Biology Assistant AmeriCorps

Biology Assistant (12 Weeks) - Ameri Corps Position Details

Position (s): 4539

Position Title:

Biology Assistant - Ameri Corps
Conservation Legacy Program:
Scientists in Parks, Stewards Individual Placements
Site

Location:

Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Brecksville, Ohio
Number of positions available: 1

Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible

Start Date:

Yes

Start Date:

03/29/2027
End Date: 06/21/2027
Ameri Corps Slot Classification: 450 hours - this is the minimum number of hours the selected candidate must serve throughout the duration of their position.

• Segal Ameri Corps 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 My Ameri Corps , directly)
• Student Loan Interest Payments if applicable (administered through My Ameri Corps , directly)

Preference given to applicants who submit applications before Sunday, June 14, 2026. Applications will be reviewed after the Final date to receive applications passes. Positions will close after receiving 60 complete applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EDT on June 14, 2026, whichever occurs first.

birds, migratory birds, field, ornithology

This Biology Assistant is an Ameri Corps position. The preserved and restored eastern hardwood forests, wet meadows, and grasslands at CUVA provide habitat for many migratory birds; however, many species are experiencing sharp population declines. The Service Implementation Program (SIP) will provide essential capacity during CUVA’s busiest and most data‑intensive wildlife monitoring period. Spring banding requires operating multiple stations pre‑dawn several days a week, and without SIP support the park cannot maintain the consistency or volume of data needed to track long‑term population trends.

Additionally, the SIP will assist with resighting efforts for Cerulean Warblers and Bobolinks to obtain individual survival and return rates that permanent staff cannot complete alone. The results of the SIP’s service will illustrate how restoration efforts in the park are providing habitat for declining species and if these are able to support viable populations.

The SIP Resource Management Assistant (Avian Monitoring) will support CUVA’s long‑term avian monitoring program. The SIP will join the park’s experienced bird banding crew to operate spring migration monitoring stations at multiple sites, assisting with the operation and setup of the stations three times per week. A second duty will be assisting with resighting individuals in two color‑banded populations of species of conservation concern – the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) and Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus).

Data will be collected at restored wet meadows and prairies, restored grasslands, and eastern hardwood forests.

Duties include:

collecting detailed and accurate field notes, filling out data forms clearly and legibly, writing summaries, and creating simple tables, graphs, and maps. The SIP will be responsible for maintaining field equipment, storage, and office space in a clean and organized manner. The SIP will collaborate with volunteers, the selected candidate, and staff in the field. Duties will be performed primarily outdoors, but some office time is expected for data entry, equipment organization, etc.

The SIP will be required to hike on and off trail in muddy, hot, humid, and buggy conditions. Resighting color‑banded birds requires hiking on very uneven terrain, off‑trail in hot and sunny conditions. Field projects will regularly start pre‑dawn. Job hazards include exposure to heat and humidity, ticks, insects, and occasional incidental exposure to poison ivy.

• Data – The SIP’s primary deliverable is the data gathered during field projects, including geospatial information for color‑banded individuals, age, sex, and morphometric data on captured birds, and geospatial information on any bird nests encountered. The expectation is timely entry of…