Ecological Monitoring & Public Engagement Support

National Park Service • San Juan, PR

3d • Onsite

About The Position

The Semester of Service Program offers students an unpaid, project-based volunteer opportunity supporting Federal missions. This 90-day assignment takes place at San Juan National Historic Site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. Students volunteer 8–20 hours per week, with the schedule aligned to academic calendars. The Spring 2027 term will run for 90 days between mid-January and mid-June. There are three positions. Work is conducted at the site and may combine field sampling, laboratory work, and communication activities.

Students may be assigned to one of two areas. Natural and Ecology Resources Specialists examine park ecological conditions through field observations and environmental sampling. Activities include monitoring bird populations, documenting wildlife behavior, assessing vegetation, collecting soil and water samples, and measuring moisture, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and nutrient indicators. Approximately 55% of this work is outdoors, with the remainder involving data organization, basic statistical interpretation, and scientific summaries in office or laboratory settings.

Scientific Communication and Environmental Education Specialists translate scientific findings into public-facing communication to increase awareness of natural and cultural resource management. Activities include synthesizing monitoring results, creating interpretive materials, assisting with community engagement, developing accessible content, documenting field activities, preparing bilingual educational materials, and supporting conservation-related digital communication. About 30% of this work involves field verification, with the remainder focused on office or laboratory communication-product development.

Students in either area may help document invasive species, including green iguana impacts, through observational mapping, documentation of burrow sites, and ecological impact assessments. Assignments have defined deliverables and milestones, and are completed under supervision. The work is intended to develop professional judgment and scientific literacy while providing non-duplicative support to park resource management.

The site environment includes warm, humid tropical conditions, uneven limestone terrain, coastal cliffs, historic fortifications, dense urban vegetation, and areas of archaeological sensitivity. Fieldwork may involve exposure to sun, heat, slippery stone surfaces, and low-level risks associated with native, endemic, and invasive wildlife. The position is unpaid; volunteers receive no compensation, stipend, or hiring preference and are not Federal employees. Volunteers may use this experience to qualify for future jobs. The program provides practical experience in Federal operations, regular supervision and Federal mentorship, structured onboarding, and coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act and workers' compensation for service-related injuries.

Requirements

• Be a U.S. citizen or U.S. national studying in the United States or abroad.
• Be enrolled at least half-time in an accredited educational institution throughout the 90-day assignment; qualifying institutions must be located within the United States.
• Be in good academic standing as defined by the educational institution.
• Students graduating before May 1, 2027 are not eligible.
• Commit to volunteering 8–20 hours per week for at least 90 days.
• Complete required onboarding documentation for the Department of the Interior and the academic institution.
• Agree to volunteer without compensation or stipend and understand that volunteers are not Federal employees.
• Not be a current Federal employee.
• Submit a transcript for enrollment and academic-standing verification.
• Demonstrate interest in environmental monitoring, scientific communication, or natural resource stewardship.

Nice To Haves

• Studies in biology, ecology, environmental sciences, forestry, wildlife biology, veterinary sciences, communication, journalism, or public affairs are preferred; no specific major is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct structured field observations and environmental sampling to examine ecological conditions in the park.
• Monitor bird populations and document wildlife behavior.
• Conduct vegetation assessments and collect soil and water samples.
• Measure environmental parameters including moisture, pH, conductivity, turbidity, and nutrient indicators.
• Organize ecological data, perform basic statistical interpretation, and prepare scientific summaries.
• Synthesize ecological monitoring results for public-facing communication.
• Create interpretive materials and accessible content, assist with community engagement, and support conservation-related digital communication.
• Document field activities and prepare bilingual educational materials as needed.
• Document invasive species, including green iguana impacts, through observational mapping, recording burrow sites, and assisting with ecological impact assessments.
• Complete defined project deliverables and milestones under supervision.

Benefits

• Federal Tort Claims Act coverage and workers' compensation for service-related injuries.
• Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision, and Federal mentorship.
• Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
• Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
• Structured onboarding and ongoing supervision.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed