What are the responsibilities and job description for the AmeriCorps - Animal Conservation & Research - CREW Bear Research position at Cincinnati Zoo?
Animal Conservation & Research - CREW Bear Research
Number of Position(s) : 1
ABOUT THE CINCINNATI ZOO & BOTANICAL GARDEN AND AMERICORPS
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden offers opportunities for everyone! CZBG and AmeriCorps have partnered to bring a variety of fun, engaging, and conservation-based opportunities to audiences including youth, visitors, animal ambassadors, and more! Together, CZBG and AmeriCorps will provide quality STEM education to economically disadvantaged PreK-12th grade students, will engage Zoo visitors, volunteers, Zooteens, and community members in environmentally conscious practices and behaviors, grow and maintain Zoo and community garden spaces, facilitate data coordination for animal welfare excellence and conservation research, and support a variety of sustainability initiatives.
This position will focus specifically on understanding, researching, and communicating activities and results of the Polar Bear Signature Conservation Project at the Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
The Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is known for many things - our conservation efforts, our green initiatives, our friendly staff... but did you know that we have a strong set of core values that make us the best team around, and a Top Workplace in Cincinnati? We're more than coworkers... we're family. By building Collaborative Relationships , displaying Positivity & Energy , having Pride, Passion & a Sense of Ownership , supporting Accountability, Mutual Trust & Respect , and embracing Progressive Thinking , we have built a team of dedicated staff that focuses on our visitors, our community, & our future.
This is what we believe and how we act. If this gets you fired up, we look forward to having you join our team!
ABOUT THE POSITION
The incumbent is a full-time AmeriCorps position serving 1,700 hours (40 hours per week) over an 12-month term of service (October 1, 2025 to September 25, 2026). They will report directly to and be supervised by the CREW Director of The Polar Bear Signature Project. The selected candidate will work alongside other CREW scientists to achieve the Project's goals, which focus on developing methods with zoo bears that allow us to better understand and conserve wild bear species. Schedules will serve 5 days a week, 8-hour days and assigned as needed, Monday-Friday. Please note that this position does not involve direct work with animals.
RESPONSIBILITIES
- General laboratory upkeep, including, but not limited to : Washing dishware, Maintaining and sterilizing equipment, Preparing media
- Process samples (fecal, blood, saliva) from a variety of species, with a focus on bears
- Learn techniques utilized in wildlife research, which may include (but not limited to) : hormone extraction, hormone quantification, biomarker analyses, semen collection / evaluation / cryopreservation, fertility analyses, experimental design, scientific writing
- Data input and analyses
- Train, mentor, and assist volunteers, students, scholars, and interns
- Convey scientific information to visitors and the public
- Evaluate, assess and report program goals and outcomes
- Measure impact of and goals for program year
- Participate in mid-year and end-of year performance process
- Participate in professional development workshops through in-service days, service projects and training opportunities.
QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE
Skills
Commitment to Service
Professionalism
Additional Qualifications
Required
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS
