POSITION DETAILS
Position ID(s): 4487
Position Title: Biology Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Theodore Roosevelt National Park, Medora, North Dakota
Number of positions available: 1
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: Yes
Start Date: 10/05/2026
End Date: 12/28/2026
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.
BENEFITS
- Segal AmeriCorps Education Award: $ 1,956.00 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: Bison, Genetics, Analysis, Writing
PURPOSE
This Biology Assistant is an AmeriCorps position. The project will address a Biological Science need pertaining to bison genetics, in alignment with the Department of Interior Bison Conservation Initiative and Metapopulation Strategy (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/b... are assumed to move through handling facilities in familial groups, with a positive relationship between their order handled and relatedness to others recently handled. Operating under this assumption, managers implement best practices, such as keeping 1 out of every 10 animals handled, to avoid removing entire family groups and genetic lines from the herd. However, the assumed relationship between order processed and kinship has not been analyzed. The SIP will explore this assumption by comparing and analyzing genetic relationships to the order in which animals were handled during past roundups to inform best practices for removing animals from herds while minimizing genetic loss.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
This position will analyze genetic data (microsatellite, 50+ loci) collected from Theodore Roosevelt National Park's (THRO) two bison herds to develop understanding of familial relationships of individuals relative to capture and culling (live transfer of animals out of the park) operations. Culling practices may focus on a semi-random or targeted approach across age and sex classes. However, bison associate in matrifocal groups on the range, and this social cohesiveness may affect how they move through corral facilities and are impacted by management decisions to keep or cull animals. The selected applicant will organize genetic data for imputation to molecular statistical software packages and assess herd genetic variety, relatedness, and isolation by distance measures relative to order of handling during capture events to determine the theoretical and realized effect of varying culling strategies on herd genetics. The SIP will also assist in THRO’s fall bison roundup to gain insights on the operation central to their research project.
DELIVERABLES
The selected SIP will deliver a written report (competent draft quality), including graphical and tabular output of genetic analyses. The report will clearly explain materials and methods, provide clear and concise results of analyses, and conclude with a discussion synthesizing past and current literature on bison management and bison genetics in context of project findings.
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 12 Weeks in order to be considered and participate.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should have deep interest in wildlife management and ecology and complete projects well individually and in team environments. Knowledge and skills in data management, statistics, and molecular theory will be beneficial.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Medora, North Dakota is a small, historic town tucked into the Badlands of western North Dakota, with basic amenities including several restaurants, a gas station, and convenience store. The town of Dickinson, 40 miles to the east, has multiple full-sized grocery stores and all basic amenities. The surrounding landscape is defined by layered rock formations, colorful buttes, and deeply carved ravines shaped by wind and water over millions of years. Just outside town, Theodore Roosevelt National Park preserves this unique landscape and the wildlife inhabiting it, offering a glimpse into the setting that once inspired Roosevelt’s conservation legacy.
The selected SIP will primarily be conducting projects at a desktop in the communal area of the Resource Management Office Building while organizing, processing data, and developing the draft report for their research project. During the bison roundup at the beginning of their position, the SIP will collaborate with other staff at the park's Wildlife Handling Facility, a purpose built facility comprised of pastures, alleyways and holding pens designed to isolate animals from the herd for individual handling (i.e. sexing, aging, collecting samples, and determining to keep or remove from the park).
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant.
Housing for the position will be located in THRO's South Unit in Medora, ND. Participants will have a private bedroom, a shared cooking space and shared bathroom. Furniture and cleaning supplies are provided, but SIPs are expected to provide their own bedding, cooking utensils, pots, pans, etc.
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.
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 Theodore Roosevelt 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!”
