Bottom Longline Survey Support Marine Biologists
About the role
The position involves working as a contractor for NOAA's Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Population & Ecosystems Monitoring Division (PEMD) providing support for the Bottom Longline Survey and other resource surveys. The role is expected to be full-time and will be based at the SEFSC Laboratory in Pascagoula, MS.
Responsibilities
Resource Surveys: Serving as Field Party Chief, Watch Leader, or Watch Stander on SEFSC Bottom Longline Survey and other SEFSC resource surveys. Tasks include writing/cruise instructions and reports, planning/coordinating surveys, data collection, and reporting.
Field Party Chief Duties: Writing/cruise instructions and reports, ensuring participant clearance forms are completed, planning/coordinating surveys, coordinating with IT staff, liaising with ship and science crews, procuring and loading survey gear, managing vessel activities, conducting data collection, and reporting progress.
Watch Leader Duties: Preparing and loading survey gear, assisting with deployment and retrieval of sampling gears, conducting data collection, and assisting with data processing and storage.
Watch Stander Duties: Assisting with pre/post-survey inventory, preparing and loading survey gear, conducting data collection, and assisting with data processing and storage.
Laboratory Support: Coordinating trophic studies, cataloging samples, applying analytical methods, and presenting results in peer-reviewed journals. Supporting other SEFSC personnel in assessing the diets of teleosts.
Data Management Support: Entering and editing research data, maintaining databases, and uploading data to SEFSC Oracle database. Providing tag and biological sampling information to SEFSC colleagues and maintaining survey data associated with genetic samples.
Analytical Support: Conducting data analysis and summaries, preparing data reports, publications, and presentations. Conducting advanced analyses and spatial mapping.
Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Strandings: Walking beaches or riding in small boats to reach stranded animals, identifying and measuring animals, bagging and transporting them, and submitting data.
Outreach and Education: Conducting and organizing outreach events, marine science education at local schools, participating in science fairs, and manning outreach booths at local fairs and festivals.
Scientific Meetings: Preparing for and presenting at scientific meetings, workshops, symposia, and public forums.
Requirements
- Level II: MS Degree in Marine Science or related field, or BS Degree in Marine Science or related field with 3 years of relevant experience.
- Level III: MS Degree in Biology or related science, or BS Degree in Biology or related science with 10 years of relevant experience.
Qualifications
- MS Degree in Marine Science or related field, or BS Degree in Marine Science or related field, plus 3 years of relevant experience for Level II.
- MS Degree in Biology or related science, or BS Degree in Biology or related science, plus 10 years of relevant experience for Level III.
- Experience with multiple gear types, oceanographic equipment, and video technologies.
- Knowledge of applying basic concepts, principles, and methodologies of fisheries biology and survey design.
- Experience with stomach content analyses and basic statistics associated with trophic studies.
- Ability to accurately identify elasmobranchs, teleosts, and invertebrates indigenous to southeastern U.S. marine waters.
- Computer literate and advanced competency with common word processing, database utilization and management, statistical, and graphics programs.
- Experience in conducting public outreach events and public speaking.
- Sea going contractors must have a current tetanus vaccine (once every 10 years).
Benefits
Salary range is $30 – $45 per hour, dependent upon experience. EOE.
Pay
$30 – $45 per hour, dependent upon experience.
Schedule
Full-time position.