as Noncritical Sensitive. Incumbent is required to obtain and maintain a Secret security clearance.

Males born after 12-31-59 must be registered or exempt from Selective Service (see http : / / www.sss.gov).

Educational enrollment MUST be on a half-time or full-time basis. Half-time basis is defined by the academic institution into which the student is enrolled.

Must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.

Must maintain student eligibility for the duration of internship.

You may be required to complete a financial disclosure (OGE-450).

Incumbent is required to submit to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment and is subject to random drug testing for the duration of service with DoD OIG.

Applicants must be able to furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and be able to provide verification of academic status (official transcript) at the end of each academic term.

The incumbent must adhere to the DoD Standards of Conduct.

Qualifications

Basic Requirements :

Must be seeking a degree in one of the following : mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position.

Enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment as a full-time or half-time (Half-time basis is defined by the academic institution that the student is enrolled or accepted into) student into an accredited college or university in a qualifying degree-seeking program, or enrolled or formally accepted for enrollment in a qualifying certificate program;

Students must have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (or equivalent) at time of application and must maintain at least a 2.5 GPA throughout the entire Pathways Student Trainee Internship appointment to remain in the Program;

Applicants MUST submit a transcript or proof of enrollment with the online application (see Required Documents for additional details).

Please note that if you are graduating from your current academic program prior to August 31, 2025 you will not be eligible for this student appointment unless you are accepted for enrollment at a qualifying educational institution seeking an ADDITIONAL qualifying degree, diploma, certificate, etc., OR an advanced degree. You MUST submit proof of acceptance along with your current transcripts for consideration.

If selected, must sign a Pathways Participant Agreement; be able to furnish course registration information at the start of each school term; and be able to provide verification of academic status (official transcript) at the end of each academic term.

Specialized Experience :

GS-07 : One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade GS-05 or equivalent within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

Specialized experience is defined as : Applying mathematical, statistical, or text analysis using software packages.

GS-09 : One year of specialized experience equivalent in level of difficulty and responsibility to that of the next lower grade GS-07 or equivalent within the federal service, which demonstrates the ability to perform the duties of the position, is required.

Specialized experience is defined as : Applying mathematical, statistical, or text analysis using software packages and effective communication of analysis results.

Paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual, community, student, social) is qualifying. Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience.

Basic Requirements to be converted to a permanent position (GS-07 or higher) in the Data Science Series 1560 :

Degree : Mathematics, statistics, computer science, data science or field directly related to the position. The degree must be in a major field of study (at least at the baccalaureate level) that is appropriate for the position.

Combination of education and experience : Courses equivalent to a major field of study (30 semester hours) as shown in paragraph A above, plus additional education or appropriate experience.

Application of Veterans Preference : The Category Rating Method does not add veterans' preference points or apply the "rule of three," but protects the rights of veterans by placing them ahead of non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible's who meet minimum qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent must be listed in the highest quality category, except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-9 grade level or higher. A selecting official may make selections from the highest quality category (Best Qualified) provided no preference eligible in that category is passed over to select a non-preference eligible in that category unless the requirements of 5 U.S.C. 3317(b) or 3318(b) are satisfied.

Education

Substitution of Education for Specialized Experience :

GS-07 One full year of graduate level education or Superior Academic Achievement may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement.

GS-09 Two full years of progressively higher level graduate education, Master's or equivalent graduate degree, may be substituted to meet the specialized experience requirement.

Equivalent combinations of education and experience may be used to substitute for the specialized experience requirement.

Only experience and / or education obtained by the closing date of this announcement will be considered.

If you are using education to substitute for the qualifying experience, you must submit transcripts at the time you apply. Failure to do so may disqualify you from consideration.

Due to the education requirement of this position, an unofficial transcript must be submitted at the time of application. If transcripts are not received, you will be rated as ineligible.

Using Education to Qualify : You MUST provide unofficial transcripts or other documentation to support your educational claims. Unless otherwise stated : (1) unofficial transcripts are acceptable, or (2) you may submit a list with all of your courses, grades, semester, year, and credit for the course. All materials must be submitted by the closing date of the announcement.

Pass / Fail Courses : If more that 10 percent of your undergraduate course work (credit hours) were taken on a pass / fail basis, your claim of superior academic achievement must be based upon class standing or membership in an honor society.

