Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Paleontology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Waco Mammoth National Monument, Waco, Texas

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: Yes

Start Date: 05/19/2025

End Date: 08/11/2025

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $1,956.00 upon successful completion of position.
  • Living Allowance of $565.00 per week.
  • Relocation Allowance of $400.00 distributed as a one-time lump sum.
  • Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly).
    • Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly).

APPLICATION TIMELINE

The position will close after receiving 75 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, 19 January, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 19 January, 2025.

PURPOSE

This Paleontology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will assist with the collections stored at the Mayborn Museum Complex, which is not functionally available due to deficiencies in the organization and storage. Restoring the storage to NPS standards will ensure the collection remains available for future study. This backlog of cataloging inhibits the ability of the collection to be used or viewed by researchers, interpretation staff, and the general public. The member would help to start the process of cataloging all of the monument’s specimens, which will make the fossils more available for all purposes. This position will help monument staff catalogue the newly donated collections while giving the member hands-on experience with collections management and curation.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

The member will assist with ongoing projects related to the curation and restoration of paleontological resources both in the ground and in the collections. The collection of originally excavated specimens was just donated by Baylor University in October 2024. This summer’s member will use the inventory and guidance from the museum technician and paleontologist to help begin the process of cataloguing specimens. The member will be responsible for maintaining a database as well as a list of available specimen numbers. Additional responsibilities will include restoration of delicate Pleistocene remains using manual preparation tools and consolidants and adhesives. Much of this work will be completed behind the scenes at the Mayborn Museum Complex on the campus of Baylor University. Other duties may include public speaking, interpretation, and field work. Members are encouraged to develop projects that can be presented at the Geological Society of America annual meeting, with a focus on the restoration and cataloging progress.


KEYWORDS: Collections management, paleontology, restoration, conservation

DELIVERABLES

The main deliverable for this position will be preparation records for any conservations and fossil restoration projects worked on during the position. The database that contains the member’s progress on labeling and cataloging specimens will submitted at the end of the position. This data will be used by NPS staff to update and maintain the NPS database. A final report will be required as part of the position.


QUALIFICATIONS

  • United States citizen, United States national, or a lawful permanent resident alien.
  • Has received a high school diploma or equivalency certificate; or has not dropped out of secondary school to enroll as an AmeriCorps participant and agrees to obtain a high school diploma or its equivalent prior to using the education award.
  • Prior to starting the position, agrees to provide information to establish eligibility and to complete a National Service Criminal History Check for the employer of record, Conservation Legacy, and a separate government security background check for the NPS site location.
  • The applicant must be available to participate for 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should be undergraduate or graduate students whose educational background and career objectives are in paleontology, geology, biology, or museum studies.

All fossil conservation and restoration techniques can be taught, but preferred qualifications include prior experience preparing fossil remains and a basic knowledge of skeletal anatomy, paleontology, geology, and biology. The participant should be able to work well independently under minimal supervision.

Candidates who are interviewed will be requested to provide transcripts and/or references before a selection is made. Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Waco Mammoth National Monument is 4.93 acres surrounded by over 100 acres of protected City of Waco parkland, inside northern City limits near both the Bosque and Brazos rivers, Waco Regional Airport, and Lake Waco. Waco, Texas is a metropolitan area with a population of about 134,000 residents. The city has many amenities such as restaurants, supermarkets, and attractions. These amenities are within a 5-mile radius from the park. Although Waco has public transit options, these options do not include stopovers at the park. A personal vehicle or bike is required. Most members have carpooled in the past, but access to a car makes life easier in WACO.

Position Environment: Ninety percent of participant’s duties will be performed in a 69-74 degree climate controlled Dig Shelter, office, and collections area. Field work will be limited according to weather but outside climates can vary between 60-95 degrees. Participant will not have to hike to their assigned work areas. Each work area is easily accessible by a short, ADA accessible trail or sidewalk.


VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

  • Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
  • A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.

HOUSING

Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. The park will be providing housing at the University of Baylor at no cost to the participant. It is a two-bedroom apartment and pets are not allowed in the apartment.

All apartments are fully furnished including bed linens, towels, kitchen items, and washer & dryer.

All utilities are included including basic cable and wireless internet.

This apartment comes with two labeled parking spots. Yellow hangtags will be assigned to you upon arrival to display while parked in the lot.


HOW TO APPLY

Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.

Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.


ADDITIONAL DETAILS


PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.


TIME REQUIREMENTS

  • This position is expected to serve full time each week, but exact service schedules may vary.
  • Lunch breaks will not be counted towards AmeriCorps service hours.
  • Member may be required to participate in national, state, or local service projects or events as part of their service term.

ORIENTATION AND TRAINING

  • Orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
  • Pertinent training from the NPS site location throughout the term of service.
  • Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff or the Ecological Society of America.
  • Opportunity to join one (or more) SIP Affinity Groups. Groups include: DEIJ Change Makers, Women+ in Science, BIPOC, or Pride in STEM.
  • Opportunity to present the outcomes from the SIP position at national scientific meetings held by the Ecological Society of America and Geological Society of America.

EVALUATION AND REPORTING

As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.


Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.


Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Waco Mammoth National Monument will host a Paleontology Assistant.


Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements.


If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact us!”

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