Author: Brian Mitchell

The application period for Scientists in Parks internships beginning summer 2025 is now open. Many internships are suitable for current and recently graduated MS and PhD students.

Description: The Scientists in Parks Program is now accepting applications for the Summer 2025 Season. There are over 200 exciting internship opportunities in national parks across the country. These paid internships contribute to natural resource management needs at parks with projects related to biological sciences, physical sciences, social sciences, and science communications/education. Please help us spread the word and share these SIP positions with interested candidates. A list of positions and how to apply can be found at: go.nps.gov/scientistsinparks. If you have any questions, please email Scientists_in_Parks@nps.gov.

Application Deadline: January 19, 2025

This project will assess the botanical/native seed and plant materials needs and provide technical support for Tribes who are relocating, retreating, expanding, or utilizing protect-in-place measures to address climate-induced erosion and similar impacts. The Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) is identifying ways to support Tribes in addressing ecological restoration issues on Tribal Trust and Treaty lands, including the implementation of the National Seed Strategy (NSS) for Rehabilitation and Restoration, that seeks to increase the amount of native and locally adapted seed and plants available for building resilient landscapes. The incumbent will partner with the BIA, during their efforts to evaluate and rehabilitate coastal ecosystems following relocation and related infrastructure demolition, extreme coastal erosion, and similar activities. The role of the incumbent will focus primarily on assisting Tribes that have been awarded: 1) White House Voluntary Community-Driven Relocation (CDR) project funding, 2) The Tribal Climate Resilience’s Relocation, Managed Retreat, and Protect-in-Place (RMP) project funding, or 3) have not been awarded but that are encountering climate change impacts to the extent that the Tribe is considering site relocation (i.e. site expansion, climigration, and/or managed retreat) or protect-in-place options. The position will target erosion mitigation using native grass seed and plant materials and other similar protective measures for affected areas, including those where the community is living and/or that are moving away from, to maintain for subsistence purposes or other use as decided by each tribe. The incumbent will provide this technical assistance during and/or after families/infrastructure has been moved from the affected areas. The position may require coordination with relevant federal and state agencies, Tribal communities, and the Plant Conservation Alliance (PCA), as well as other relevant networks and working groups.

Funding Source: Bureau of Indian Affairs

Funding Amount: $200,000

Deadline: October 10, 2024

For more information see the Request for Statements of Interest, Scope of Work, and Position Description.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is announcing this funding opportunity for a cooperative agreement to support the coordination, implementation, and management of model intercomparison studies in agricultural systems. The model intercomparison study supports the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Quantification efforts. The IRA GHG Quantification work for agriculture is a collaboration among several USDA agencies. This study will be supported through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The purpose of the cooperative model intercomparison study is to assess and advance the state of science for carbon (C) sequestration and GHG emission modeling for agriculture. Soil C sequestration and GHG emissions in cropland and grassland systems and their interactions with different climate-smart mitigation practices will be the focus of the study. This award will support the coordination unit (awardee) and provide the funding for subawards to model groups. Participating models for the study will be identified by the coordination unit through communications or meetings with different model groups in conjunction with USDA and NRCS priorities and the scope of intercomparison work and subject to the funding allocation. The model intercomparison study will build on existing efforts or initiate a new effort and be designed and implemented through coordination involving all participating model groups. Data sets including field measurements and model input-output will be compiled, stored, and managed for easy access to facilitate model intercomparison activities.    

Funding Source: Natural Resources Conservation Service

Funding Amount: $1,900,000

Deadline: October 4, 2024

For more information see the grant opportunity on Grants.Gov.

Schoodic Institute and the National Park Service are pleased to announce the Request for Proposals for fellowships to support research in Acadia National Park in 2025. The Acadia Science Fellowship supports a new generation of talented scientists doing innovative, management-relevant research; telling stories of park science that inform, inspire, and reach new audiences; and engage the public in ways that stimulate learning, curiosity, and concern for Acadia and national parks more broadly. Research proposals on a wide variety of topics are invited, but must address priority resource management issues in Acadia, such as climate change adaptation. 

Funding Source: National Park Service via Schoodic Institute

Funding Amount: $30,000 per fellowship, up to 3 fellowships will be awarded

Deadline: October 31, 2024

For more information see the RFP. There will also be a webinar overview of the fellowship, the application process, and park research priorities on Monday, September 16 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to attend the webinar. Visit schoodicinstitute.org/acadiasciencefellowship/ for additional information, webinar registration and recording after September 16, and the application portal.

The Anastasia Island beach mouse (AIBM) (Peromyscus polionotus phasma) is a subspecies of oldfield mouse. It is currently found only on Anastasia Island, a 14-mile long barrier island in Florida. Its population is largely relegated to two remaining natural preserves – Anastasia State Park at the north end of the island, and Fort Matanzas National Monument (FMNM) at the southern end. Both parks preserve remnants of coastal sand dune ecosystems, the primary habitat required by AIBM. Due to its highly restricted range and vulnerability to hurricanes and coastal development, the subspecies is listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This project will assess the current condition and extent of potential AIBM habitat at FMNM, and develop a species management strategy for AIBM that will include short and long-term management actions that can be implemented and sustained by park staff without causing unacceptable impacts to other park resources.

Funding Source: National Park Service

Funding Amount: $100,000

Deadline: September 30, 2024

For more information see the Request for Letters of Interest

Minute Man National Historical Park (MIMA), Morristown National Historical Park (MORR) and Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (SAIR) need an inventory of reptile and amphibian species of interest to document current reptile and amphibian population status within the parks. This inventory is needed to inform invasive species management, restoration/dredging and trail maintenance management actions at the parks.  Rare species have been noted in two of the parks (MIMA and MORR).

Funding Source: National Park Service

Funding Amount: $190,000

Deadline: September 6, 2024

For more information see the RSOI

Saugus Iron Works National Historic Site (SAIR) needs an inventory of smelt and other fish species of interest to document current fish population status in the Saugus River within the park and evaluate use of known rainbow smelt spawning habitat. Comparison of current populations and habitat use to a previous study in the Turning Basin (2007) is desired. This inventory is a requirement for consultation with the Massachusetts Division of Fish and Wildlife and for NEPA compliance as the park prepares to dredge contaminated sediment from the Turning Basin.

Funding Source: National Park Service

Funding Amount: $50,000

Deadline: September 6, 2024

For more information see the RSOI