POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4508
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Colonial National Historical Park, Yorktown, Virginia
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 52 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 02/15/2027
End Date: 02/14/2028
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 1700 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 7,395.00 upon successful completion of position (pre-tax)
- Weekly Living Allowance: $ 675.00 per week, fixed rate (pre-tax)
- Relocation Allowance: $ 450.00 (distributed as a one-time lump sum with first paycheck) (pre-tax)
- Student Loan Forbearance if applicable (administered by MyAmeriCorps, directly)
- Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through MyAmeriCorps, directly)
- For 52-week positions only:
- Free Healthcare Coverage (opt in)
- Childcare Coverage (opt in)
APPLICATION TIMELINE
Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, June 14, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the application deadline passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 14, 2026, whichever occurs first.
KEYWORDS: Reptiles, Survey
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The 2027 mortality and migration field data is a critical piece of this study to collect a full complement of data using a new protocol that can be analyzed by the Towson team. The spring/summer of 2027 will provide the team with live and dead animal data to compare with 2024's data collected using the same methods and the 2021-2022 previous year's dead animal data collection.
In addition to the collection of the additional migration and mortality data, this year's study will include efforts to count and establish population sizes for the various species of turtles on Jamestown. This will be done through marking and recapturing methods.
The park has attempted various methods to protect the turtles wheeled vehicle including complete closures to vehicles based on a trigger number of dead turtles for 1 week then reopen until the next large event, to complete closure based on timing of observations between April to June, to partial closures (4 days/week) between June and October. The park has noted that even during closure there was evidence that bicycles also impacted turtle mortality, albeit at a significantly less level.
The park hopes to use the population data to better understand the impact to the turtle population on Jamestown Island and regionally.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Herpetofauna richness was identified to be one of Colonial’s vital sign metrics in the 2012 Natural Resource Condition Assessment. Jamestown Island (JI) provides habitat for a varied turtle assemblage, including at-risk species such as the spotted turtle and box turtle. Past inventories identified road mortality as a threat to herpetofauna populations and urged further investigation on the extent and impact of road mortality on JI. Mortality data have been collected during three periods: 2015-16 and 2021-2022, and 2024. Nearly 180 dead turtles were observed within a five-month period on the five-mile loop in 2021 alone. During the 2024 migration and mortality survey 330 total encounters occured. Annual additive mortality from roadkill as low as 2-3% may lead to population declines in local turtle populations. Thus, it is necessary to gain an understanding of the current condition of turtle populations, quantify the impact of road mortality, and assess management alternatives to minimize this risk.
Preliminary analyses of a pilot survey showed that some species were particularly susceptible to vehicular collisions on Jamestown Island tour roads, and there was a pattern of increased activity and mortality in the spring, peaking in May, and in the fall, around September. This project will fund a review and analysis of the two years of mortality data from 2021-2022. An additional season (2024) of data with the road closed for a more extended period will assess the impact of road closure, as well as to better understand turtle species’ habitat use and movement patterns on the island to inform the development of a permanent road management plan.
Between February and November, the responsibilities for the participant will be to collaborate with a Towson University research team to collect field data related to turtle populations on Jamestown Island using a revised protocol. Tasks will include regular surveying of the 5-mile tour road for dead and live turtles, processing of live turtles, and collection of relevant habitat data using GPS and other applicable field equipment (e.g., HOBO weather and precipitation data during the study period). The participant will be expected to enter and QC all field data, map turtle observations, and collaborate with the team to analyze turtle mortality activity patterns and to develop scientific estimates of turtle populations on the island for the seven known species.
DELIVERABLES
Anticipated project deliverables from the summer include: 1.) GIS datasets and a map of turtle occurrences, 2) database of turtle observations and environmental data collected, 3) A population study by species that identifies the population of turtles on the island. 4.) Presentation of seasonal findings to park and Towson U researchers, and 4), a social media product that can be posted at the park about the research project. Additional opportunities associated with the primary objectives may also be possible depending on the interest and skillset of the participant.
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 52 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Graduate with a bachelor's or higher, with experience and/or extensive coursework related to wildlife biology or ecology, statistics, GIS and mapping skills. Prefer candidates that have field experience with eastern herpetofauna (esp. turtles) and familiarity with R or similar statistical packages. Excellent written communications skills and ability to get along with a wide variety of people is essential, as is the ability to participate both independently and as a member of a team, and strong reasoning and critical thinking skills. Proven ability to consolidate a variety of types of field data and other information to create a cohesive document.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
The candidate’s duty station will be in the resource management office in Yorktown. Colonial NHP is located on the southeastern peninsula within the Virginia Coastal Plain. It is an 8900 acre oasis in the midst of a developing urban area known as Tidewater Virginia. Shopping and entertainment activities are within 10 to 30 minutes from any part of the park. Colonial National Historical Park includes the Colonial Parkway which connects two other units of the park: Jamestown, the site where the first permanent English settlement began (1607), and Yorktown, the site of the final siege of the American Revolution (1781). The park lies in between two major tidal rivers, the James and the York. The Outer Banks and Cape Hatteras Seashore are 3 hours away: the Eastern shore is 1.5 hours and the mountains are 3-4 hours away. Kayaking, fishing, boating and bicycling are sports favored by many in this area. Norfolk and Richmond are both mid-sized cities located an hour in opposite directions from the park. Busch Gardens, Water Country and Colonial Williamsburg are located in Williamsburg. Summers here are very warm and humid, often reaching 100F for a week’s stretch at time. The field activities for this project will be done exclusively on Jamestown Island.
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
The park has a single-family home located in Williamsburg that is divided into three separate bedrooms. There is shared space in the kitchen, dining room, living room. Three bedrooms share an upstairs restroom (toilet, shower/tub, and sink). A second half bath is located in the downstairs bedroom. The house is fully furnished. The Williamsburg site is located a short walking distance from Colonial Williamsburg and is approximately a 20-minute drive to the Yorktown or Jamestown offices. the Park also has a furnished space in Yorktown that may also be available. If the park housing is unavailable other housing arrangements will be made by the park and the participant will be notified in advance.
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.
OUR COMMITMENT
Stewards Individual Placements and Conservation Legacy are committed to the full consideration of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential job functions. Physical requirements may include periodic overnight travel, non-traditional work 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. The ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions. If you need assistance and/or 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!”
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 the host site throughout the 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, monthly accomplishment tracking, a mid-term report, and a final report.
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 (5) 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 Colonial National Historical Park.
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!”