Graduate Education : One academic year of graduate education is considered to be the number of credits hours your graduate school has determined to represent one academic year of full-time study. Such study may have been performed on a full-time or part-time basis. If you cannot obtain your graduate school's definition of one year of graduate study, 18 semester hours (or 27 quarter hours) should be considered as satisfying the requirement for one year of full-time graduate study.

Accreditation : Only degrees from an accredited college or university recognized by the Department of Education are acceptable to meet positive education requirements or to substitute for experience. For additional information, please go to the Office of Personnel Management website at http : / / www.opm.gov / qualifications / and U.S. Department of Education website at http : / / www2.ed.gov / admins / finaid / accred / index.html

Special Instructions for Foreign Education : Education completed in foreign colleges or universities must be evaluated in terms of equivalency to that acquired in U.S. colleges and universities. Applicants educated in whole or in part in foreign countries must submit sufficient evidence, including transcripts, to an accredited private organization for an equivalency evaluation of course work and degree. A listing of these accredited organizations can be found on the Department of Education's website. You must provide a copy of the letter containing the results of the equivalency evaluation with a course by course listing along with your application. If you fail to provide the required documentation, by the closing date of this announcement, you will not receive consideration. For further information, visit : http : / / www2.ed.gov / about / offices / list / ous / international / usnei / us / edlite-visitus-forrecog.html

Additional information

Selections are subject to restrictions resulting from the DoD Program for Stability of Civilian Employment.

Telework availability will be based upon the mission requirements and supervisory determination.

This internship opportunity will not start until mid to late May 2025.

Moving costs WILL NOT be paid.

Relocation or Recruitment incentive WILL NOT be paid.

Individuals selected from this vacancy announcement will work a full-time work schedule for at least eight weeks between the months of May through September. Upon completion of the summer internship period individuals will be placed on leave without pay (LWOP) until completion of their academic program or until they are returned to duty for another period of internship. Based upon organizational need, availability of funding, student availability, and the student's academic schedule, individuals may be returned to duty for short durations during breaks in school (i.e. Fall, Winter, or Spring Break) or part-time employment throughout the Fall and Spring semesters, so long as their work schedule does not interfere with their academic requirements and schedule.

Individuals selected from this vacancy announcement may be offered the opportunity to work a part-time or full-time work schedule prior to May, if funding is available.

We may use this announcement to fill additional vacancies within 90 days of the closing date.

A trial period may be required.

This position is Non-Exempt from the Fair Labor Standards Act.

This position is not covered by a bargaining unit.

Retired Civil Service Employee : Employment of retired Federal employees receiving an annuity is subject to the requirements of the Department of Defense (DoD) policy guidance.

Pay for first time hires to the Federal Government will typically be set at the step 1 salary range for their respective grade level.

PROGRAM COMPLETION AND CONVERSION ELIGIBILITY : Upon successful completion of their academic program and the internship program, interns may be converted to a term or permanent position in the competitive service consistent with agency needs, academic achievement, and demonstrated potential. However, future budgetary events, hiring restrictions, or other events may preclude the conversion. Individuals converted may be subject to participation in an additional year of training as part of an agency formal development program.

Retired / Retiring Veterans : Please be aware that there is a 180-Day Restriction on Department of Defense (DoD) Employment of Military Retirees. A retired member of the Armed Forces may not be appointed to a civilian position in the DoD within 180 days after retirement unless the agency requests and is granted a waiver; the position is authorized special pay under 5 U.S.C. 3505; or a state of national emergency exists.

Criminal History Inquiries- If you apply to this position and are selected, we will not ask about your criminal history before you receive a conditional job offer. If you believe you were asked about your criminal history improperly, contact the agency @ dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.ssc-cc@mail.mil

Benefits

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.

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.

How You Will Be Evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications and education requirements above.

You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities and other characteristics) :

Accountability

Attention to Detail

Customer Service

Decision Making

Flexibility

Integrity / Honesty

Interpersonal Skills

Learning

Reading Comprehension

Self-Management

Stress Tolerance

Teamwork

You can preview the Assessment Questionnaire here : https : / / apply.usastaffing.gov / ViewQuestionnaire / 12644849

Online Assessments and Questionnaire Information :

Applicants who indicate they meet the minimum qualifications will receive an email invitation from usastaffingoffice@opm.gov to complete online assessments. The email may appear in a "Spam" or "Junk" folder.

