Position Title: Aquatic Ecology Technician (Position Description PDF)

Position Service Site: Voyageurs National Park, MN

Service Time: April 27 – August 28, 2026 (675-Hour AmeriCorps Term, 18 Weeks, 40 Hours/Week)

Benefits: Living stipend for the entire term equals $9,000 ($500/wk). An AmeriCorps Education Award of approximately $2,800 will be issued upon successful completion of service. $175 WisCorps boot reimbursement.

Mileage reimbursement is provided by Voyageurs National Park for required travel in a personal vehicle.

Onsite shared housing is available. Members should be prepared to live communally with 1-2 other people and must inform staff of any housing preferences or required accommodation.

OVERVIEW: Voyageurs National Park encompasses over 218,000 acres of woods, water, stone, and sky in the boreal forest along the Canadian border. The park is 40% water and has over 200 water-based campsites, 3 visitor centers, 45 miles of trail, 3 boat launches, 15 miles of road, and Kettle Falls Hotel, a concession-operated hotel, restaurant, and bar accessible only by boat. Its lakes are considered outstanding resource-value waters by the State of Minnesota. There are 4 large lakes named Rainy, Kabetogama, Namakan, and Sand Point. 26 smaller remote lakes are accessible only on foot. 

SERVICE DESCRIPTION: The Aquatic Ecology Technician will serve with park natural and cultural resource staff in the field, lab and office. Their primary duty will be to assist biologists on fisheries and aquatic ecology data collection trips on the lakes of Voyageurs National Park and to perform the associated laboratory analyses. Tasks will mainly focus on the research and monitoring of five aquatic invasive animal species, water sampling, amphibian monitoring, and aquatic vegetation mapping. The Technician will also manage data and will take part in routine laboratory work. The Technician may have the opportunity to participate in field trips involving a variety of biological research efforts in the park.

RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Field Data Collection

• Assist biologists with collection of fisheries and aquatic ecology data on freshwater lakes.
• Operate motorboats and other watercraft to reach worksites.
• Collect data from a boat using instruments such as multi-parameter sondes and Secchi disks.
• Collect water samples using assorted equipment such as Van Dorn samplers and PVC tubes.
• Participate in research and monitoring focused on aquatic invasive species.
• Perform research and/or monitoring of fish, amphibians, dragonflies, and zooplankton.
• Assist with mapping submerged aquatic vegetation, using depth finders to record plant coverage and biovolume.
• Participate in field trips involving research throughout the park, as opportunities allow.

Laboratory & Data Management

• Perform laboratory analyses associated with samples collected in the field.
• Manage and organize data according to project needs.
• Complete routine laboratory work including water sample filtering and simple titrations.
• Study peer-reviewed publications based on work performed at Voyageurs National Park, and learn about how this published research is linked to the management of Park lakes.
• Keep supervisor informed of supply and equipment needs and of any problems that arise. 

HOUSING & MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT:

• Voyageurs National Park provides on-site housing. Occupants are assigned individual rooms in units with a shared living room, kitchen (with some pots, pans, plates, and utensils), and one or more bathrooms. A laundry facility is present onsite.
• A check-in/check-out procedure will be utilized for housing. Occupants may be charged for damages exceeding regular duplex facilities’ wear and tear. 
• The housing area is about 40 miles from International Falls, MN, which has a grocery store, a hospital, two medical clinics, a movie theater, shopping, and multiple churches.  
• Mileage for travel to and from government housing for service tasks in a personal vehicle, when required, will be reimbursed at a rate of at least $0.14 per mile.

TRAININGS OFFERED:

• S. Department of the Interior Motorboat Operator Certification Course
• Training in several research and monitoring protocols
• Guidance on developing strong application packages for Federal jobs

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Minimum age requirement is 18 years old
• Must possess a valid driver’s license and a reliable personal vehicle
• Must either possess or be actively pursuing a degree
• Capable of performing fieldwork for up to 12 hours in a day depending on project needs
• Able and willing to perform duties on large bodies of water and in various weather conditions such as cold, heat, high humidity, rain, and in the presence of biting insects
• Ability to hike several miles over uneven terrain while carrying a pack and other gear
• Ability to operate non-motorized watercraft with research gear to access project sites
• Experience with canoeing or boating and with water quality sampling is preferred
• Experience with data management, spreadsheets, and word processing is preferred
• Experience conducting field research, including on-trail and off-trail navigation, is preferred
• Ability to perform the essential position duties with or without reasonable accommodation
• Upon hire, a criminal background check will be conducted. Service with WisCorps will be considered probationary until all results are returned and have been reviewed

WisCorps provides equal employment opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, amnesty, or status as a covered veteran per applicable federal, state, and local laws. We are committed to assuring equal employment opportunity and equal access to services, programs, and activities for persons with disabilities. If you have a disability and need to access information in an alternative format, or need it translated into another language, please contact us by phone at 608-782-2494, by email at staff@wiscorps.org, or dial Wisconsin Relay 711.