Earth Scientist 2 – Fisheries Research & Field Operations

Overview

The Energy and Environment Directorate at PNNL delivers science and technology solutions for the nation's biggest energy and environmental challenges. The Earth Systems Science Division, part of this directorate, focuses on advancing Earth system opportunities for energy systems and national security.

Responsibilities

• Studies the geosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and/or interactions of these systems with human activities.
• Uses scientific principles, instrument measurements, computer models, data analysis, and knowledge of policy and regulatory drivers to study the environment and/or develop solutions to environmental problems.
• Leverages knowledge and tools from fields such as ecology, biology, physics, chemistry, geochemistry, soil science, hydrology, atmospheric science, economics, and/or integrated assessment.
• Be a part of a large interdisciplinary team that researches the effects of hydropower operations on passage and survival of juvenile salmon and Pacific lamprey throughout the Columbia, Snake, Willamette, and other river systems across the Pacific Northwest.
• Applies S&E principles and develops technical approaches to solve challenges, while taking on greater independence and leadership in field operations and data collection.
• Defines and leads project tasks, independently manages logistics, oversees and ensures the quality of field data collection, conducts data analysis, and leads the drafting of report sections or full reports.
• Frequent operation of research boats (18–26 ft single-prop, dual-prop, and jet boats) on large river systems with strong currents and variable weather conditions.
• Deploying, maintaining, and retrieving acoustic and radio telemetry equipment from boats and shore-based locations.
• Supporting boat-based fieldwork and equipment deployment, including assisting with field crew operations.
• Managing boating logistics such as equipment transport, maintenance planning, vessel readiness, and coordinating launch/recovery activities.
• Assisting with field scheduling, coordination, and communication with research staff, visiting researchers, and crafts personnel involved in boating operations.
• Ensuring boating activities remain safe and efficient under changing field conditions, adhering to DOE and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Making detailed records and writing reports related to field deployments, boating operations, and telemetry work.
• Supporting tagging activities or assisting with surgical implantation of transmitters in fish and ensuring safe boat-based transport and release schedules.

Qualifications

• BS/BA and 2 years of relevant experience - OR - MS/MA - OR - PhD
• Ability to contribute to scientific products such as technical reports, publications, or well-documented data summaries.
• Background supporting proposal development through technical input and methods contributions.
• Experience leading field sampling crews with increasing independence.
• Maintenance and analyses of large lab- and field-based datasets (MS Excel, R Programming, GIS).
• Ability to interpret complex data and communicate results to diverse audiences.
• Strong written and presentation skills.
• Understanding of energy and natural resource issues in the region.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to build networks locally.
• Familiarity with telemetry study design and maintenance.
• Experience operating boats on rivers or large water bodies (3+ years).
• Basic knowledge of boat maintenance.
• Experience supporting boat-based fieldwork and equipment deployment.
• Experience supporting field crews in aquatic or outdoor research environments.
• Knowledge of fish species inhabiting the Pacific Northwest.