Please plan to set aside three (3) hours for the assessments; however, most people are expected to complete the assessments in about 90 minutes.

You must complete all of the required assessments within 48 hours after the close of this Job Announcement to be eligible for this position.

Your results will be kept on record for use when applying for future jobs that require these assessments. You will not be allowed to re-take an assessment for one year.

If you have completed all of the required assessments previously and these results may be re-used, you will receive an email stating you have already completed the required assessments.

Please Note : Before attempting to take the assessments, applicants should view sample items to determine if the computer they are using is likely to experience any issues during testing. The sample items can be found at https : / / cdn.apps.pdricloud.com / cdn / v1 / files / pub / inline / 7e5 / 6 / 15 / f / 5f7a7b45-d373-4126-8738-aa5c07cadd92.html.

If you have questions about the computer requirements or require technical assistance, please email : https : / / apply.usastaffing.gov / HelpTicket.

Your results on these assessments will be used to place you into one of the three quality categories listed below according to Category Rating and Selection Procedures. In addition, a review of your resume and supporting documentation will be used to verify you meet the qualifications for this job. The most highly qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and may be interviewed prior to selection. You will be notified of the outcome.

Qualified Category - Meets the minimum qualifications as described in the Qualifications section of this announcement.

Highly Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates proficiency in some of the job-related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire.

Best Qualified Category - Exceeds the minimum qualification requirements and demonstrates a high level of proficiency in the job related competencies based on the answers to the occupational questionnaire.

Additional Category Rating information can be found under Qualifications.

Benefits

Required Documents

As a new or existing federal employee, you and your family may have access to a range of benefits. Your benefits depend on the type of position you have - whether you're a permanent, part-time, temporary or an intermittent employee. You may be eligible for the following benefits, however, check with your agency to make sure you're eligible under their policies.

You must provide a complete Application Package which includes :

Rsum : You are encouraged to choose only ONE method of submitting your resume. (HR will review the resume that the system date stamps as the latest one received and this may not be the resume, which best reflects your qualifications for the job and may result in an ineligible rating.) You may submit your resume by : attaching in your USAJOBS account; uploading in your Application Manager account. For assistance in preparing your resume, take a look at the DFAS Resume Tools.

Transcripts or proof of enrollment : You must submit documentation to verify your enrollment or acceptance in a degree program; confirm your cumulative GPA and / or verify your education if substituting for experience.

Current Transcripts : An unofficial copy is sufficient with the application; however if selected, an official transcript will be required. Transcripts MUST include the student's name, name of the school, current GPA, and past and current coursework. If your transcripts do not provide the information listed above, include additional documentation that meets the requirements.

Proof of Enrollment or Class Registration : If you are enrolled but have not yet registered for Spring 2019 classes, please provide proof of acceptance or a letter from your academic institution indicating your intent for continued enrollment for Spring 2019. The proof of acceptance must be from within the past year and specify the term of acceptance and academic program.

Complete initial Eligibility Questionnaire and Additional Online Assessments.

You may submit a cover letter which will be forwarded to the selecting official with your resume. Your cover letter will NOT be used to verify your qualifications or eligibility.

If you are requesting a reasonable accommodation to the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, submit documentation to support your request, including the Reasonable Accommodation Request Form found here.

The following supporting documents are ONLY required if applicable to your personal qualifications or status. They must be received by the closing date of the announcement.

Veterans Preference : If you are claiming veteran's preference, you MUST submit the appropriate documentation. Failure to do so WILL result in the loss of veteran's preference, and will possibly impact your placement on the certificate. For more veterans' information please click here.

You must submit a copy of your DD Form-214, "Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty", showing the dates of active duty service, type of discharge and the character of service. Alternatively, If you are a current military member in active duty service and do not have a copy of your DD Form-214, you must submit a written documentation (certification) from your branch of service certifying that you are expected to be discharged or released from active duty under honorable conditions no later than 120 days after the date the certification is submitted with your application for this position. The certification should also include your rank and dates of active duty service.

If claiming 10-point preference and / or are a 30% or more Disabled Veteran, you must submit both a DD Form-214 or expected discharge documentation as described above AND a copy of a letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or your branch of service certifying the presence of service-connected disability and indicating the percentage of disability.

