Conservation Legacy

POSITION DETAILS

Position Title: Ecology Assistant - AmeriCorps

Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements

Site Location: Dinosaur National Monument, Dinosaur, Colorado and Jensen, Utah

Can this position be fully remote: Yes

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 Ecology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will further current research and to build upon previous research using paleoenvironmental archives collected from Dinosaur National Monument. The position will contribute toward project completion and will improve depth of understanding of long-term environmental change in Dinosaur and the broader region. This effort will ensure that project results are conveyed in a timely manner to park partners and the community, thereby promoting ecological conservation, management, research, and interpretation activities inherent to the protection of ecological resources in the park.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES

Primary responsibilities for this position are to 1. coordinate with NPS and USGS researchers to formalize and analyze data for tree-ring collections within the park, including but not limited to: crossdating, demographic mapping, chronology development, climate-growth analysis, reconstruction development, and assistance with the preparation of data tables and a final report, and 2. subsample and analyze previously collected packrat midden materials currently housed at the Dinosaur National Monument Museum. The fossil middens will be disaggregated and dried according to standard procedure. Plant remains will be identified by matching with herbarium species to create an abundance score and add to the dynamic vegetation reconstruction of the Monument. Additionally, Radiocarbon dates may be collected from midden samples to create a chronology that tracks major shifts in vegetation over the last thousands of years. If time permits the member will have the ability to develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in support of future technical paleoenvironmental collections and for use as a boundary object during consultation with park partners, collaborators, stakeholders, and tribes. The member may also be called upon to accompany NPS staff to participate in paleontological and archaeological sites surveys. At the completion of the appointment, the member will have the opportunity to synthesize results and present them to a public audience.


KEYWORDS: Ecology, paleobotany, dendrochronology, paleoenvironments

DELIVERABLES

Deliverables include the development of research results, analyses and interpretations of paleoenvironmental research. The final report for Dinosaur National Monument and public presentations will be prepared in collaboration with USGS and NPS mentors. Public-facing products may include but are not limited to: story map, formal presentation, and educational outreach. The member will be encouraged to prepare abstracts and presentations for professional annual meetings with the involvement and permission of NPS and USGS.


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 advanced undergraduate or graduate students whose educational background and career objectives are in paleoenvironmental science. The applicant should be comfortable and confident working independently and in collaboration. Applicants must have strong leadership and research skills, and the ability to work in diverse settings including laboratories and in the field. Previous experience in ecological proxy research, especially paleobotany and dendrochronology, is preferred. The participant should be able to work well independently and lift at least 25 pounds and hike 1 mile in hot, desert environments.

ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION

POSITION SETTING

Natural Environment: Dinosaur National Monument straddles northwest Colorado & northeast Utah. The area is high desert, 5000 feet in elevation, with summer high temperatures of 100F, lows of 50F, and 10% humidity. Summer thunderstorms are common. Housing/work area is located in Jensen, Utah. The nearest city is Vernal, Utah which is 25 miles west of the park.

Physical Position Environment: Much of the work will be conducted in an office, lab or field setting. Green River Resource Center and the museum collections (located in Vernal, Utah) are air conditioned. Some workspaces are not air conditioned and may require working outside or shaded areas for prolonged periods of time.


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. Park provided housing is in a 3-bedroom HVAC house furnished as a dormitory (with 2-5 roommates) incl. all amenities (stove, utensils, pots, pans, fridge, washer and dryer, bathroom with shower, etc.). Depending on park staffing rooms may need to be shared (2 persons/room, no mixed sexes). Housing is in the housing area of the Green River District (Jensen, Utah) so member will be in the community of permanent and seasonal staff. House is located 50 yards from work office.


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 Dinosaur National Monument 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!”

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