POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4544
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Big Bend National Park, Big Bend National Park, Texas
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 20 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 10/19/2026
End Date: 03/08/2027
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: $ 2,817.00 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)
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: Endangered species, wetland, wildlife, vegetation, fish
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The SIP will help the park establish and apply eDNA-based methods to determine the presence or absence of Big Bend Gambusia across known, historic, and potential habitats. This will improve the park’s capacity to regularly monitor refugia and associated aquatic habitats in a manner that is efficient, non-invasive, and resilient to staffing and funding constraints. The SIP will have broad exposure to park operations and will complete the position with significant experience applying natural resource management and long-term monitoring to support the varied missions of a national park. Service completed by the participant will assist natural resource management staff in monitoring native species, invasive species, and environmental parameters, which will allow the park to quantify the need for and impact of restoration projects.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This SIP will projects under direct supervision of the park Wildlife Biologist but will collaborate with the Botanist. The participant will receive training on a wide variety of standard protocols used across the National Park Service and other management areas. They will contribute to the overall resource management program at Big Bend National Park by collaborating on vegetation, wildlife, and physical science projects. The main focuses of this position will be collaborating with the Inventory and Monitoring Netcontribute to the implementation of a environmental DNA project for the endangered Big Bend gambusia fish. Other projects may include using wildlife cameras to determine habitat use and distribution of mammals in Big Bend National Park, performing aerial surveys of trespass livestock in the Park’s fixed-wing plane, learning the air quality monitoring protocols and assisting with weekly station checks, and performing well monitoring in the back country. There will also be opportunities to collaborate with other divisions in the park (Facilities Maintenance, Interpretation, and Visitor & Resource Protection) during these and other projects. This participant will gain a wide array of experience in multiple natural resources fields that will help the participant decide which field they may want to specialize in their future career.
DELIVERABLES
1.) The SIP will conduct eDNA based species presence sampling in four key ponds in Rio Grande Village to determine presence of endangered and non-native fish. 2.) The SIP will complete minnow trap surveys of endangered Big Bend Gambusia with UT Austin. 3.) The SIP will draft a report based documenting project background, objectives, methods, results, and management implications.
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
This position is suited for applicants who have had ample college or graduate level coursework in biological or physical sciences but have had no or very little experience applying this coursework in a position setting. Applicants should have some college level coursework in the natural sciences such as wildlife biology, geology, botany, ecology and hydrology, OR coursework in natural resource management or park/land management. Although not required, competitive applicants will be familiar with the ArcGIS Online environment (including Survey123 and/or the Field Maps app). Applicants should highlight any experience with these tasks and skills in their applications: science writing experience, hiking, camping, and navigating in backcountry; monitoring or assessing disturbance to natural or cultural resources; documenting or reporting on treatments for invasive plants/fuels/nuisance animals; monitoring vegetation conditions; identifying wildlife including mammals and birds; conducting environmental monitoring such as water or air quality tests; and using ArcGIS to create maps or surveys.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
role setting: Projects will be completed in a mixed office and field setting. field projects consists of travel to remote sites in a desert environment. Experience and willingness to hike and navigate in backcountry settings and tolerance of heat and a wide range of weather is necessary. Training will be provided to perform wildlife and plant surveying, as well as vehicle use, radio use, and associated safety protocols. Other park staff or a volunteer will sometimes accompany the participants on site visits, but the applicant should be self-motivated and comfortable complete projects alone in an outdoor setting. Use of government vehicle will be required to travel to field sites.
Office-related projects may require prolonged periods of sitting and use of a computer. The participant will have a desk with a computer in a shared office area in the Science and Resource Management (ScRM) building located in Panther Junction.
Local Area: Big Bend National Park encompasses 801,000 acres of the Chihuahuan Desert with more ecological variety than almost any other national park and a boasts a dark sky designation. Elevation in the park varies from 7825' to 1850'. The weather is generally pleasant with hot summers (90-110 degrees F) and mild winters (30-50 degrees F). Recreational opportunities include hiking, bird watching, photography, backcountry camping (backpacking) bicycling and river rafting.
The gateway town of Terlingua has lodging, restaurants, hardware store, 2 small grocery stores and gift stores, churches and a bank. Lajitas has limited shopping, lodging, restaurants, golf course and churches. Alpine, TX (100 miles from Panther Junction) has most necessities including supermarkets, a variety of stores, a regional medical center with emergency room, pharmacies, churches, a movie theater and a university. The nearest larger cities are Midland/Odessa (225 miles) and El Paso (325 miles)
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Fully furnished, shared housing (private bedroom), with kitchen facilities and bathroom will be in Panther Junction, an active residential community of about 120 people including employees and volunteers of the NPS, Concessions, Border Patrol, San Vicente School, and their families. The participant will be responsible for providing basic cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and trash bags for their own use for the duration of their season. Panther Junction is the primary housing area for most park employees, and contains the Park HQ, main Visitor Center, a US Post Office, gas station, and convenience store.
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 Big Bend National 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!”