If you are claiming eligibility based on 10-point derived veterans' preference (i.e. a spouse, widow / widower, or parent of a veteran claiming veterans' preference when the veteran is unable to use it), you must also submit a Standard Form 15 (SF-15) "Application for 10-Point Veteran's Preference" and any required documents indicated on the SF-15 to substantiate the claimed preference.

Click to review veterans authorities and required documents that verify eligibility for VEOA, VRA and / or 30% or more disabled veterans hiring authorities http : / / www.dfas.mil / careers / howtoapply / vacancyannouncement / appointment-eligibility.html .

WARNING : Failure to submit a complete application package including any required documentation by 11 : 59 PM (EST)

02 / 04 / 2025, or at the time of application for announcements with an extended closing date, may result in an ineligible rating and loss of consideration. To verify that your application is complete, log into your USAJOBS account, select Application Status and More Information. The Details page will display the status of your application. It is the applicant's responsibility to verify that information entered, uploaded, or faxed is received, legible and accurate. HR will not modify answers submitted by an applicant.

If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements :

Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and / or degrees from

schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.

Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

How to Apply

Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply for this position, you must complete the initial online application, to include submission of the required documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11 : 59 PM (ET) on the closing date of the announcement to receive consideration. The application process is as follows :

To begin the application process, click the Apply Online button.

Answer the questions presented in the application and attach all necessary supporting documentation.

Click the Submit Application button prior to 11 : 59 PM (ET) on 02 / 04 / 2025.

After submitting an online application, you will be notified whether or not you are required to take additional online assessments through the USA Hire Competency Based Assessment system. This message will be delivered to you both on screen and via email notification.

If you are asked to take the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be presented with a unique URL to access the USA Hire system. Access to USA Hire is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials. Be sure to review all instructions prior to beginning your USA Hire Assessments. Note, set aside at least 3 hours to take these assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue at a later time, you can re-use the URL sent to you via email and also found on the Additional Application Information page that can be located in the application record in your USAJOBS account.

To update your application, including supporting documentation, at any time during the announcement open period by return to your USAJOBS account (https : / / my.usajobs.gov / Account / Login). There you will find a record of your application, the application status, and an option to Update Application . This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.

To verify the status of your application both during and after the announcement open period, log into your USAJOBS account : https : / / my.usajobs.gov / Account / Login. All of your applications will appear on the Welcome page. The application record in your USAJOBS account provides an Additional Application Information page that provides information regarding the documentation you submitted and any correspondence we have sent related to this application. The Application Status will appear along with the date your application was last updated. For information on what each Application Status means, visit : https : / / www.usajobs.gov / Help / how-to / application / status / .

Reasonable Accommodation (RA) Requests : If you believe you have a disability (i.e., physical or mental), covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended that would interfere with completing the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, you will be granted the opportunity to request a RA in your online application. Requests for RA for the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments and appropriate supporting documentation for RA must be received prior to starting the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. Decisions on requests for RA are made on a case-by-case basis. If you meet the minimum qualifications of the position, after notification of the adjudication of your request, you will receive an email invitation to complete the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments. You must complete all assessments within 48 hours of receiving the URL to access the USA Hire Competency Based Assessments, if you received the link after the close of the announcement. To determine if you need a RA, please review the Procedures for Requesting a Reasonable Accommodation for Online Assessments here : https : / / help.usastaffing.gov / Apply / index.php?title=Reasonable_Accommodations_for_USA_Hire

Agency contact information

HR Customer Care Center

Phone

317) 212-0454

dfas.indianapolis-in.zh.mbx.dfasmeritcc@mail.mil

Address

DoD OIG - MISSION SUPPORT TEAM

4800 Mark Center Drive

Alexandria, VA 22350

Next steps

Once the online questionnaire is received you will receive an acknowledgement email that your submission was successful.

The occupational questionnaire and the resume that you submit will be used to assess your qualifications for the job, and to identify the best qualified applicants to be referred to the hiring manager for further consideration and possible interviews.

We will notify you of the outcome after each of these steps has been completed.

After making a tentative job offer, we will conduct a suitability / security background investigation

Fair and Transparent

The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.

Criminal history inquiries

Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) Policy

Financial suitability

New employee probationary period

Privacy Act

Reasonable accommodation policy

Selective Service

Signature and false statements

Social security number request