Wildlife Biologist I (Aquatics)

Full-time, hourly position ($22.17–$28.16/hr) based in Logan, Utah (1465 West 200 North, 84321). In-office/on-site only. Application deadline: 11/3/2026 (may close earlier). Recruiter: Karen Weir (kweir@utah.gov). Eligible for full benefits package.

About the role

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR) Aquatic Section seeks a highly motivated Aquatic Research Biologist I to support applied research projects statewide, working independently and collaboratively within fish health and research teams. The role involves advising on aquatic science, conducting literature reviews, evaluating novel methods and equipment, and rapidly deploying solutions in the field. The position is housed at the Animal Aquatic Health and Research Center (AAHRC), which oversees fisheries research, fish health management and disease control, training, and specialized fish culture methods.

Location: 1465 West 200 North, Logan, Utah 84321, United States.

Schedule: Monday–Thursday, 7:00 am–5:00 pm; weekend work required. Must be willing to work a flexible schedule including extended days, overnight trips, and occasional camping.

Work environment: Standard office conditions to extreme outdoor weather (heat, wind, snow, ice, rain). Field work involves hip/chest waders, cold water, slippery surfaces, confined areas, four‑wheel‑drive vehicles, trailers, boats, and handling hazardous materials and laboratory chemicals. Physical demands: stand, walk over rough terrain, bend, crouch, stoop, stretch, reach, and lift a minimum of 50 lbs repeatedly and for long periods.

Requirements: Valid Utah driver’s license. Must reside within the state of Utah. No background check or drug test required. Position is time‑limited (Schedule Code TL).

Responsibilities

Key technical areas

• Laboratory and Molecular Biology: Hands‑on experience with cell culture, DNA extraction, and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) workflows.
• Research and Design: Solid understanding of experimental design and conducting comprehensive literature reviews.
• Field and Aquaculture Operations: Experience with field collections, parasite identification, and aquaculture design (incubation and rearing habitats).
• Communication: Strong scientific writing skills with the ability to summarize complex data.

Duties

The selected candidate will carry out field collections, laboratory‑based projects, literature reviews, and a variety of consultation or training tasks. Duties are variable and include, but are not limited to:

• Fisheries Research: Fish and invertebrate surveys using diverse methods (angling, backpack and boat electrofishing, gill nets, plankton tows, Schindler trap, etc.); limnology and habitat surveys; data entry and QA/QC; otolith preparation and aging; stable isotope preparation; eDNA sampling and collaboration; literature review; writing reports and peer‑reviewed publications. Learning new tasks on the job is expected.
• Fish Health: Travel statewide to assist with fish health inspections; perform necropsies; prepare specimens for laboratory analysis; analyze laboratory samples; collect tissue and transport biological samples; maintain quality‑control parameters; prepare media and reagents; prepare and stain slides; work with potentially hazardous materials.
• Native Species: Develop and carry out literature reviews; participate in research projects on native species and populations; conduct fish health inspections on native species in hatcheries and field sites; fabricate incubation and rearing systems; perform daily fish rearing and propagation tasks.

Additional expectations: conduct applied and basic research; perform field and laboratory experiments and extension work to address statewide needs; work independently and as a team member; communicate with AAHRC and regional personnel to identify program needs, develop projects, design experiments, analyze and interpret data, formulate technical reports, and provide oral presentations at UDWR and professional meetings; participate as an American Fisheries Society member; arrange and participate in agency or professional meetings.

Qualifications

Minimum/Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in Natural Resources, Fish Health, Fisheries Biology, Microbiology, Wildlife Sciences, biological sciences, or a directly related field with general coursework in microbiology, molecular biology, chemistry, zoology, and fisheries management, or directly related work experience equivalent.
• Knowledge of general microbiological methods.
• Computer proficiency: MS Word, Excel, and R.
• Ability to conduct applied and basic research.
• Ability to perform field work and collect samples for various purposes.
• Strong communication and writing skills.
• Ability to perform field and laboratory experiments and extension work to address statewide needs and objectives.
• Ability to work both independently and as a team participant to address statewide research requirements.
• Ability to communicate with AAHRC and regional personnel to identify program needs, develop projects, design experiments, analyze and interpret data, formulate technical reports, and provide oral presentations during UDWR and other professional meetings.
• Participation as an American Fisheries Society member.
• Arrange and participate in agency or professional meetings.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Science (MS) in Biology, Zoology, Natural Resources, or a closely related field; or directly related work experience equivalent.
• Completion of a graduate thesis project that includes a full, independent research component.
• Direct experience managing research projects, publishing peer‑reviewed scientific articles, and culturing native aquatic species for conservation purposes.

Benefits

• Job Stability: Security and reliability of employment within a well‑established organization.
• Career Growth: Develop valuable skills and gain opportunities for leadership within a large organization.
• Meaningful Work: Contribute to an important service that benefits the community and supports organizational goals.
• Supportive Work Environment: Team that values cooperation, strong work ethics, and mutual support.
• Generous paid time off and work/life balance (State of Utah benefits package).

Schedule

Monday–Thursday, 7:00 am–5:00 pm. Weekend work required. Flexible schedule including extended days, overnight travel, and occasional camping.

Pay

Hourly wage: $22.17 – $28.16.