Institute of American Indian&Alaska - Land-Grant Programs Summer Student Assistant (May 16 – August 14, 2026)

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES 

The Land-Grant Programs Summer Student Assistant will report to the Land-Grant Programs, Extension Educator and is responsible for delivering an integrated set of research and outreach support services through a holistic and culturally relevant approach, focused on pollinator stewardship, habitat and land stewardship, research and educational outreach programming with collaborators. the incumbent will provide research and field technician support and services in the following project areas: 

• Land and Bee Stewardship 
• Documentation and Research 
• Agricultural and irrigation tasks
• Greenhouse management and development
• Erosion Management

DESCRIPTION 

• Assist with various outreach programming and events, including filming, photo Documentation and creation of visual aids of instruction in Indigenous foodways, apiculture, forestry, conservation, and restoration efforts on campus and potentially other tribal communities. 
• Assist in collecting data and documentation of culturally relevant foods and crops, pollinator forage, plants, pollens and honeys for nutritional analysis. 
• Assist in supervised beekeeping and independent pollinator stewardship activities including checking on hives, handling bees, harvesting honey and wax, assembling apiculture equipment and monitoring bees for health. 
• Contribute to all other Land-Grant Programs related extension and outreach efforts when and where required. The summer student research assistant and field technician must be willing to learn more about Indigenous perspectives, work with various institutional departments on community engagement outreach opportunities, some light travel with program staff to provide educational exhibits, presentations, and workshops. 

ESSENTIAL POSITION FUNCTIONS 

• Maintain the Land-Grant spaces on campus through various stewardship efforts and gardening tasks. 
• Effectively, participate and support field research data collection on campus. 
• Assist with documentation of campus pollinators and culturally relevant food research and with collaborators. Assist with creating and developing FAQ sheets on plant and pollinator species. 
• Follows field research design protocol and data collection processes including respecting data security and sovereignty policies.
• Perform other duties as assigned/required. 

Preferred Education or Experience:  

Having a genuine interest in being outdoors, learning about ecology, pollinators, land stewardship, artistic documentation with mixed media such as digital arts, illustration, videography, and storytelling. 

Abilities, Knowledge, and Skills  

• Ability to work well with others and independently (on occasion) to follow directions, and to ask questions to ensure comprehension. 
• Ability to prioritize assignments to ensure they are completed in a timely manner. 
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently without close supervision. 
• Ability to function effectively and efficiently as part of a team. 
• Demonstrated experience working in a deadline-driven environment.
• Must have exceptional and courteous interpersonal skills, which foster a collaborative, safe and engaging learning environment. 
• Must adhere to appropriate professional standards of conduct and ethics, including confidentiality, integrity, and honesty. 
• Ability to comply with management directives and adapt to a changing work environment. 
• Participate in meetings and committees as required. 

WORKING CONDITIONS 

• Extensive interpersonal interactions with a wide range of individuals.
• Occasional out-of-town travel for meetings or conferences. 
• May be outside in various weather scenarios. 
• Ability to reach for, grasp and extend hand or arm in any direction as part of completing essential clerical and field tasks. 
• Ability to effectively utilize standard office equipment and software. · Ability to receive, interpret and respond to information communicated in various forms (verbal, written, etc.). 
• Ability to lift 30 lbs. for field monitoring set up, beekeeping equipment, and loading and unloading gear as needed. 
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 
• This description is a general statement of required major duties and responsibilities performed regularly or continuously. 
• There may be other duties as assigned. 
• Management has the authority to change/augment/revise the function and duties of this position, with or without notice. 
• This job description does not constitute an employment agreement.