Biologist II (Hybrid)

Akima, LLC•Bozeman, MT

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

ASE is looking to hire a Biologist II to join the team supporting the USCG. The Biologist II will work as part of multidisciplinary teams addressing ecological conditions, contaminant pathways, and biological community response to metals and other stressors. Studies involve extensive field sampling, taxonomic identification, and integration of biological, chemical, and hydrologic data. The USGS conducts research on aquatic contaminants, watershed‑ecosystem processes, and biological integrity in western river basins, with emphasis on the Clark Fork and Kootenai River systems. Work supports national and regional resource managers, including federal, state, and Tribal partners. The work environment includes frequent outdoor scientific fieldwork (>50% during primary sampling seasons) in remote and sometimes harsh conditions, complemented by periods of office and laboratory analysis. This Hybrid position requires that you live within commuting distance from Bozeman, MT.

Requirements

BS in a Science related field.
Must be a US Citizen able to pass a company background check.
2-4 years of experience in the field or a related area.
Must be able to work extensively outdoors (>50%) in remote settings. This includes walking on uneven terrain, wading streams, and lifting moderate loads in variable weather conditions.
Must be willing and able to conduct occasional overnight fieldwork.

Nice To Haves

Demonstrated experience conducting field sampling of aquatic biological communities, including the collection and taxonomic identification of freshwater macroinvertebrates.
Proficient in identifying these organisms to the appropriate taxonomic level.
Experience working with contaminants in aquatic systems, particularly metals and metalloids.
Ability to conduct ecological data analysis using platforms such as R, Python, or comparable analytical tools.
Familiarity with USGS or similar federal and state biological monitoring protocols.

Responsibilities

Provide ecological field support, taxonomic identification, contaminant‑pathway sampling, and ecological data management in accordance with USGS protocols, Quality Management Systems, and safety plans.
Conduct field sampling of aquatic biological communities, including the collection and taxonomic identification of freshwater macroinvertebrates.
Identify organisms to the appropriate taxonomic level.
Work with contaminants in aquatic systems, particularly metals and metalloids.
Conduct ecological data analysis using platforms such as R, Python, or comparable analytical tools.
Familiarity with USGS or similar federal and state biological monitoring protocols.
Be physically capable of working in remote field environments, including wading in streams, carrying field equipment, and operating in adverse weather conditions.
Routine interaction with USGS scientists and collaborators for field coordination, study planning, data interpretation, and integration of ecological results with chemical and hydrologic datasets.
Lead field sampling of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities following standard USGS and state/federal protocols.
Collect supporting habitat, substrate, and water‑quality data.
Collect biological, chemical, and physical samples supporting contaminant‑pathway and trophic‑transfer analyses.
Maintain sample integrity through proper chain of custody, preservation, and metadata documentation.
Coordinate with project biologists on schedules, sampling locations, and safety plans.
Conduct sorting, preparation, and identification of biological samples.
Prepare samples for metals/metalloid analyses under approved QA/QC procedures.
Ensure laboratory activities meet USGS Quality Management Systems requirements.
Conduct QA/QC on biological and chemical datasets.
Integrate biological, chemical, and hydrologic data for use in ecological interpretation.
Develop figures, tables, and ecological visualizations for reports and presentations.
Prepare datasets for manuscripts, technical reports, and collaborative data products.