COMPASS Modeling Support Services

Ocean Associates Incorporated•Seattle, WA

2d•$30 - $45•Hybrid

About The Position

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking an applicant to provide Comprehensive Passage (COMPASS) modeling support services to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries, Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Fish Ecology Division (FE) in Seattle, WA. 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. The Fish Ecology Division at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) conducts scientific research on marine and anadromous species in the Pacific Northwest and California to support management of these species as mandated by the authorizing mechanisms outlined above. Some stocks are managed under the MSA to produce abundant harvest opportunities for commercial and recreational fishermen and to meet tribal treaty obligations, while others are in decline and protected by the ESA. The NWFSC also researches ways to improve aquaculture and increase seafood safety. Holistic understanding of all factors controlling the abundance and health of fisheries and aquaculture often requires an ecosystem approach, working to understand how managed natural resources are affected by their prey, competitors, predators, habitats, and humans. This position will support NWFSC staff and interdisciplinary teams of scientists, natural resource managers, and tribal representatives to conduct ecological research on species that NOAA is mandated to manage. The NWFSC is a leader in quantitative analyses supporting fisheries management for marine and anadromous species. It produces increasingly large datasets as quantitative research techniques become more complex. Researchers examine complex relationships between managed stocks and their environments that involve highly technical statistical approaches that continue to rapidly evolve. The Center collaborates with regional partners to manage data and provide public access to empirical and modeled data products. There is a strong need for continued improvement in both the ability to conduct advanced quantitative analyses and to adeptly manage and share resulting research products. Modern fisheries management faces a growing data-capacity gap: data volume is surging while managers have less time to interpret complex research.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or higher (Master’s preferred), from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study related to the requirements of the task order with a strong quantitative background with emphasis in statistics, mathematics, fisheries, ecology, or the natural sciences.
Three (3) or more years of experience related to the task order. An Advanced Degree in a related field may be substituted for two (MS) or four (PhD) years of experience.
Excellent communication skills and experience writing reports and contributing to peer-reviewed articles.
Strong quantitative skills including extensive experience in modeling and data analysis.
Extensive experience executing statistical analysis and modeling in R, with an emphasis on strong skills coding in R.
Ability to manage workload, stay organized, and produce high-quality work products efficiently.
Ability to work both independently and on interdisciplinary teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Bayesian statistical methods and mark-recapture analysis is preferred.
Familiarity interpreting or interfacing with C or C++ code within a scientific modeling context.
Computational experience utilizing command-line environments (e.g., Linux/shell scripting) for processing data is preferred, as well as experience with open science concepts.
Experience with Bayesian modeling programs Stan and JAGS is preferred.
Familiarity with common software used in the workplace such as Google Suite and Microsoft Office.

Responsibilities

Develop and advance the Comprehensive Passage (COMPASS) model for application in river systems to evaluate effects of stressors and management actions across fish life cycles using a combination of statistical modeling, computer modeling, statistical analysis, quantitative ecological analysis, and other quantitative modeling techniques.
Construct and implement models evaluating survival and migration through the hydropower system (COMPASS model) to address requests by the West Coast Regional Office in support of ESA litigation and permitting.
Collaborate with regional managers and researchers to structure, synthesize, and manage environmental and biological data relevant to modeling needs.
Document and share reproducible research workflows and analytical products so that others can easily interact with them and understand what was done.
Write reports, contribute to journal manuscripts, and present results at regional and national meetings and scientific conferences, as needed.
Assist with field collection of fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments of the West Coast region, as needed. This involves operating outdoors in sometimes harsh conditions in or around water. This may involve riding in vehicles and/or boats.