NOAA OEd/EPP
 
Graduate Sciences Program (GSP)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
 
Questions:
 
 
 
 
Questions and Answers:
 
1.
What are the benefits of participating in the Graduate Sciences Program (GSP)?
The Graduate Sciences Program offers NOAA Offices the opportunity to train and mentor a student while the student is earning a graduate degree. Through a combination of academic training at the University and a work requirement of 640 hours per year at the duty station, students become acquainted with their professional work environment while completing a research project that is mutually beneficial to NOAA and meets their degree requirements. The NOAA mentor has the opportunity to influence the coursework selection to better meet NOAA's needs; sit on the thesis/dissertation committee; establish a partnership with the student's academic institution; and, through the advantage of early career interaction, mold the student into a NOAA scientist.
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2.
Should I hire a Graduate Student through the Graduate Sciences Program?
If you answer “yes” to any of the questions below, then the Graduate Sciences Program is ideal for your organization:
  • Do you have a vacancy either now or anticipate a vacancy in 2 to 4 years from now? Are you actively engaged in succession planning?
  • Are you interested in filling that vacancy with an individual whom you can train through their education and graduate research?
  • Are you interested in fostering research collaborations with academic institutions?
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3.
Who pays for the Graduate Sciences Program participant's expenses while he/she is completing the graduate degree?
The Office of Education (OED) Educational Partnership Program (EPP) supports all GSP participants while they are obtaining their degree. This includes tuition and fees, books, housing, meals, and all travel to/from the duty station and one OED approved annual conference where a presentation is to be made.

Costs to the Line Office include the office space and a computer for the student, and all associated costs such as printer usage, phone usage, etc. These resources are to be available for the student during their 640 hours of their career work experience requirement during each year.
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4.
Once the Graduate Sciences Program participant completes their degree, who pays for their FTE?
Once the GSP participant completes their degree, the receiving office provides a billet number and assumes all costs associated with this FTE including salary, benefits, travel, etc.
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5.
Will Graduate Sciences Program participants work at the assigned duty station even if they are enrolled in a university in a different state?
Yes, GSP participants will work at the NOAA Office/Duty Station for a minimum of 16 weeks per year. The Office of Education will fund the student's travel to the duty station to satisfy this work requirement.
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6.
Are NOAA mentors able to provide input into the Graduate Sciences Program participant's thesis/dissertation project, or do the scholars work independently on one project at the university and a separate project at NOAA?
Yes, NOAA mentors are strongly encouraged to provide oversight of GSP participant projects. GSP Participants' should develop one project that is mutually agreed upon and beneficial to NOAA and in line with their university studies. The Office of Education will fund the mentor's travel for the thesis/dissertation defense since it is expected that the mentor will be on the final committee.
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7.
Do Graduate Sciences Program applicants select among offices where positions are available which corresponds to their interests and the subject of their thesis work or do NOAA offices select among student applicants?
NOAA offices select students from the eligible applicant pool. Please note that student applications for the Graduate Sciences Program are solicited concurrently with NOAA's call to identify positions. Therefore, students applying to the program are unaware of which positions are available.
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8.
Are student applicants Ph.D. or Masters degree candidates?
Graduate Sciences Program applicants can be pursuing either a Master's Degree or a Doctoral Degree as a full-time student at the time of application. GSP participants must be full-time students to maintain eligibility within the program.
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9.
Which fields of study do applicants to the Graduate Sciences Program pursue?
GSP participants are from a cross-section of disciplines relevant to NOAA's mission. The Graduate Sciences Program places students in the mission critical NOAA science and policy fields which enable them to conduct research at a NOAA facility. These include, but are not limited to: Remote Sensing, Environmental Sciences, Fisheries Science and Management, Social Sciences, Atmospheric Science, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Engineering, and Computer Science.
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10.
Do applicants to the program apply at the beginning of the thesis work or later?
Graduates Sciences Program applicants can apply at any point in their graduate program of study as long as they will not graduate prior to December of the year they apply. All GSP applicants must complete at least 16-weeks of work at NOAA to satisfactorily complete the program. Seniors completing their undergraduate degree and planning to attend graduate school are also eligible to apply.
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11.
What do I need to do to host a Graduate Sciences Program participant?
NOAA offices interested in participating in the Program should submit a hiring package to the Office of Education. The hiring package consists of:
  1. Original SF-52 with signatures - The action should state "Recruitment".
  2. Trainee Position description - expected duties while the GSP participant is pursuing their degree
  3. CD-541 - Trainee Position performance plan
  4. Target Position description - the position the GSP participant will occupy upon completion of their degree.
  5. CD-516
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12.
What tasks should be included in the trainee performance plan since the participants are still pursuing their degree?
The trainee performance plan should include the following elements and activities:

"Independent Research" element worth no more than 50 points which not only describes tasks to be performed toward the thesis/dissertation, but also includes the following major activity:
  • Make satisfactory progress toward completion of graduate degree, to comply with the requirements of the NOAA Graduate Sciences Program (GSP).

