Start/End Dates: May 5, 2025 - August 9, 2025 (12 weeks)

Mosaics in Science seeks to engage ethnically and racially diverse young professionals in natural resource careers. You must be (additional requirement):

• A U.S. citizen or legal resident.
• Must have a valid driver’s license.

• A personal vehicle is not required for this position.

Position Description:
Synchronous fireflies don’t just attract their mates with their flashy display; they are also attracting thousands of people each year! Visitors from all over the world travel to Congaree National Park to watch this magical display. However, little is known about visitor impacts or the tools needed to conserve these unique species and their habitats.

This position will work to understand factors associated with population declines of synchronous fireflies and predict peak synchroneity. In addition, the position will research methods and tools for better managing visitor use, mitigating impacts, setting up a monitoring program and protocol for future use, and acting as a liaison to improve our Citizen Science Program. The position will utilize, and/or develop, a variety of research and monitoring techniques, including but not limited to visual encounter surveys, soil probe measurements, visitor impact surveys, and minimization strategies.

Responsibilities:

• Develop a firefly monitoring protocol to be used by park staff in the following years.
• Improve and act as a liaison for the Firefly Citizen Science Monitoring Program.
• Develop a system or model to estimate firefly synchronizing activity (optional).
• Research various habitat characteristics and factors related to their impact on fireflies, such as soil temperatures, ground cover, forest structure, climate, invasive species, etc.
• Collect data on visitor use impacts during and after firefly display events.

Qualifications:

• Positive attitude and strong work ethic.
• Ability to work in inclement weather and over varied terrain.
• Ability to establish goals and prioritize work.
• Curiosity about the natural world.

Interns in this program will receive 480 hours towards the Public Land Corps (PLC) Hiring Authority. See below for information about:

Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority (PLC)
The Public Land Corps Non-Competitive Hiring Authority is a special hiring authority available to qualifying interns. The intern must be between the ages of 18 and 30 years old, inclusive, or a veteran up to age 35 and complete 640 hours of work on an appropriate conservation project to be eligible for this hiring authority. Upon successful completion of the PLC project(s), the intern is eligible for two years to be hired non-competitively into a federal seasonal, term, or permanent position. The applicant must apply to a PLC-eligible position advertised on USAJobs.gov and be selected off a non-competitive certificate of eligibility. For more information, see DOI Personnel Bulletins 11-02, 12-13, and 17-03.

EEO Statement

Environment for the Americas provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.