The scientists in parks program provides short-term and project specific non-federal staffing to parks to complete natural resource management projects that advance NPS mission responsibilities

This agreement supports 67 non-federal short-term positions for a total of 1,724 weeks in 58 park units and programs. The specific tasks and outcomes of each project are defined by the individual NPS unit that hosts the participant. General tasks will fall within the following themes: 1) research, fieldwork, and data collection: participants will conduct species surveys, habitat assessments, water and soil sampling, fossil documentation, and data collection to support natural resource management in national parks.2) data analysis and reporting: participants will enter data and conduct statistical analysis, GIS mapping, condition assessments, and technical reports to support natural resource monitoring protocols and park operations.3) target resources and management issues: participants complete this research, fieldwork, and analysis to support a wide range of natural resource issues including wildlife management, wildland fire response, cave paleontology, forest ecology, endangered species, invasive species, geologic hazards, insect outbreaks and flooding.