"Professional Development" element worth 10 points which contains the following major activities:
  • Identify, participate in and complete training activities to enhance the employee's capacity to perform work related task, perform independent research, and gather more awareness and understanding in research area; and,
  • Attend meetings, workshops, and seminars that are designed to improve personal effectiveness related to program objectives.

Other possible elements worth the remaining 40 points are usually Duty station specific. These may include, but are not limited to, one or two of the following:
  • Outreach and Education - i.e. Provide technical support to the Director and researchers in executing the range of analytical and interpretive activities required to meet science and education objectives.
  • Customer Service and Teamwork - i.e. Provide quality service to agency and constituents
  • Products, Services, and Technology Transfer - i.e. Disseminate research findings and information to users in government, academic, and commercial organizations
  • Planning and Evaluation - i.e. Establish project plans and tasks, evaluate work proposals, and coordinate outcomes
  • External Communications - i.e. Work effectively with NOAA partners
  • Program Leadership - i.e. Advance the scientific mission of (insert Line Office) and NOAA through exercising leadership in all roles and responsibilities.
  • Branch Contributions - Assist the research goals that have already been set forth by the Branch
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13.
Once I receive the eligible applications, how do I select a candidate?
In making a selection, please first consider information contained in the application package. You are encouraged to call the applicant for an interview and discuss the details of the office/position. However, NOAA Program Managers are prohibited from directly making an official offer to an applicant. Only NOAA's Workforce Management Office (WMO) may make a job offer to an applicant for a position at NOAA. If an applicant asks "Does this mean I have the job?" or a similar question, please indicate to the applicant, "Your application is under consideration amongst a pool of applications" per guidance received from WMO.
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14.
Can the target position identified in the hiring package be altered once student has begun participating in the Graduate Sciences Program?
When the GSP participant accepts the employment offer, it is with the understanding of the title, duties, and location of the target position identified at the time of the offer.
  • LOCATION: If the exact location of the position is not determined, a region must be provided. However, in this situation, negotiations must occur between the GSP participant, OED, and the Line Office so that the final placement is mutually agreed upon. Therefore, it is in the best interest of all parties if the receiving office is very specific at the onset of this process about where the GSP participant will be placed upon completion of Program requirements.


  • TITLE & DUTIES: Often once the GSP participant has begun conducting their 640 hours per year at their duty station, the receiving office is able to refine the duties of the target position, and possibly the title of the position. Again, these changes must be mutually agreed upon by the receiving office, OED, and the GSP participant.
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15.
What is the duration of the service commitment to the Federal government for Graduate Sciences Program participants?
GSP participants are required to work for the Federal government for 3 years for every one year of support they received through the Program. If a GSP participant leaves Federal service prior to completion of this service agreement, they are required to return the balance of funds for time not served.
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16.
What is the entry level salary for Graduate Sciences Program participants?
The GSP participant's salary is determined in part by degree completion as provided in the table below:

Degree Completed

General Schedule Scale Starting Salary

Pay for Performance Scale
Starting Salary

Bachelor

GS-7

Pay Band II

Master

GS-9

Pay Band II (salary increase of at least 6% above B.S. degree level)

Doctoral

GS-11

Pay Band III

The exact salary within the Grade/Pay Band is then determined by profession work experience.
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17.
What are the responsibilities of the NOAA mentor?
NOAA Mentors are responsible for:
  1. Participating in the orientation program as required, and providing on-the-job orientation for the GSP participant upon their arrival to their permanent duty station;
  2. Ensuring the GSP participant has adequate workspace; a computer; printer; access to the internet, a telephone, fax, and copying machine; research supplies needed for project; and fulfills a tour of duty consisting of 8.5 hours each day at the NOAA site;
  3. Supervising the GSP participant while on the job, and coordinating with the GSP Manager on training-related issues;
  4. Participating with the GSP participant's academic and research advisor to provide guidance on research project for thesis or dissertation (the NOAA advisor must be a career or career-conditional NOAA employee);
  5. Participating with the GSP Manager to assess the Graduate Sciences Program participant's progress during the form of mid-term and final performance evaluations;
  6. Ensuring the GSP participant's time and attendance record is an accurate reflection of time worked by approving the T&A record, and coordinating/making recommendations to the GSP participant on their requested leave. OED depends on the on-site manager to validate T&A records; and,
  7. Ensuring the assignment of the GSP participant to a mutually agreed upon position in their office upon completion of training.
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18.
What is the annual timeline/due date for the Graduate Sciences Program?
1st Quarter
  • Line Offices and Staff Offices begin to identify position(s)
  • OED issues NOAA-wide request for LOs/SOs to develop hiring package(s)

2nd to 4th Quarter
            End of January - LOs/SOs hiring packages
            End of January - Student application deadline
            Late February - Student applications disseminated to LOs/SOs for selection
            Late March - LOs/SOs provide selections to OED (rank top 3)
            Week of Memorial Day - New class of Graduate Sciences Program participants sworn into
                                             Federal service and attend NOAA Orientation Training Program. New
                                             Graduate Sciences Program participants may visit duty station the following week.
            August / September - GSP participants report to University for coursework
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