This is a paid internship opportunity under the Pathways Internship Program, providing students opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers.
At the U.S. National Science Foundation, you get the chance to become part of cutting-edge innovation and discovery that is changing the world. You will gain real-life experiences while expanding the frontiers of Science.
This announcement will close on 06/15/2026 or once 100 applications are received, whichever occurs first.
Summary
This is a paid internship opportunity under the Pathways Internship Program, providing students opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers.
At the U.S. National Science Foundation, you get the chance to become part of cutting-edge innovation and discovery that is changing the world. You will gain real-life experiences while expanding the frontiers of Science.
This announcement will close on 06/15/2026 or once 100 applications are received, whichever occurs first.
Open to individuals who are at least 16 years old, who are students currently enrolled for the Summer 2026 or Fall 2026 academic terms in a degree or certificate-seeking program, taking at least a half-time course load. You must also have a GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale. Applicants must have at least one year remaining in their required coursework for completion of their degree or certificate. Non-citizens may apply but must complete a citizenship affidavit.
This is an opportunity under the Pathways Internship Program. The Internship Program provides students enrolled in high schools, colleges, trade schools, and other qualifying educational institutions with paid opportunities to work in agencies and explore Federal careers while completing their education. Veterans' Preference is applied.
As a Student Trainee (Business Operations Assistant), you will perform the following duties:
Administrative Support: Provide operational support to management and staff, including correspondence handling, document creation, and maintaining organizational records.
Visitor and Communication Management: Manage organizational calendars, coordinate schedules, receive visitors, and direct calls to appropriate staff while tracking key activities such as panels, site visits, and staff absences.
Meeting Coordination: Plan and coordinate meetings, including notifying participants, reserving space, preparing materials, assisting with presentations, taking minutes, and following up.
Proposal and Award Processing: Support proposal processing, including data entry, managing records, coordinating reviews, and ensuring compliance with NSF policies.
Financial and Budget Management: Monitor proposal expenditures, identify budget issues, and provide necessary information for award processing while ensuring compliance with financial regulations.
Selectee will be required to have a background investigation prior to onboarding.
Selectee will be required to sign an agreement that outlines the parameters of the Pathways Internship Program.
Selectee will be required to submit updated transcripts and proof of enrollment upon selection and during the duration of the Internship.
Selectee may be required to serve a 2-year trial period.
Selectee may be required to complete a background investigation prior to onboarding.
Selectee must be at least 16 years of age.
Eligibility:
To be eligible for the Pathways Internship Program, the individual must:
Have been accepted for enrollment or be enrolled in and seeking a degree (diploma, certificate, etc.) at a qualifying educational institution or qualifying career or technical education program that awards a recognized postsecondary credential on a full- or half-time basis.
Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
External applicants must have at least one year remaining in their program.
Internal NSF applicants, with satisfactory performance records, may have less than one year remaining in their program to be eligible.
Interns must complete courses within the designated academic term to maintain Pathways eligibility.
Students are not required to enroll over the summer unless they need additional hours to meet the half-time credit requirement.
Additional Requirements:
All qualification requirements must be met by the closing date of the announcement.
All online applicants must provide a valid email address. If your email address is inaccurate or your mailbox is full/blocked, you may not receive important communication that could affect your consideration for this position.
NSF has determined that all of its positions are eligible for telework. Work suitable for telework depends on job duties; therefore, employees must receive approval from their supervisor for telework and have a telework agreement in place. Entering into a telework agreement is voluntary.
Qualifications
Positions are open to current students pursuing a qualifying degree or certificate in an accredited high school, college (including 4-year colleges/universities, community colleges, and junior colleges); professional, technical, vocational, and trade school; advanced degree programs; or other qualifying educational institution on at least a half-time basis (as defined by the institution in which the student is enrolled). Short-term training programs (e.g., several two-week programs completed) are not considered an academic course of study.
Applicants must have a 2.5 GPA or higher to be eligible for a Pathways Internship Appointment.
Internship selection will be made at the GS-05, 06, 07 level.
In addition to the above appointment requirements, see below qualification requirements:
To qualify at the GS-5 level, you must have one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-04 Level in the federal government performing administrative or clerical activities in support of business operations.
OR have successfully completed four full years of education above high school level;
OR have a combination of post-high school education and experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.
Examples of specialized experience for the GS-5 level include screening incoming correspondence, calls, and visitors; arranging meetings; creating, filing, and preparing travel authorizations and vouchers.
To qualify at the GS-6 level, you must possess at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-5 level in the federal service performing administrative or operational assistance activities in support of business operations.
Examples of specialized experience at the GS-6 level include handling incoming correspondence, answering telephone calls, and greeting visitors to the office; managing the calendar; creating and maintaining office files; drafting and assembling outgoing material; and preparing travel authorizations.
