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
Plant Ecologist Research Professional
Are you a plant ecologist with a passion for working across Alaska’s diverse habitats? The Alaska Center for Conservation Science at University of Alaska Anchorage is hiring an Ecologist at the Research Professional 3 level. We are a dynamic team looking for help with existing and future 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. This is a full-time, benefited position based in Anchorage. The University of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.
Coastal Training Program Specialist for the Kachemak Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
Do you have a particular interest in connecting local research and monitoring to communities to enhance understanding of Alaskan Coastal Ecosystems? Are you interested in a job that builds science-based training, technical assistance, and collaborative learning skills? Desired skills to bring or develop on the job include meeting facilitation, excellent written and verbal communications skills, event planning, and organizing professional trainings. This 6-month position has flexibility in work schedule and can be part time or full time (20-40 hours/week) from mid-October through April, 2024 with a possibility to extend based on funding and alignment with KBNERR needs. To apply, submit your resume through the UAA Temporary Research Technician for College of Arts and Sciences portal and specify interest in the “KBNERR CTP Specialist” position. This position will remain open until filled. Committees will begin reviewing applications received by midnight October 11th. Contact Syverine Bentz syverine@alaska.edu with questions and once an application is submitted.
Entomology and Vegetation Ecology Graduate Student – Spring 2024
Matt Carlson at the University of Alaska Anchorage is recruiting three MS students to start the spring term 2024. Applications are due to the Biological Sciences Department 1 November 2023. One project will focus on size variation in bumble bees and pollinator communities in natural and cultivated systems in Alaska in collaboration with Hollis Woodard (UC Riverside), one project will focus on bee biodiversity, abundance, and habitat associations on Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, and one will be a boreal plant community ecology project in the Gulkana watershed in collaboration with Lindsey Flagstad at the Alaska Center for Conservation Science at UAA.
Interested students should contact Matt (mlcarlson(at)alaska.edu; 907 786-6390) for more information and before submitting applications.
Graduate and Undergraduate Students
Christopher Guo
Graduate Student | 907-235-1342 | 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.
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.
