POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4417, 4418
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Cumberland Piedmont Network, Mammoth Cave, Kentucky
Number of positions available: 2
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 36 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/3/2026
End Date: 1/10/2027
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1200 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 5,176.50 upon successful completion of position
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 600.00 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: Cave Cricket Monitoring, Cave Bats Monitoring, Forest Vegetation Monitoring, Cave Aquatic Biota Monitoring, Water Quality Monitoring, Field projects, Office projects
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This projects will provide parks with scientific data to support sound resource management decisions, benefiting both the Inventory and Monitoring Program and the Science and Natural Resources Program of the National Park Service. These positions will support environmental protection by assisting with the inventory and monitoring of natural resources across multiple park units in the South Atlantic Gulf Region. Responsibilities will include tasks related to monitoring wildlife, vegetation, water quality, and air quality.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
The participant’s primary responsibility will be assisting with fieldwork related to the monitoring of cave vital signs (cave crickets/cave bats/cave aquatic biota) using established methods and data processing. Fieldwork involves navigating to caves, entering caves, helping setup equipment, and recording data. Data processing involves reviewing/scanning field forms, uploading digital field forms, and analyzing images and videos. The participant’s secondary responsibility will be assisting crews with monitoring forest vegetation, ozone foliar injury, and invasive species early detection. This involves navigating to sites, setting up plots, recording data, and reviewing/scanning field forms. There will also be opportunities for the participants to assist with water quality monitoring. The monitoring consists of day trips to other nearby national parks to do grab sample monitoring. The participant would record data and assist the sampler.
DELIVERABLES
Data values are correctly and legibly recorded on field data sheets; digital data entry is also used in the field but is protocol-dependent. Data sheets/tablets are returned to office and processed according to standard operating procedures. Images and other data are accurately processed as described in the standard operating procedures. Regularly communicate with network staff on activities, accomplishments, and challenges. Near the conclusion of service opportunity, participants provide a summary of accomplishments and recommendations to network staff. Serves cooperatively with other field crew members, network and park staff in the advancement of the network’s inventory and monitoring goals. Maintain a safe working environment.
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 36 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
SIP participants may be a student or college graduate who have a strong interest in or experience in ecology, biology, or related natural resource fields. This qualification is relevant because students with a biological career-track, or cavers, are generally less afraid of insects and/or confined spaces. Crew members participating in cave cricket sampling events will serve in close proximity to relatively large, long-legged insects. Crew members participating in bat monitoring will serve in close proximity to bats. Caving skills are a plus but *not* required. participants involved with data collection or recording must be detail-oriented and must write legibly. participants will need to analyze images/videos. Participants should be able to serve in conditions of heat, humidity, cold, rain, snow, darkness, biting/stinging insects, and venomous snakes. participants should also be capable of making long, off-trail bushwhacking trips into remote caves in rugged terrain and often after sunset. participants should be comfortable working in remote areas and possess strong organizational skills, as data collection methodologies can be complex at times. Experience with monitoring and/or identification of plants in the southeastern U.S. is a plus. Must be able to serve as part of a team as well as independently. Experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Access data entry, ArcGIS Pro, and R is helpful. This position will likely include occasional out-of-state overnight travel to various NPS units.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
The Cumberland Piedmont Network (CUPN) is stationed at Mammoth Cave National Park (MACA), which is located in rural south-central Kentucky and includes the longest known cave system in the world. In addition to the cave, the park affords many recreational opportunities including fishing, canoeing/kayaking, birding, and hiking. The temperature from May to January can range from the teens to 95 degrees with moderate humidity. The cities of Louisville, KY and Nashville, TN are an approximate 1.5-hour drive from the park. Small towns near the park include Cave City and Park City, KY. Larger towns are Glasgow (~ 30 min) and Bowling Green (~40 min.), which includes Western Kentucky University. Most of the projects will take place on MACA, but the CUPN includes 13 other park units across 8 southeastern states. Depending on the project, monitoring in 2024 is scheduled to occur in up to 7 of these other units. Thus, some overnight travel will be expected. Hikes to monitoring sites often occur over uneven terrain and can approach 2 miles. Main precautions are trips/falls, ticks, poison ivy, and venomous snakes.
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 available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
There are two options for housing: either a private apartment (with potential for a roommate if housing is limited) or a house with a private room but shared common areas. Each unit has all necessary appliances and furniture. Tenants should bring personal items such as bedding, toiletries, supplies, food, etc.
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 Cumberland Piedmont 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!”
