Are You Interested in a Temporary Post at NSF?
The NSF Arctic Sciences Section presently has an opportunity for a
rotational assignment for a scientist from any field in the natural
sciences. If you are interested in the possibility of a rotational
assignment in the Arctic Section of the Office of Polar Programs,
contact Tom Pyle at tpyle [at] nsf.gov.
About 40 percent of the 1,300 staff at NSF are temporary employees on
rotational assignments.
For more general information on rotational assignments at NSF, see
http://www.nsf.gov/oirm/hrm/jobs/rotators.
Specific opportunities for rotational assignments at NSF can be found
at http://www.nsf.gov/oirm/hrm/jobs/start.htm.
ROTATIONAL ASSIGNMENTS AT NSF
The NSF Arctic Sciences Section presently has an opportunity for a
rotational assignment for one scientist in the natural sciences.
If you are interested in the possibility of a rotational assignment in
the Arctic Section of the Office of Polar Programs, contact Tom Pyle at
tpyle [at] nsf.gov. Expressions of interest from scientists in all fields
of natural science are welcome. Please include a current curriculum
vitae. More general information on rotational programs at NSF can be
found below.
Rotational assignments at the National Science Foundation (NSF) are
available to scientists representing all disciplines of science. The NSF
employs scientists, engineers, and educators on rotational assignment
from academia, industry, or other eligible non-Federal organizations to
further the agency's mission of supporting the entire spectrum of
science and engineering research and education. About 40 percent of the
1,300 people at NSF - including assistant directors of the agency - are
temporary employees. Specific opportunities for rotational assignments
can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/oirm/hrm/jobs/start.htm
The most frequently used rotational programs are the Intergovernmental
Personnel Act (IPA) Program and the Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and
Educator Program (VSEE). Both the IPA and VSEE Programs strengthen NSF's
ties with the research community and provide the talent and resources
that are critical to meeting NSF's mission. A brief overview of the IPA
and VSEE programs and the differences between them follows.
Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) assignments may be made to or
from Federal agencies and the following:
- state and local governments;
- private and public colleges and universities;
- Indian Tribal governments;
- federally funded research and development centers; and
- qualified non-profit organizations involved in public management.
IPA assignments are funded through grants to the institution as
reimbursement for salary and benefits. It is NSF's policy to request at
least 15% cost sharing of salary and benefits from the institution.
Assignees remain on the home institution's payroll in an active pay
status while assigned to NSF. Salary and benefits continue to be
administered by the home institution. IPA assignees are not Federal
employees, but are subject to provisions of law governing the ethics and
conduct of Federal employees. Initial IPA assignments may be made for up
to two years and may be intermittent, part-time or full time.
Assignments may be extended at the request of NSF for up to three years.
An extension to four years requires approval of NSF's Deputy Director.
By law, an IPA assignment may not be extended beyond four years. It is
NSF's expectation that IPA assignees will not be employed by NSF in any
capacity for at least one year upon completion of their IPA assignment.
Individuals appointed to the Visiting Scientist, Engineer, and Educator
Program (VSEE) program are on a non-paid leave of absence from their
institution. NSF pays salary while benefits are maintained with the home
institution. An appointee must be a U.S. citizen or citizen of a country
which has a mutual security agreement with the U.S. VSEE appointments
are usually made for up to one year and may be extended for an
additional year by mutual agreement between NSF, the home institution,
and the VSEE.
The Independent Research/Development (IR/D) Program permits
individuals serving in the IPA and VSEE Programs, with approved IR/D
plans, to maintain their involvement with their professional
research. Policy information and additional information on salary and
benefits under the Intergovernmental Personnel Act (IPA) Program is
contained in NSF's Personnel Manual, PER Chapter II-600 and on the
Office of Personnel Management's website. VSEE policy information is
contained in the NSF Personnel Manual, PER Chapter II-400 and the NSF
Act.