Summer Internship Positions 2012

Applications must be received by
March 02, 2012

Spend the summer at the Economic Research Service (ERS) 355 E Street, SW, Washington, DC as an Economist, Economics Assistant, and Information Technology (IT) Specialist.

Economist /Economics Assistant
(multiple positions)

Summer interns will focus on economic research.

During your internship, you will:

• Gain valuable experience working with ERS research teams to conduct policy-relevant research on agriculture, environment and food-related topics. 
• Participate in various aspects of the research process, such as data collection/compilation, model selection, analysis, literature reviews and/or preparation of published manuscripts reporting findings. 
• Have opportunities to work with ERS’ extensive data and GIS resources.

IT Specialist - Web Design

Summer interns will focus on web design and development.

During your internship, you will:

• Contribute to the visual, functional, and interactive design of the agency's external web site, and individual web products.
• Design stimulating multimedia user interfaces.
• Perform thorough quality assurance on the public website and make improvements where practical.
• Develop, design, and produce interactive presentation products.

IT Specialist -Customer Support

Summer interns will resolve application design problems and web security as identified and appropriate.

During your internship, you will:

• Focus on providing support for the IT infrastructure and responding to computer problems.
• Provide desktop support (operating systems, software installs, etc.) and respond to problems related to ERS developed applications.
• Respond to requests for help received via phone, e-mail, and face-to-face walk-ins.
• Have the opportunity to work with Local Area and Wide Area Network Specialists on special projects.

Qualifications for all IT positions:

• Undergraduate interns must be working on a degree from a four-year college or university.  Graduate interns must be Master’s or PhD candidates.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team environment, and to meet project requirements on time with little supervision.
• Web design and development experience.
• Customer support experience.

Benefits

• Salary based on education and experience.
• Subsidized local subway and bus transportation.  Note:  Housing and relocation travel will not be paid by ERS.

Qualifications For All Applicants

Candidates must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants must be currently enrolled in an accredited college or university.
• Applicants must be planning to continue their education in the fall semester.
• Because an internship is an "excepted service appointment," candidates must be a citizen of the United States or meet the criteria in the current appropriations law.  For information see:
  http://www.usajobs.gov/ResourceCenter/Index/
  /Interactive/NonCitizensEmployment#icc
  

Your application must include:

• Announcement number(s)
  • ERS-0100 for Economist and Economics Assistant
  • ERS-0101 for Information Technology Specialist (Web Design)
  • ERS-0102 for Information Technology Specialist (Customer Support)
• Resume cover sheet form (fillable form)*
• Resume/Curriculum Vitae
• A copy of your unofficial college transcript with your application, and if selected, your official college transcripts will be required to verify education prior to employment (courses to be completed by spring 2012, and you may fax your transcripts (202-245-5604) if you are emailing your resume).
• OF-306 Declaration for Federal Employment http://www.opm.gov/forms/html/of.asp
• Veteran’s Preference- submit your DD-214
  (if applicable.)

What To Expect Next:

• You will receive a confirmation email acknowledging the receipt of your application.  All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications once a final decision is made.  This could be approximately 30-45 days after the closing date of the announcement.  If your email address changes, make certain you update it by emailing erssummerintern@ers.usda.gov.  All documents must be received by 11:59 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) on March 02, 2012.

Note:
If your application is submitted by email, make sure all documents are submitted.  You may fax your unofficial transcripts if needed.  For more information on ERS, its programs, and products, visit ERS website at: www.ers.usda.gov

USDA Nondiscrimination Statement

EEO/No FEAR—Equal Employment Opportunity data posted pursuant to the Notification and Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act), Public Law 107-174.