ACCS provides research opportunities for graduate and undergraduate students in the University of Alaska system. Volunteer opportunities are available through the UAA Herbarium and KBNERR. Additional opportunities and job openings will be posted here as available.
Open Positions
KBNERR – Education Specialist
The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR), located in Homer, is hiring an Education Specialist to communicate science to youth and community audiences.
This includes classroom activities, Discovery Labs, and special events such as the Shorebird Festival. The ideal candidate is flexible, has excellent organizational and public speaking skills, and can work effectively with a variety of people, sometimes in changing situations that call for creativity and adaptability. Work is often performed in indoor settings (offices, classrooms, visitor centers), but some programs are taught in outdoor settings that involve hiking, climbing or on-the-water activities.
This 6-month position is full-time from mid-April through September 2024, with a possibility to extend based on funding and alignment with KBNERR needs.
To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and 3 references through the UAA Temporary Research Technician for College of Arts and Sciences portal and specify interest in the “KBNERR Education Specialist” position. This position will remain open until filled. Committees will begin reviewing applications received by 5pm on March 22nd, 2024. Contact Ingrid Harrald (Education Coordinator) with questions and once an application is submitted.
KBNERR – Ecology Technician
The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR), located in Homer, is hiring an Ecology Technician at the Research Tech. 4 level.
This is a temporary, 6-month position from April – October 2024 to implement peatland monitoring protocols that support multiple projects and contribute toward a broader understanding of groundwater conservation and carbon sequestration amidst the impacts from climate change. Current research includes analyzing impacts of beaver dams on wetlands and groundwater recharge throughout the western Kenai Peninsula lowlands.
We are a dynamic team looking for help with diverse projects. The ideal candidate is a collaborative worker, comfortable in remote field locations and well-versed in project and data management, geospatial and statistical analysis, and scientific writing.
To apply, visit the position posting page. This position will remain open until filled. Committees will begin reviewing applications received by midnight February 23rd, 2024. Contact Katherine Schake (KBNERR Manager) with questions.
KBNERR – Administrative Specialist
The Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve (KBNERR) is seeking an Administrative Specialist to provide office and administrative support for program activities.
The KBNERR Admin Specialist will be the welcoming professional answering phone calls, interacting with members of the public, assisting partners, collaborative researchers and students with administrative paperwork, and supporting meeting logistics for quarterly KBNERR Community Council meetings. Excellent attention to detail and organization skills are required for administering purchases, invoices, and keeping office and bunkhouse facilities well stocked with supplies. This position will support staff by maintaining meeting notes, assisting with travel requests, and troubleshoot technology as needed.
We are an enthusiastic team dedicated to scientific research, long-term monitoring, education, and training programs that enhance conservation and stewardship of Kachemak Bay. To apply, visit the position posting page. This position will remain open until filled. Committees will begin reviewing applications received by midnight February 16th, 2024. Contact Katherine Schake (KBNERR Manager) with questions.
Graduate Students
Sean Fitzgerald
Graduate Student | sfitzgerald2 (at) alaska.edu
Sean is a graduate student in the UAA Biological Sciences Program starting spring 2024. He became interested in Alaska because of its unique habitats and how pollinators there are able to survive and thrive in harsh conditions. His research focuses on pollinator biodiversity and abundance across different habitats in JBER.
Christopher Guo
Graduate Student | chguo (at) alaska.edu
Chris is a graduate student in the College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences at UAF. He had made his way to Homer, Alaska, where he quickly adopted its community and became enamored with the surrounding coastal environment. His research focuses on spatial and temporal patterns of estuarine fish assemblages and their relationship to habitat conditions. Chris is also an aquatic biologist at KBNERR within ACCS.
Emma Lipscomb
Graduate Student | eglipscomb (at) alaska.edu
Emma is a graduate student in the UAA Biological Sciences program. She was drawn to Alaska because of its unique flora and geomorphology, the majority of which is not found in any other part of the U.S. Her research focuses on permafrost, soils, and their relationship to plant communities in southcentral Alaska.
John McCormack
Graduate Student | jjmccormack2 (at) alaska.edu
John is a graduate student in the UAA Biological Sciences program. He has studied insect diversity and ecology in Virginia, Massachusetts, and Australia, and he’s developed a particular interest in pollinators. His research focuses on pollinator communities in Alaskan apple orchards and size variation in bumble bees.
Technicians and Undergraduate Students
Audrey Giddings
Research Technician | amgiddings (at) alaska.edu
Audrey is a biological technician who completed her B.S. in Biology from the University of Alaska Southeast. She started working at ACCS over the summer in 2021 and has assisted in multiple projects over the years including stream monitoring, salmon population ecology, pollination ecology, rare plant surveys, and seed collecting.
Rhiannon Glover
Undergraduate Student | acglover (at) alaska.edu
Rhiannon is a student research technician that majors in Natural Sciences at the College of Arts and Sciences, at UAA. She was born and raised in Alaska and loves how close her work brings her to her own backyard. She works closely with researchers specializing in vegetation ecology, plant communities, and pollination ecology, and hopes to use this experience to further her own career in conservation biology.
Preston Villumsen
Undergraduate Student | pcvillumsen (at) alaska.edu
Shortly after moving to Alaska, while out photographing insects, a serendipitous encounter with a local botanist inspired Preston to join the Alaska Native Plant Society. It was while on group hikes with this organization that Preston developed a love of lichens and the Alaskan flora in general. Preston is currently an undergraduate in natural sciences at UAA and a technician at ACCS. He is assisting in Nelchina Caribou Herd forage research and is working on lichen checklists for the Chugach and Talkeetna mountain ranges.
Volunteer Opportunities
Opportunities exist for students looking for additional experience and interested members of the public to collaborate with Alaska Center for Conservation Science. Available opportunities depend on interest and experience. Additionally, student jobs are available for students looking to gain work experience in a conservation-related field. The UAA Herbarium (UAAH) is always looking for volunteers to assist with curation of specimens. Please contact Justin Fulkerson if you are interested in volunteering.