POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant
Park Unit: Alaska Region Office
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Number of positions available: 1
Can this position be fully remote: NO
INTERNSHIP DATES AND LENGTH
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Start Date: 01/13/2025
Flexible Start Date: YES
LIVING AND RELOCATION ALLOWANCE:
Weekly Stipend: $665.00
Relocation Allowance: $1,050.00
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
Wildland fire is one of the most widespread and significant disturbances in Alaska’s boreal forests. Fire reinvigorates ecological processes, restarts successional sequences, and contributes to a complex mosaic of vegetation communities throughout Alaska. The National Park Service Fire Ecology Program has been collecting and analyzing data on affected environments, fire behavior, short- and long-term vegetation change related to fire management actions for several decades. Results from this “in-house” monitoring, in combination with published research, are utilized by the fire ecology program to provide feedback to the NPS fire management program and interagency partners regarding management activities and the effects of wildfire on natural resources. Since 2001, the Alaska Regional fire ecology program has established more than 1000 monitoring sites associated with several dozen fire ecology projects. Data has been collected using a variety of protocols and data collection methods. The data gleaned from this data to date has been utilized in myriad ways including but not limited to assessment of burn severity, monitoring of post-fire or post-treatment vegetation and changes to soil properties, as well as fuels treatment effectiveness. The purpose of this internship is to work with the growing Alaska NPS fire ecology team to create a comprehensive navigable state-of-the-art catalog of all fire ecology projects and associated data as well as an interactive geographical depiction of monitoring sites. Specifically, the selected intern will contribute to programmatic efforts to: (1) refine the organizational structure of existing paper and digital files; (2) digitally archive existing paper records, (3) refine and expand upon the existing project and site catalog/database; (4) utilize state-of-the-art technology (e.g., ArcGIS Experience Builder) to build a web app depicting project and plot locations; (5) highlight this work for NPS and the public by producing an on-line public outreach product (e.g., ArcGIS Story Map). Additionally, this internship offers a chance to develop an independent project based on a balance of the candidate’s demonstrated abilities, interests, and emergent Fire Ecology program needs.
POSITION IMPACT
The purpose of this position is to contribute to the NPS fire ecology and management programs in Alaska by archiving, cataloguing, and showcasing the extensive network of fire ecology monitoring projects and monitoring data collected to date. The SIP's work will increase our ability to navigate data archives and enhance our ability to visualize where to focus future monitoring and research should occur. Ultimately, this work will contribute to fire ecology program efficacy and provide multiple interfaces that will be of utility to the entire fire ecology program.
DELIVERABLES
Proposed deliverables include restructured organization of existing fire ecology monitoring data by geographic region, producing a digital archive of paper records, producing an enhanced comprehensive catalog/database of fire ecology projects and associated monitoring plots, and interactive map(s) depicting project and plot locations. Dependent on SIP skills and interests, deliverables may include outreach products designed to publicly highlight the fire ecology program. Once the participant has been selected, we will collaborate to agree upon an appropriate independent project before, or immediately after the start of the season. This written agreement will clearly define the scope and methodologies to be employed as well as final deliverables expected.
DESIRED INTERN QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants must have completed at least one year toward a degree in the biological, ecological, or natural resource management sciences with a preference for those candidates with completed coursework in remote sensing, or geographic information systems (GIS). Additional coursework in fire ecology, forestry, plant physiology, technical writing and/or statistics will make the applicant most competitive. A working knowledge of ArcGIS, experience planning and managing GIS projects and strong organizational and data management skills are required. The applicant should be able to work well independently, troubleshoot technological challenges, and effectively develop, document, and communicate results.
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 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
WORK SETTING
Duties associated with this position require that the applicant is on site in Fairbanks, Alaska at the NPS Fairbanks Administrative Center. The Fairbanks NPS office houses the Park staff from Yukon-Charley National Preserve, Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, as well as Inventory and Monitoring staff for two NPS Networks, and is located across the road from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. With this wide range of Park staff, working in the Fairbanks NPS office is unique opportunity to network with diverse park staff that serve many roles in over eight different National Parks in Alaska. Fairbanks offers unparalleled skiing and opportunities to try various winter activities (snowshoeing, dog mushing, curling, ice carving, aurora viewing) and has all the amenities one needs (restaurants/grocery stores, entertainment, doctors/hospital, etc.).
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS 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 intern will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area. With a duty station of Fairbanks, no housing is provided, but short-term rentals are available in the university town of >50,000, cost ranging from ~$600-$1300 per month.
KEYWORDS
fire ecology, data cataloguing and archiving, ArcGIS web apps
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/