Biologist - Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (IERP) Support
About The Position
Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking applicants to provide biological laboratory support for processing crab, fish, and zooplankton samples to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Alaska Fisheries Science Center (AFSC), Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (IERP), Auke Bay Laboratories in Juneau, AK and Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OR. 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. We are seeking applicants for this position prospectively, which is dependent on award of contract Background AFSC conducts fisheries oceanographic research in Alaska’s marine waters, including annual surveys in the Bering Sea. Collaborative research within AFSC and with external partners, as part of the Northern Bering Sea IERP, uses data and samples collected during these surveys to determine how environmental variation affects survival and recruitment of commercially important fish, including salmon and groundfish, and crab species. These positions will aid NOAA biologists in processing samples in the laboratory and data from surveys to support ongoing fisheries oceanographic research. The tasks involve sample processing of crab, fish, and zooplankton including: sample collection, inventories, laboratory analyses, and data entry. This requirement involves sample processing in the laboratory and participation in ocean going surveys.
Requirements
- Educational Background: None to Bachelor’s - preferably has completed college level course work in a field related to the requirements with emphasis in fisheries, oceanography, biology, or natural science.
- Experience: 0-3+ years - preferably one year of experience in both a biology and chemistry laboratory.
Nice To Haves
- Skills: Prefer demonstrated proficiency for the following skill sets:
- Experience on a research or commercial fishing boat.
- Experience processing larval or juvenile marine fish, including: identifying species at the larval and juvenile stages, measuring lengths and weights; dissecting and removing stomach contents; and dissecting otoliths, fins, and scales.
- Experience organizing field and laboratory data including performing quality control procedures on both raw and electronic.
Responsibilities
- Inventory samples arriving at the laboratory
- Measure length and weight of organisms
- Removal of otoliths for fish
- Removal of tissue pieces for genetics
- Removal of tissue pieces for Isotopes
- Removal of fish stomachs and tissues for diet and energetic work
- Homogenize samples
- Analyze fish with PARR Instrument Company semi-microbomb calorimeter for energy density
- Prepare samples for lipid analysis
- Prepare samples for isotope analysis
- Chemically extract marine samples for total lipidsAnalyze marine samples for total lipids and lipid classes using thin layer chromatography with flame ionization detection (TLC_FID)
- Derivatize marine lipid samples into fatty acid methyl esters using acid catalyzed transesterification
- Analyze fatty acids in marine food web samples by integrating data from a gas chromatographer with flame ionization detection (GC_FID)
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
