Housing Support: Housing stipend up to $5,000 for the entire Fellowship is authorized based on actual expenses incurred. Fellow will be required to provide documentation to validate reimbursement. 

Housing Description: Fellow will be responsible for locating and securing suitable housing. Assistance and advice in identifying local housing opportunities and options will be provided as needed to ensure the Fellow has a safe place to reside during their Fellowship.

Valid Driver’s License: Required

Transportation Support Description: Public transportation is available. The Fellow will be responsible for their transportation to and from the Carlsbad field office. Public transportation (bus) is available to within 0.5 miles of the Carlsbad office.

Position Description: The Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (CFWO) is located in coastal San Diego County, CA. Along with our Palm Springs sub-office, we administer the Endangered Species Act across more than 50,000 square miles of southern California.

The Fellow will complete three deliverables for this project with the CFWO:

1. A written status assessment for a listed or non-listed species in southern California,
2. Monitoring or species surveys of at least three listed plant occurrences, and
3. A presentation to summarize work performed to the Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office.

For the status assessment of a species in southern California, the Fellow will apply conservation biology principles to synthesize new information, update species' biology and threats, and develop recommendations to support species recovery. The Fellow will engage with partners (such as researchers and State/Federal agencies) to gather new information and identify important conservation activities.

The Fellow will also visit at least three listed plant occurrences to map the occurrence extent and update occurrence statuses. The Fellow will use Collector and ArcGIS software to manage data and submit data to the appropriate database(s). Finally, the Fellow will provide a brief synthesis of findings. For this project component, the Fellow will have the opportunity to conduct fieldwork in different southern California ecosystems.

We emphasize developmental opportunities for Fellows to learn about the Endangered Species Act and the work of an Ecological Services Field office. For example, Fellows will network with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff and others in their DFP cohorts and attend site visits with staff biologists and partners.

Minimum Education Level: Open for consideration to only undergraduate rising seniors and seniors who will not complete their degree requirements before September 22, 2024.

Fields of Study:

• Biological Sciences
• Education/Outreach

Working Conditions Requirements: 

• The Fellow should be able to conduct field work, which may involve hiking over steep, brushy, or uneven terrain. The Fellow should have a valid driver's license so that there are two drivers available when working in the field (i.e., conducting plant surveys).