Field Biologist

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Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking three (3) Field Biologists to support the Little Port Walter Marine Research Station. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts.

Background

Little Port Walter Marine Research Station (LPW) is the oldest continuously operated fisheries research field station in Alaska and is situated on the remote east side of Baranof Island about 44 miles southeast of Sitka. The experimental Chinook salmon hatchery, the anadromous fish counting weir on Sashin Creek, and its close proximity to the ocean environments of the Gulf of Alaska are the principal assets of the station. Operated and maintained by the Auke Bay Laboratories Ecosystem Monitoring and Assessment program, scientists from many different institutions visit the station to conduct research on aquaculture, genetics, ground fish research, and ocean ecology of Chinook salmon. Chinook salmon originating in Little Port Walter contribute to the understanding of the ecosystems in Southeast Alaska and other parts of North Pacific Ocean where they reside during their life cycle.

The Auke Creek Research Station (ACRS) is a fish weir and experimental hatchery facility located in Juneau, Alaska. The main objectives of sampling efforts at ACRS are to provide indices of salmon productivity to inform salmon management in Southeast Alaska and understand the impact of climate variability on critical periods of Pacific salmon life cycles by linking their freshwater and marine ecology. The complete enumeration of juvenile and returning adult coho, pink, and sockeye salmon provide indices of productivity that help inform science and management of those species in Southeast Alaska. Additionally, data collected at Auke Creek provide linkages to the nearshore and Gulf of Alaska marine environments and, when combined with marine surveys, allow for a more thorough examination of these larger ecosystem processes.

The Alaska Fisheries Science Center, Auke Bay Laboratory requires three (3) Field Biologists, two (2) in Little Port Walter and one (1) at Auke Creek Research Station in Juneau, to support in collecting and processing samples, and analyzing data in support of ongoing fisheries research projects conducted at both of the above mentioned field stations in SE Alaska. The tasks will involve sampling, tagging, spawning, and processing fish; husbandry support for aquaculture research, data collection, data entry, data analysis, and project reporting. The contractor conducting research at NOAA’s Auke Creek field station in Juneau, Alaska will be required to participate in fisheries research at LPW for up to four weeks.

Responsibilities and Tasks

Little Port Walter (2 positions)

• Serve as senior coordinator for fieldwork, which includes 90% of work on vessel surveys and research field stations, and perform the following duties:
• Coordinate and assist in fish collection, sampling, coded wire tagging, and spawning activities
• Coordinate and assist with fish husbandry work including maintenance of equipment
• Coordinate and assist in daily environmental data collection
• Record any deviation from scientific protocols provided by Federal POC

• Coordinate and participate in all staging and de-staging of fieldwork, including:
• Coordinate and participate in the installation, conversion, and removal of NOAA’s research salmon weir on Sashin Creek over the course of the work season.
• Coordinate and participate in maintenance required for the safe, daily operation of NOAA’s research salmon weir on Sashin Creek.
• Coordinate and assist in all cleaning, assembly, disassembly, and dissemination of all related elements to research projects, includes data, samples, supplies and equipment.

• Provide data analysis and summarization, including:
• Shall assist in data entry into spreadsheets and databases and literature review.
• Shall assist in the preparation of reports and manuscripts related to climate change on, genetics, growth, condition, migration, and survival of salmonids and other commercially important species.
• Provide a written report on all data collected, all data entry and analyses, and locations of data files.

Auke Creek Research Station (1 position)

• Serve as senior coordinator for fieldwork, which includes 90% of work on vessel surveys and research field stations, and perform the following duties:
• Coordinate and assist in fish collection, sampling, coded wire tagging, and spawning activities
• Coordinate and assist in salmon scale collection, preservation, and digitization
• Coordinate and assist with fish husbandry work including maintenance of equipment
• Coordinate and assist in daily environmental data collection
• Record any deviation from scientific protocols provided by Federal POC

• Coordinate and participate in all staging and de-staging of fieldwork, including:
• Coordinate and participate in the installation, conversion, and removal of NOAA’s research salmon weirs on Auke Creek and Sashin Creek over the course of the work season.
• Coordinate and participate in maintenance required for

• Provide data analysis and summarization, including:
• Shall assist in data entry into spreadsheets and databases, analysis of data using R statistical package, and literature review.
• Shall assist in the preparation of reports and manuscripts related to climate change on, genetics, growth, condition, migration, and survival of salmonids and other commercially important species.
• Provide a written report on all data collected, all data entry and analyses, and locations of data files.

Locations

Little Port Walter Research Station on Baranof Island, about 44 miles southeast of Sitka AK (2 positions)

Auke Creek Research Station in Juneau, AK with up to four (4) weeks time at Little Port Walter (1 position).

Salary and Benefits: Full-time. Salary commensurate with experience. Generous employee benefits

Required Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university with a major directly related in a field of study as related to the requirements of specific task order with emphasis in fisheries, aquaculture, genetics, biology, natural science, or mathematics, plus three (3) years of experience in related field or combination of such totaling seven (7) years combined education and experience. A higher education Degree in science may be substituted for experience.

• Experience in salmon husbandry techniques
• Experience in using R (ARCS only) statistical packages
• Experience entering data into databases
• Experience working in remote Alaska areas
• Experience working for extended hours in adverse environmental conditions
• Experience working on or operating powered small boats in Alaska waters
• Experience safely operating power tools necessary for fieldwork
• Due to the physical nature of fieldwork the candidate must be able to lift and move items up to 20kg (44lbs) without assistance

• Ability to work effectively both individually and collaboratively in a team/group setting.
• Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement appropriate action.

If you are interested in being considered for this position, please APPLY THROUGH OUR ADP WEB PORTAL, AT THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE.

Only qualified applicants that meet minimum experience or background requirements stated above need apply. When applying for this position you will be asked to upload your resume at the end of this online application.

Applicants should submit a resume that includes the following:

• Cover letter that briefly describes how you meet the required and preferred qualifications listed and which location would be preferable to you.
• Work history for past 10 years or since last full-time education.
• Education.
• Previous experience or training with similar requirements.
• Three professional references.
• Include your name in the document file name.
• Upload your resume in readable, not scanned, PDF or Word format (PDF is preferred).

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Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $1.00 per year

Work Location: One location