POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4456
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve, Davis, California
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 6/15/2026
End Date: 9/7/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 1,956.35 upon successful completion of position
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 700.00 per week, fixed rate
- Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck)
- Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
- Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, February 15, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on February 15, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: Water quality, aquatic health, modeling, metals, Ecotoxicology
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The position will contribute to ongoing research of Rusting Rivers in Western Arctic Parklands. In these areas, permafrost thaw is causing acid rock drainage and the release of toxic metals into streams and rivers. High metal concentrations can be harmful to aquatic health, including effects on variety of life and drinking water quality, threatening subsistence fishing, local communities, and recreation within the parks. The goal of the position is for the participant to evaluate whether the observed metal concentrations are high enough to be toxic to the fish, and whether they are responsible for previous variety of life loss. This project will provide information to further guide monitoring and management decisions and will contribute to our understanding of rusting rivers in Arctic Alaska.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The participant will be based in the Poulin lab at UC Davis and will be supervised by a postdoctoral fellow. Their research will contribute to the larger Rusting Rivers project, which seeks to understand the causes and effects of permafrost thaw-driven acid rock drainage in Arctic Alaska. The participant will use modeling approaches to determine if the metal concentrations in these rivers are toxic to aquatic life. Specifically, the participant will use the US EPA’s Biotic Ligand Model in conjunction with a dataset from our field site including pH, hardness, and organic and inorganic carbon concentrations to assess toxicological risk and predict if observed metal concentrations are causing fish and invertebrate loss. In addition to developing modeling expertise, the participant will gain skills in laboratory techniques by assisting with metals analyses. They will also gain skills in data management, statistical analysis, and science communication. The Rusting Rivers project is highly collaborative and includes researchers from the United States Geological Survey, National Parks Service, and UC Davis. The participant will gain insight into how these collaborations across academic and government settings function. Ultimately, the participant will have opportunities to contribute to manuscripts, presentations, reports, and outreach activities depending on their interests. For more information on the Rusting Rivers project, watch this video:
DELIVERABLES
The primary deliverable for this position will be a dataset of toxicity thresholds for multiple metals and fish in Arctic Alaska. This product will ultimately be included in a published dataset and will contribute to one or more manuscripts in the larger Rusting Rivers project. Depending on the participant’s interests and career goals, additional deliverables and projects products could include assistance with outreach presentations for park staff and local communities, preparing a poster for a local conference, co-authorship on a manuscript, and developing materials to communicate the findings of this project to various audiences.
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 host site.
- The applicant must be available to participate for the entire 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should be undergraduate students with an interest in biological modeling and environmental toxicology. Applicants must have some experience with data management in Excel or similar, and coding experience (e.g., R, Python) is helpful but not required. Previous laboratory experience, familiarity with environmental fieldwork, and coursework in chemistry, biology, or ecology are useful but not required. The applicant should be able to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrate initiative, and have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Good communication skills, both verbal and written, are necessary for this position. Finally, candidates for this position will be curious and eager to learn new skills and about the research.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
This position will be based in the Poulin Lab in Meyer Hall at UC Davis. The position will be office- and laboratory-based, and there are no special physical requirements needed for the position. Job hazards will include working with laboratory chemicals using proper protective equipment. UC Davis is located in Davis, California, where summer temperatures are ~100°F. The city has a population of 67,000 people and has multiple grocery stores, restaurants, and other amenities.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant will not need to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is not required for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is NOT available. The selected candidate will be responsible for finding housing in the nearby area.
Summer housing options in Davis include residence hall accommodations for students enrolled in summer session classes (6/12-9/15). The residence hall rate for this period is $7422 and includes three meals per day. There are also apartments and houses to rent in Davis during the summer, with prices starting at around $1200 per month.
OUR COMMITMENT
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 based on project needs. Lunch breaks and days off 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
- Member will receive pertinent project and site training from host site throughout term
- Member will receive an orientation that includes training on AmeriCorps prohibited and unallowable activities.
- Access to free professional development webinars led by Conservation Legacy staff
EVALUATION AND REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of minimum AmeriCorps 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.
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 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/.
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 Scientists in Parks program will host the Biology Assistant at Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve, Kobuk Valley National Park, Noatak National Preserve.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with legal requirements. If you need assistance and/or reasonable accommodations 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!”
