Job Description

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking applicants to provide Life History Program support to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) Fisheries Resources Division (FRD) Life History Program (LHP) in La Jolla, CA. 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

The LHP of the FRD at the SWFSC has an active research program that studies the age and growth, reproduction, foraging ecology, habitat, spatial distribution, movement, behavior, and stock structure of coastal pelagic species (CPS) and highly migratory species (HMS) in the northeast Pacific Ocean. LHP generates scientific information that seeks to directly inform stock assessments of monitored and managed species, integrated ecosystem assessments, and ecosystem-based fishery management efforts. LHP research utilizes both fishery-independent and fishery-dependent surveys and employs a wide range of biological sampling activities, often in collaboration with recreational and commercial fisheries, research institutions, state agencies, and the public. LHP supports research cruises of FRD by providing personnel to serve as members of the onboard scientific crews tasked with conducting trawl surveys and collecting biological samples.

Description

The FRD requires expertise to support ageing studies, reproductive studies, CPS surveys, and bio-sampling of CPS and HMS that involves a combination of laboratory work (Task 1), field work (Task 2), and outreach activities (Task 3).

Employee may be required to drive government vehicles to participate in fieldwork. This position requires regular at-sea duty working on deck or in scientific spaces for up to 12 hours per day and lifting of up to 50 lbs. unassisted. Additional at sea requirements; must be able to climb ladders and embark/disembark small boats from larger ships; prolonged walking and standing in a variety of seagoing conditions and weather; donning survival suits/protective equipment; etc.

Tasks

Key tasks include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:

Laboratory work to support studies on growth and reproduction of CPS and HMS
The employee shall support work by the LHP to generate and analyze age and reproductive biology data of CPS (Pacific Sardine, Northern Anchovy, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel) and HMS (Pacific Bluefin Tuna, Pacific Albacore, and Opah). The employee shall:Collaborate with LHP personnel to sort and process (e.g., clean, weigh, polish, section) otolith samples and generate age data for CPS and HMS in a timely manner in accordance with stock assessment schedules and research deadlines as assigned by the LHP lead.
Collaborate with LHP personnel to sort and process gonad samples and generate reproductive biology data for CPS and HMS in a timely manner in accordance with stock assessment schedules and research deadlines as assigned by the LHP lead.
Contribute to data entry, QA/QC procedures, data compilation and analyses, literature searches, and the preparation, writing, and editing of publications, reports, and other products on growth and reproduction of CPS and HMS in collaboration with LHP personnel as assigned by the LHP lead.
Contribute to management, organization, and archival of otolith, gonad, and other samples.
Maintain and regularly update inventory of CPS and HMS research supplies, materials, equipment; coordinate servicing of research equipment (e.g., balances, microscopes) with LHP personnel; coordinate purchasing of research supplies and materials (e.g., tissue cassettes, specimen jars) with LHP personnel.

Deliverables:Completion of assigned sorting and processing of samples and generation of age and reproductive data for CPS and HMS following standard protocols; delivery of data to LHP personnel or entered directly into databases in accordance with LHP research timelines and assigned deadlines.
Completion of updated inventory lists of supplies, materials, and equipment in accordance with research timelines and survey schedules as assigned.
Generation of purchase lists of research supplies, materials, and equipment in accordance with research timelines and survey schedules as assigned.
Completion of servicing of lab and research equipment in accordance with research timelines and survey schedules as assigned.
Recognized contributions to LHP research products (e.g., authorship on reports, publications, presentations) related to the age/growth, reproduction, and life history of CPS and HMS as assigned.
Monthly progress report to include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: accomplishments, issues encountered, travel (including purpose, significant outcomes, action items), and recommendations, if applicable.

Field work and related activities consisting primarily of service on scientific crew aboard a research vessel during fishery resource assessment or ecosystem surveys.
The employee shall serve as a member of the scientific crew aboard a research vessel for a maximum duration of one full leg (typically less than 30 days) during a CPS Survey during each period of performance. Duties will consist mainly of working as a member of the trawling team to conduct shipboard processing and analysis of trawl catches with primary emphasis on target CPS (e.g., Northern Anchovy, Pacific Sardine, Pacific Mackerel, Jack Mackerel, Pacific Hake) during a CPS survey. Specific duties on a CPS survey will include, but are not limited to:species identification,
measurements of length and weight,
collection of otoliths and tissue samples (e.g., gonads, muscle),
data entry,
general cleaning and upkeep of laboratory,
packing and unpacking of bio-sampling equipment and materials in the laboratory,
loading and unloading of bio-sampling equipment and materials from the vessel.

Deliverables:Participation on one full leg of the CPS survey as a member of the trawl team.
Trawl catch compositions and associated data for target species collected during a CPS survey following general SWFSC, FRD, and cruise-specific protocols. Processing and storage of otolith samples and preserved gonad samples. Completed sample collection data sheets following cruise specific protocols. Entry of trawl and bio-sampling data into the trawl database.
Participation in packing, staging, loading, and unloading of bio-sampling equipment, materials, and supplies in relation to the CPS survey.
Inclusion of field work activities in monthly progress reports as applicable.

Outreach activities in support of LHP and FRD research.The employee shall support and participate in outreach activities on-site at SWFSC and at local venues (e.g., Bart Hall Fishing Show, Day at the Docks) as assigned by the LHP lead.

Deliverables:Presence and active participation in on-site and local outreach activities.
Inclusion of field work activities in monthly progress reports as applicable.

Start Date: ASAP

Location: Work will be conducted on-site at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center 8901 La Jolla Shores Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037, and aboard ship during research cruises.

Travel: Travel is anticipated. Travel is required to embark/disembark a research vessel for participation on research cruises scheduled by SWFSC. Travel dates and points of departure/return for the cruises are not yet known, but in each year are likely to occur between June and October with departure from San Diego aboard a research vessel, or via air to embark in San Francisco or Newport, OR, and return to San Diego aboard the research vessel or via air from San Francisco or Newport, OR.

Salary and Benefits: This is a full-time position with benefits. Salary, commensurate with experience, between $22.00 to 25.00 per hour.

Requirements

Applicants must have the following minimum qualifications:

• 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, oceanography, marine biology, social science, natural science, mathematics, or hydrology, plus one (1) year of experience in related field or combination of such totaling five (5) years combined education and experience.
• Demonstrated experience in fish ageing using otoliths.
• Demonstrated experience in field sampling using standard fisheries techniques to measure, weigh, dissect, and collect otolith and tissue (e.g., gonads, muscle for genetics) samples.
• Demonstrated experience and proficiency in data entry, data management, and MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access).
• Demonstrated experience working in a research laboratory environment, including using a stereomicroscope and compound microscope.
• Good oral and written communication and organizational skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively both individually and collaboratively in a team/group setting.
• Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement appropriate action.

Additional skills and experience preferred:

• Demonstrated experience in visual and microscopic staging of fish gonads to determine sex, maturity, and reproductive condition.
• Experience using R.

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.
• 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).

How to Apply

Job Categories: Equal Opportunities. Job Types: Full-Time. Salaries: 40,000 - 60,000.

65 total views, 0 today

Apply for this Job