POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4441
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Empire, Michigan
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 26 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 5/11/2026
End Date: 11/9/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 900 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 3,697.50 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: water, invasive species, education, outreach, eDNA
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. This position will help address needs that combine the Biological Sciences and Communication and Education discipline categories. Each year, SLBE attracts approximately 1.5 million visitors. Many of these visitors come to recreate in the park’s high-quality waterbodies. The vast majority of SLBE’s waterbodies are also highly accessible, which combined with their interconnectivity make the spread of AIS a significant threat to aquatic resources. Although the park does do some AIS monitoring and outreach, we lack the staff to fully respond to the recent NZM introduction. This position will provide significant support to existing staff by working with our interpretive staff to develop appropriate messaging and outreach materials, as well as making visitor contacts with targeted user groups of the Platte River, especially fishermen. Assisting water quality staff with eDNA sampling and laboratory testing will also help address a critical biological need as our eDNA monitoring efforts expand in 2026 to include NZM and additional invasive mussel monitoring.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (SLBE) is home to an abundance of water resources, including 27 inland lakes and 64 miles of Lake Michigan shoreline. Given the proximity of park lakes to Lake Michigan, with some lakes having a direct connection, aquatic invasive species (AIS) are a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems. SLBE currently implements multiple projects for monitoring AIS, including an invasive mussel project using eDNA to monitor presence and relative abundance in park inland lakes and connecting streams. In 2024, the New Zealand mudsnail (NZM) was found in the Platte River, presenting a new threat that has not yet become well-established.
This position will serve directly with park water quality staff on a multi-faceted approach to managing AIS within the park. SLBE hosts a molecular water quality laboratory and conducts in-house sampling and testing for eDNA markers using a qPCR-based method. Assisting with an expanding eDNA sampling and testing program for invasive mussels and NZM will be a primary role. This position will also assist in developing NZM educational messaging and assist with visitor outreach efforts to prevent their spread. Additional tasks will include researching boat wash decontamination stations, developing rapid response plans, and other water-related field projects.
DELIVERABLES
Specific deliverables will be defined jointly with the successful candidate based on their skills, interests, and agreed upon visitor outreach strategy. General deliverables may include one or more of the following: 1) Datasets, 2) Outreach materials (print and/or online), 3) Data visualizations (GIS maps, figures, etc), 4) PowerPoint presentations.
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 26 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
We seek an participant with background in aquatic ecosystems and an interest in managing aquatic invasive species. Experience in a microbiology laboratory and particularly qPCR or eDNA sampling would be highly desired. Coursework and/or a desire to projects in education and outreach would also be desirable but not required. Coursework in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Microbiology, Aquatic Ecology, R programming, and Education and Outreach are preferred, but not required.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
This position's environment will be a mix of office, field, and lab projects. Applicant should have a positive attitude working outside in heat, cold, rainy weather, or with biting insects. Working in various watercraft to collect natural resource data will be required of this position. Handling, securing, loading, launching and navigating hand propelled watercraft in a variety of weather and water conditions is an expectation of the position. The incumbent will be expected to portage a canoe and carry field equipment weighing up to 50 lbs. Office and lab projects will include frequent standing, sitting, and computer use. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is within a beautiful scenic resort area on the northeastern shores of Lake Michigan. Housing, medical facilities, shopping, grocery, churches, banks, day care, recreational activities, schools, and colleges are readily available within a 30-mile radius in Traverse City, and laundry is available within 18-25 miles from park headquarters in Empire. High temperatures average between 70-80 degrees in the summer, some days will reach the mid 90s.
VEHICLE AND DRIVERS LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
- Applicant must have a valid driver's license to drive a government vehicle.
- A personal vehicle is REQUIRED for this position.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. The participant will have a private or shared room in Park housing, depending on availability. The majority of housing consists of small, multi-bedroom houses. Fully furnished home with shared kitchen and living room, couches, chairs, dining room tables, and entertainment centers are available. Kitchen has utensils and standard appliances, along with small countertop appliances such as coffee maker and toaster. Bedroom has bed, side table, closet or clothing rack, and lamp. SIP participant will need to bring bedding and linens including pillows, sheets, and towels along with any personal items desired. participants are typically housed within 10 miles of the office. The dune ecosystem in which the park is situated makes the surrounding areas hilly, making it difficult, but not impossible, to bike to the office from a number of park houses.
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 Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
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!”
