POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Hydrology Assistant
Park Unit: Natural Resource Stewardship and Science, Water Resources Division
Location: Fort Collins, Colorado
Number of positions available: 1
Can this position be fully remote: NO
INTERNSHIP DATES AND LENGTH
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Start Date: 10/07/2024
Flexible Start Date: YES
LIVING AND RELOCATION ALLOWANCE:
Weekly Stipend: $665.00
Relocation Allowance: $400.00
CURRENT NUMBER OF APPLICANTS: Under 75 (This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first.)
POSITION DESCRIPTION
This position will be based in the Water Resources Division (WRD) and Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD) of the NPS Natural Resources Stewardship and Science Directorate (NRSS) in Fort Collins, Colorado, and provide technical support to water monitoring activities conducted by the NRSS Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD). The NPS IMD conducts long-term ecological monitoring across over 280 National Parks through 32 networks organized around park units sharing similar geography and ecosystems. These 32 networks conduct monitoring in parks for ecological ‘vital signs’, parameters like water quality, streamflow, habitat, and species dynamics which can be used to monitor and assess the long-term health of park ecosystems.
This SIP intern position will assist national IMD and WRD office staff with the management, analysis, and visualization of water quality and hydrologic data. The incumbent will develop and maintain systems for automating water resources data publication and visualization. The incumbent will also be assigned to assist individual inventory and monitoring networks with water resource related data management and analysis tasks identified as priorities by the national office. Responsibilities will include the use of statistical computing in the R programming language, the usage of data visualization programs, and communication with network and central office staff to maximize the usability and effectiveness of deliverables. Additionally, the incumbent will assist NPS scientists in responding to technical assistance requests from parks dealing with water quality issues as needed, potentially involving fieldwork, data collection, and analysis.
POSITION IMPACT
The work of this SIP position will enhance the ability of the NPS to integrate science into the management of park water resources and help us in our mission of ensuring clean water and healthy park ecosystems for generations to come. Improving the ability of IMD networks to communicate scientific results to parks will increase the impact and management utility of our work.
DELIVERABLES
1. The continued development and publication of a service-wide water quality and hydrologic data visualization system
2. Documented and repeatable solutions to network data management and analysis requests as assigned, and solutions to park technical assistance requests.
3. Contributions to reports as needed relevant to water quality studies being conducted within the NPS.
DESIRED INTERN QUALIFICATIONS
Desired qualifications include the following: currently pursuing or recently completed a bachelor’s or (preferred) graduate degree in environmental sciences, hydrology, water resources engineering, aquatic ecology, or a closely related field with a fundamental understanding of statistics, hydrology, and water quality. A background in statistical computing in the R programming language, including R-markdown and R-package development. Experience with the management, analysis, and visualization of continuous hydrologic and water quality datasets. Experience in Microsoft Power BI. Strong communications skills, an interest in creative problem solving, and the ability to work independently.
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. legal permanent resident (“Green Card holder”). Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required. The applicant must be available to participate for 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
WORK SETTING
Office setting in a city environment in the high plains east of the Rocky Mountains. The incumbent will be based in the main office of the NPS Water Resources Division in Fort Collins, CO. Extensive opportunities for outdoor recreation exist in the mountains to the west, including Rocky Mountain National Park and parts of Roosevelt National Forest within one hour of the city. Available recreational activities include paddling, hiking, mountain biking, access to ski resorts within 2 hours, world class trout fishing, etc.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant will not need to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is recommended for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The intern will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. Fort Collins is a vibrant city of 169,810 people on the Colorado Front Range, with numerous adjacent small towns and communities. Fort Collins is a college town, and home to Colorado State University, so subleases of shared housing are likely to be available. All standard amenities, including gas, groceries, major medical centers, and bars and restaurants are available throughout the city. The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment is $900/ month. The city of Fort Collins is very bicycle and pedestrian friendly, but a personal vehicle is recommended for commuting to and from the office.
KEYWORDS
Hydrology, Water Quality, Data Science, Statistics, Visualization
IMPORTANT NOTICES
This posting will close after receiving 75 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on Sunday, 16 June, whichever occurs first. 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 Intern positions per winter. 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 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
https://www.scientistsinparks.org/