Pathways Student Trainee – Soil Science at USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service

Are you looking for a dynamic student internship where you can jumpstart a biological science career while continuing to work toward your degree? Want to help ensure a climate-resilient, sustainable future for our nation’s agriculture, forests, and natural resources? Become a Pathways Student Trainee – Soil Science with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)! Duty Location: This position is located in Hamilton Square, NJ as part of the New Jersey State NRCS Office. Recruitment and relocation incentives may be offered according to Agency policy. Duties and Responsibilities: As a Pathways Student Intern, you’ll receive hands-on, specialized training and professional development across a wide variety of biological sciences, natural resource management, and soil conservation activities. Work assignments are designed to provide practical application of the knowledge and skills acquired by interns during formal training. These assignments and duties may include: Assisting in field examinations of soils by soil boring with an auger. Working with soil conservation personnel to make determinations of soil type, as well as measuring the amount of topsoil remaining. Trainees will examine soil borings and compare soil samples with descriptions and legends to gain experience classifying soil type. Assisting the Major Land Resource Area Soil Survey Leader in tabulating soil survey data. Assisting in the maintenance of soil survey progress maps which indicate, by county, the location of areas mapped and the progress of soil surveys completed. Performing developmental assignments to enable the intern's ability to identify farm boundaries on aerial photographs, lay out photo coverage for mapping, and place match lines on photos. Attending soil survey office meetings. Maintaining accurate daily records of time distribution and work accomplishments, summarizing this information each pay period. Prepares and maintains various records and reports as required. Following successful completion of Pathways program requirements, interns may be eligible for conversion to a permanent professional position within the Agency. Application Instructions: Applications close at 11:59 PM EST on November 17, 2026. To apply, you will need to create a USAJOBS account, complete the online application and assessment questionnaires, and submit any required documents. Please see the full job announcement on USAJOBS for eligibility and qualification information, as well as further instructions to apply.