To qualify at the GS-7 level, you must have at least one year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-6 level in federal service performing a variety of administrative, technical, and operational support functions to sustain business operations.
OR possess one full year of graduate-level education.
OR have a Bachelor's degree with Superior Academic Achievement (as evidenced by class standing in the upper third of the graduating class; 3.0-grade point average on a 4.0 scale for all academic work; grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale in the major field of study; or election to membership in a national honor scholastic society).
OR have a combination of post-high school education and experience that together meet the qualification requirements for this position.
Examples of specialized experience at the GS-7 level include receiving, managing, and assigning visitors and correspondence; managing organizational calendars; assisting in planning and arranging meetings, panels, and travel; serving as a timekeeper; preparing and ordering supplies and equipment; and monitoring budget and expenditures.
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, religious, spiritual, community, student, social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills & can provide valuable training and experience that translates to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.
Education
Education may be substituted for experience as described in "Qualifications."
If qualifying based on education, you MUST submit TRANSCRIPTS (unofficial copies are acceptable) or a DIPLOMA that verifies that the requirement is met.
All education must be accredited by an accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications (particularly positions with a positive education requirement). Therefore, applicants must report only attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. Applicants may verify accreditation at the following website: Accreditation.
PLEASE NOTE: A certificate program is defined as post-secondary education in a qualifying educational institution equal to at least one academic year of full-time study that's part of an accredited college-level, technical, trade, vocational, or business school curriculum.
Additional information
Relocation Expenses will not be paid.
Students may be hired for Internship positions at any time during the year and may work full-time or part-time based on office needs.
An appointment under a Pathways Internship is intended to continue through completion of education and work requirements.
The Pathways Internship Program allows students an opportunity to be converted non-competitively to a career-conditional or term position once the student completes all requirements of the Pathways Internship Program. Non-competitive conversion to a permanent or term position is NOT guaranteed. The Intern's eligibility for conversion does not guarantee that the agency will opt for conversion.
It is NSF policy that personnel employed at, or Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) individuals detailed to, NSF are not permitted to participate in foreign talent recruitment programs. Failure to comply with this NSF policy could result in disciplinary action up to and including removal from Federal Service or termination of an IPA assignment and referral to the Office of Inspector General.
Veterans' Preference:
If you are entitled to veterans' preference, you should indicate the type of veterans' preference you are claiming on your resume. Your veterans' preference entitlement will be verified by the employing agency. For 5-point veterans' preference, please provide your DD-214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), official statement of service from your command if you are currently on active duty, or other official documentation (e.g., documentation of receipt of a campaign badge or expeditionary medal) that proves your military service was performed under honorable conditions. For 10-point veterans' preference, please submit a Standard Form (SF) 15, Application for 10-Point Veteran Preference, DD-214, and the VA letter or other required documentation as specified on the SF-15.
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.
This announcement may be used to fill like positions in other organizations within the U.S. National Science Foundation.
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.
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.
Your qualifications will be evaluated based on your application materials (e.g., resume, supporting documents) and your responses to the application questionnaire.
To be considered for this position, you must complete all required steps in the process. In addition to the application and application questionnaire, this position requires an online assessment. The online assessment measures critical general competencies required to perform the job. Overstating your qualifications and/or experience in your application materials or application questionnaire may result in your removal from consideration. Cheating on the online assessment may also result in your removal from consideration.
You will be assessed on the following competencies (knowledge, skills, abilities, and other characteristics):
Attention to Detail
Flexibility
Interpersonal Skills
Learning
Problem Solving
Self-Management
Technology Application
Category rating procedures will be used to rank and select eligibles. Based on your responses to the online assessment, you will be assigned a score. Your score will determine in which of three categories you will be placed: Excellent, Very Good, or Good.
Under this process, veterans will be assigned to the appropriate category (without additional preference points) and then placed at the top of their category.
Veterans with service-connected disability of 10% or more will be placed at the top of the highest quality category.
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.
All applicants are required to submit a legible resume/CV that is no longer than two pages.The resume must include a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year, and indicates hours worked per week. If a military or civilian Federal employee, you must include your rank and/or grade.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the two-page resume, starting at your work experience, will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the specialized experience. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letters, links to additional information) will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the specialized experience listed in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
Applicants may submit an optional cover letter.
Other documents required:
Official or unofficial college transcripts, including your cumulative GPA, MUST be submitted with your application. This office will be unable to determine qualification eligibility without transcripts. Applications without transcripts are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Transcripts will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
Proof of enrollment for the current 2026 Summer/Fall academic term (i.e., course schedule, acceptance letter, letter from the registrar). Applications without proof of enrollment are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Proof of Enrollment will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
(Note: Applicants must have one year remaining in their degree/certificate program in order to be considered)
Additional Documents, if applicable, may include:
Veterans' Preference Documentation (DD-214, VA Letter, and SF-15): If you are eligible and claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you MUST submit a copy of your "member copy 4 version" DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you MUST submit a copy of your DD-214, SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) letter or other documentation required by the SF-15. (Please note: An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing veterans' preference will not be accepted as proof of entitlement.)
