From Fawns to Bucks: The Science of Deer Counting

A black and white photograph of three deer in the woods at dusk, captured with an infrared camera.

Funding and Other Opportunities for NAC-CESU Partners

Data Analyst Opening with Schoodic Institute

The Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park is hiring a 2-year Data Analyst position that will work closely with the National Park Service Inventory and Monitoring Division to compile, analyze, and publish long-term monitoring data collected in national parks in the Midwest Region.

Job Title and Description: Data Analyst

FLSA Status: Full-Time, Year-Round, Non-Exempt (Benefits Eligible)

Supervisor(s) (external): Kate Miller, PhD, Quantitative Ecologist with the National Park Service-Northeast Temperate Network Inventory and Monitoring Division, additionally, Schoodic Institute staff may provide guidance and oversight on a project-by-project basis for collaborative ad-hoc assignments

Work Location: This role is based in Winter Harbor, ME. While on-site presence is preferred, we are open to discussing hybrid or remote work schedules. This position is not eligible for relocation reimbursement.

Vacancies: 1 position Duration: 2-year position starting in February 2026.

Job Announcement Opening Dates: December 17, 2025 to January 9, 2026.

Primary Role: This position will work closely with the National Park Service (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Division (IMD), which conducts baseline inventories and long-term monitoring to help inform park management decisions. While decades of data have been collected by IMD throughout the NPS, the full value of these data can only be realized when they are easily accessible and actionable for field managers, planners, and decision makers. The objectives of this position are to improve access to IMD data, primarily for Midwest Region parks, through developing user-friendly, accessible platforms and tailored analyses. Deliverables include trend analyses, automated reports, and data visualization dashboards that improve accessibility, data quality, interpretation, integration, and application of IMD datasets, and that are in support of conservation science, resource management, and public communication. Deliverables will be accessible to NPS managers, along with park stakeholders and the public, where feasible. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative professional with strong communication skills and the ability to work independently. Please note that employment is contingent upon a federal background check and favorable adjudication. We aim to have this role filled by February 2026.

See position description for more detailed information. Application deadline is January 9, 2026. To apply, please visit the online application portal.

Invasive Plant Management with Great Lakes Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey”s (USGS) Great Lakes Science Center solicits research on development of environmentally friendly bioherbicides and strategies to control invasive Phragmites australis and other invasive plants. This project will be a collaborative effort to explore the role of microbial endophytes in enhancing the growth and stress tolerance of invasive Phragmites australis and use that information to develop a new, low-toxicity bioherbicide that offers resource managers more treatment options for this noxious plant and, ultimately, results in a highly efficient and effective approach that reduces costs, improves efficiency, and lays the foundation for development of similar products targeting other invasive plant species that degrade valuable agricultural, range, and natural lands. Past and ongoing investments in this line of research are producing promising new technologies that are supported by several patent applications and patents, some of which have already been licensed by commercial entities. However, additional work is needed in field testing and development as commercial partners are engaged. The proposed collaborative work will fill the research gap and work to generate a new model for combating invasive species by reducing their competitive abilities through targeting their symbiotic association using low-toxicity compounds or antagonistic microbes.

Funding Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Funding Amount: $498,392

Deadline: Jan 17, 2026. Electronically submitted applications must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM, ET, on the listed application due date.

Read more about this opportunity and apply.

Current and Past Funding and Other Opportunities

What is a Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit?

The North Atlantic Coast Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit is a member of the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) network. This network is among the largest collaborative partnerships addressing natural and cultural resource stewardship in the US. With 17 regional CESUs located throughout the US, this national consortium of federal agencies and hundreds of non-federal partners includes universities, nonprofit conservation organizations, natural and cultural history museums, and other entities. CESUs engage federal agency scientists and managers with academic and other non-federal researchers and students to address challenging issues that are confronting the participating federal agencies and the nation. The Network provides:

state-of-the-art knowledge for agency managers and society to make science-based decisions
education and professional development opportunities for students and agency personnel
efficient, streamlined, and timely administration and implementation of projects
widespread communication of findings to managers, policymakers, researchers, and the public
responsive technical assistance

Role, Vision, and Mission Strategic Plan

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