Expanding the Energy Geochemistry Database

Geological Survey • Denver, CO

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Semester of Service Program offers students an unpaid, project-based opportunity to support Federal missions and develop career-ready skills. The student will help expand the U.S. Geological Survey’s Energy Geochemistry Database (EGDB), which contains nearly 4 million results on more than 116,000 samples collected by the USGS Energy Resources Program to support understanding of the geochemical and physical processes responsible for hydrocarbon formation. The work involves quality-control reviews and adding external laboratory data to the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS). The resulting data are expected to be released to the public with a new version of the EGDB in September 2027.

The project is conducted through the USGS Petroleum Geochemistry Research Laboratory. The student will gain experience using and managing databases, checking scientific data quality, and learning how a government laboratory uses LIMS and databases to serve the public. The work uses data external to the USGS and is intended to contribute to a high-visibility public data product without replicating or replacing Federal employee duties.

This is an unpaid volunteer assignment for a minimum of 90 days during Spring 2027, between mid-January and mid-June. The schedule is 8–20 hours per week, and work is in the office or work site only at the USGS, Building 20, Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado. One position is available.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national studying in the United States or abroad.
• Remain enrolled at least half-time in an accredited educational institution throughout the 90-day opportunity; qualifying institutions must be located in the United States.
• Be in good academic standing as defined by the educational institution.
• Not graduate before May 1, 2027.
• Commit to volunteering 8–20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days.
• Complete required onboarding documentation for the Department of the Interior and the academic institution.
• Agree to volunteer without compensation, a stipend, or hiring preference.
• Agree that volunteers are not Federal employees.
• Not be a current Federal employee.
• Provide a copy of transcripts with the application package for enrollment and education verification.

Nice To Haves

• Interest in laboratory analysis, data processing, and databases, and/or pursuit of a science- or technology-focused degree.
• Strong computer skills, especially in Access, SQL, VBA, or AI.

Responsibilities

• Perform quality-control reviews of external laboratory data.
• Add outside laboratory data to the Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to expand the Energy Geochemistry Database.
• Contribute data for a public release of the updated Energy Geochemistry Database, expected in September 2027.

Benefits

• Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision, and Federal mentorship.
• Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
• Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
• Coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act and workers’ compensation for service-related injuries.
• Structured onboarding and ongoing supervision.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed