Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Alaska Region Office, Anchorage, Alaska

Can this position be fully remote: No

Number of positions available: 1

TERMS OF SERVICE

Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)

Flexible Start Date: No

Start Date: 05/04/2025

End Date: 05/03/2026

AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 Hour

BENEFITS

  • Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of $7,395.00 upon successful completion of position.
  • Living Allowance of $665.00 per week.
  • Relocation Allowance of $1,050.00 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).
  • For 52-week-long positions only:
    • Healthcare Coverage
    • Childcare Coverage

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 Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will support National Parks in Alaska, many of which were founded, in part, to protect and maintain freshwater habitat, as stated in enabling legislation (ANILCA 1980). More recently (June, 2024), the White House released the National Aquatic Environmental DNA Strategy clarifying the priority for using eDNA in natural resource management. This Strategy document serves as an important reference guide when developing and testing the feasibility framework for salmon habitat management. The SIP member will play a critical role in establishing the potential for monitoring using eDNA in National Parks in Alaska in remote areas where salmon resources are integral to a true subsistence lifestyle. Additionally, this work will improve our understanding of the ‘natural state’ baselines of salmon streams and their changes over time.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) are the lifeblood of much of Alaska, with the extensive river and lake systems found throughout Alaska National Parks, providing significant habitat for all five salmon species. In the Yukon and Kuskokwim watersheds, annual salmon returns have provided a primary food source for Indigenous communities for millennia. However, salmon returns to these watersheds have declined for more than a decade, threatening the traditional culture and food security of these communities. Chinook salmon abundance has declined in western Alaska over several decades, culminating with the lowest adult returns on record in the Yukon River in 2022 at 81% below the recent 30-yr mean (1991-2020). Chinook salmon abundance also reached record lows in other Bering Sea drainages, including the Unalakleet, Kuskokwim, and Nushagak Rivers during the last five years (Schoen et al. 2024; DOI: 10.25923/f2hv-5581).

Changes to anadromous waters such as increases in water temperature, changes in sediment transfer, thermokarsting and erosion are having negative impacts on salmon and other fish species, particularly in more northern latitudes. This project aims to describe reference conditions and targets for ecosystem recovery following short- and long-term changes to freshwater habitats in northern Alaska parks. To accomplish this, we plan to use aerial mapping of thermal refugia, alongside on-the-ground installations of water temperature loggers and collections of aquatic environmental DNA (eDNA). This position would focus on the ground-based eDNA work.

Aquatic eDNA is an effective tool for detecting species of interest to National Parks. It is also an efficient and cost-effective technique to assess the distribution, and community composition of fish and other species within aquatic food webs. In an effort to develop reference conditions and recovery targets following various disturbances (i.e., wildfires, oil spills, climate change), the NPS will focus much-needed baseline data collection in anadromous waters within and in proximity to National Parks.

The Alaska Regional Office is seeking an SIP member to help collect and analyze baseline data and convey results in several formal and published reports. Specific tasks for this position include: (1) working with a diverse partnership of stakeholders to plan and conduct field work; (2) collecting eDNA samples from multiple remote parks; (3) collaborating with academic laboratory researchers to statistically analyze eDNA results; and (4) providing recommendations on limitations/considerations when using eDNA to evaluate salmon habitat.


KEYWORDS: salmon habitat, eDNA, Alaska, monitoring

DELIVERABLES

1. A report for parks documenting eDNA methods and results (e.g. fish species presence/absence and distribution, and other habitat components that can be identified using current available primers).

2. Geospatial maps and data, with all relevant metadata, published through the regional GIS team for park use.

3. A published scientific paper documenting the results of the study to better inform the broader scientific community of important salmon habitat, and to support management decisions.

4. A minimum of two presentations for sharing the project and findings including presenting within parks and at academic conferences.


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 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
The ability to work comfortably in remote outdoor environments, in and around rivers and lakes, is required. This work also demands someone at ease with flying on small aircraft (planes and helicopters). Experience communicating scientific information verbally and in writing and the ability to work independently and meet agreed-upon deadlines are required. An understanding of Pacific salmon ecology is not required but would be helpful. Experience facilitating partnerships with diverse stakeholders would also be a benefit.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Anchorage is Alaska’s most populous city, with a diverse population of ~300,000 residents and a landscape bordered by mountains and ocean. It has a subarctic climate with strong maritime influences that lead to relatively moderate weather, compared to Alaska’s interior. Summer temperatures typically range from 55 to 78 °F, with >19 hours of daylight at the solstice. Winter temperatures typically range from ~5 to 30 °F. High latitude causes winter days to be short (as little as 6 hours of daylight), however the ability of snow cover to reflect ambient light and brighten surroundings is substantial.

All standard amenities are available in Anchorage, including hospitals, schools, universities, restaurants, museums, theaters, and airports. Indoor and outdoor activities abound. In winter, outdoor activities include skiing (classic, skate, downhill, backcountry), snowboarding, snowshoeing, ice skating, and fat tire cycling, among others. Trails and lakes throughout the city are groomed and hot-mopped (respectively) during winter and are available for recreation free of charge.

Lastly, Anchorage is a city rich in cultural diversity, community events and festivals including summer markets, the Iditarod Sled Dog race and many others you can find on Alaska.org. Within an hour’s drive there is the Fungus Fair and skiing in Girdwood, or the Alaska State Fair in Palmer. There are unique, wonderful opportunities to learn traditional Alaska Native skills like beading, fur sewing and wood carving or dog mushing. Anchorage is a gateway to intact wilderness for world-class hiking, hunting and fishing. Whether you are interested in more of the indoor activities or the wild outdoors, there is something for everyone.


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 NOT available. The member will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. Park housing is not available. However, Anchorage is a compact city, with many housing options available within walking, cycling, or busing distance of downtown, where the NPS office is located. Options range from shared housing (at the low-cost end) to multi-room apartments (at the high-cost end). As of 11/2024, the average monthly cost of a 1-bedroom apartment within 5 miles of the NPS office was $1500. See Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to get a sense for current Anchorage rental prices.


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 Alaska Region Office will host a Ecology 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!”

%FOOTER_POWERED_BY%breezy