Non-Citizens may apply but must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. However, non-citizens may NOT be converted to competitive service appointments.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH OR ANY OTHER PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. 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:
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 the announcement closing date.
If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Set aside about one (1) hour to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
US National Science Foundation
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
US
Next steps
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments. You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website.
Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
All applicants are required to submit a legible resume/CV that is no longer than two pages.The resume must include a list of all significant jobs held and duties performed, with dates specified in month and year, and indicates hours worked per week. If a military or civilian Federal employee, you must include your rank and/or grade.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Only the two-page resume, starting at your work experience, will be reviewed to determine your technical qualifications for this position based on the specialized experience. Additional information beyond your resume (e.g., cover letters, links to additional information) will not be reviewed to determine if you meet the specialized experience listed in the "Qualifications" section of this announcement. In describing your experience, please be clear and specific. We may not make assumptions regarding your experience.
Applicants may submit an optional cover letter.
Other documents required:
Official or unofficial college transcripts, including your cumulative GPA, MUST be submitted with your application. This office will be unable to determine qualification eligibility without transcripts. Applications without transcripts are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Transcripts will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
Proof of enrollment for the current 2026 Summer/Fall academic term (i.e., course schedule, acceptance letter, letter from the registrar). Applications without proof of enrollment are incomplete applications and will be rated "INELIGIBLE". Proof of Enrollment will NOT be accepted after the closing date of this announcement.
(Note: Applicants must have one year remaining in their degree/certificate program in order to be considered)
Additional Documents, if applicable, may include:
Veterans' Preference Documentation (DD-214, VA Letter, and SF-15): If you are eligible and claiming 5-point veterans' preference, you MUST submit a copy of your "member copy 4 version" DD-214 or other proof of eligibility. If you are claiming 10-point veterans' preference, you MUST submit a copy of your DD-214, SF-15, "Application for 10-Point Veterans' Preference" and the Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) letter or other documentation required by the SF-15. (Please note: An SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, showing veterans' preference will not be accepted as proof of entitlement.)
Non-Citizens may apply but must certify eligibility by signing and attaching this Citizenship Affidavit to their application. However, non-citizens may NOT be converted to competitive service appointments.
All uploading must be completed before 11:59 PM Eastern Time on the vacancy closing date.
IMPORTANT NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER, DATE OF BIRTH OR ANY OTHER PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION ON YOUR APPLICATION DOCUMENTS.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
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.
Please read the entire announcement and all the instructions before you begin an application. To apply and be considered for this position, you must complete all required questionnaires, assessments and submit all required documentation as specified in the How to Apply and Required Documents section. 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:
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 the announcement closing date.
If you are required to complete any USA Hire Assessments, you will be notified after submitting your application. The notification will be provided in your application submission screen and via email. The notification will include your unique assessment access link to the USA Hire system and the completion deadline. Additionally, in USAJOBS you can click "Track this application" to return to your assessment completion notice.
Access USA Hire using your unique assessment link. Access is granted through your USAJOBS login credentials.
Review all instructions prior to beginning your assessments. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation before beginning the assessments should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Set aside about one (1) hour to take the USA Hire Assessments; however, most applicants complete the assessments in less time. If you need to stop the assessments and continue later, you can re-use your unique assessment link.
Your responses to the USA Hire Assessments will be reused for one year (in most cases) from the date you complete an assessment. If future applications you submit require completion of the same assessments, your responses will be automatically reused.
To update your application, including supporting documentation: During the announcement open period, return to your USAJOBS account, find your application record, and click Edit my application. This option will no longer be available once the announcement has closed.
To view the announcement status or your application status: Visit https://www.usajobs.gov/Help/howto/application/status/. Your application status page is where you can view your application status, USA Hire assessment completion status, and review your notifications sent by the hiring agency regarding your application.
US National Science Foundation
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
US
Next steps
Based on your application and your responses to the application questionnaire, you may be presented with instructions on how to access the USA Hire system to complete the online assessments. The online assessments must be completed within 48 hours following the close of this announcement. You will have the opportunity to request a testing accommodation for the assessment should you have a disability covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended.
Your assessment results will be kept on record for one year and used toward future positions for which you might apply that require the same assessments. You may check the status of your application at any time on the USAJOBS website.
Applicants should click 'Track this Application' in the Applicant Dashboard to receive application updates.
Fair and transparent
The Federal hiring process is set up to be fair and transparent. Please read the following guidance.
