POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4446
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Southwest Alaska Network, Anchorage, Alaska
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/18/2026
End Date: 10/5/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 675 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 2,817.14 upon successful completion of position
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 600.00 per week, fixed rate
- Relocation Allowance: $ 1,100.00 (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: botany, fieldwork, ecology, wilderness
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The participant will collect critical monitoring data on vegetation composition and structure that are a monitoring vital sign for Southwest Alaska national parks. Their post-season project will contribute to the future collection of this information by creating a streamlined workflow for assembling information about vegetation plots to be used in subsequent visits (maps, species lists, photos, route tracks and descriptions).
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Duties will include sampling forest vegetation plots in remote, backcountry locations in three national parks in southwest Alaska (Lake Clark, Katmai); identifying vascular and non-vascular plants to the species level; assisting in the collection of voucher specimens, plot photos, environmental data, and plot coordinates (GPS); post-processing of instrumental data; manual entry of plot data into a SQL database; data QA/QC; creating a workflow for preseason monitoring packet assembly, and report preparation. Crews typically spend 8-10 days in the field at a time. Field projects is physically demanding, and crew members may be required to carry a heavy pack over distances of several miles in steep, uneven terrain, often in inclement weather. Projects are conducted in areas with high densities of brown or black bear.
DELIVERABLES
Quality Checked vegetation monitoring data
A documented and streamlined workflow for assembling information about vegetation plots to be used in subsequent visits (maps, species lists, photos, route tracks and descriptions).
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 20 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
A successful participant must be physically fit and comfortable living and working in remote backcountry settings, have a working knowledge and or aptitude for vegetation identification, a strong work ethic, good interpersonal skills and good attention to detail and organizational skills.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
The majority of the projects for this position will be performed outside, in Alaskan wilderness. The participant will spend as long as 14 days at a time, living in a tent deep in the backcountry, hiking in trailless areas, carrying 30 - 50lb backpack to monitoring sites. Inclement weather, brown and black bears, and biting insects can create challenging conditions. The participant must be comfortable travelling in small, single-engine floatplanes to reach monitoring sites.
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 available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Housing will be provided at Lake Clark National Park, in a remote Alaska bush community. Housing is shared in a bunkhouse, with shared rooms and living spaces. The participant will need to bring provisions to live for the duration of the service opportunity, as there are essentially no stores or services at the park, and it is not connected to a road system. Resupply is possible through air taxi services, but expensive.
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 Southwest Alaska Network.
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!”
