Faculty Research Assistant: Marine Mammal Institute-GEMM Lab

OSU Rec Sports - Sport. Leadership. Wellness. • Newport, RI

9d • Onsite

About The Position

The Marine Mammal Institute at Oregon State University invites applications for an hourly or salaried, part-time (0.60 FTE), 12-month fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant position based in Newport, Oregon. The position will support multiple aspects of research activities, field operations, and lab management in the GEMM Lab. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head. Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in the natural sciences and 2 years of significant research experience.
• Experience as a marine mammal observer.
• Extensive experience driving small boats around cetaceans.
• Experience in ecological data collection, including cetacean photo-identification, behavioral observations, prey sampling, drone operations, suction-cup tagging, and biopsy.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Clear, honest communication skills.
• Ability to work on collaborative projects with a multidisciplinary team.
• Ability to work independently and creatively within a team environment and maintain a constructive and positive research culture.
• Must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver’s license in their state of residence, be determined position-qualified, and self-report convictions as required by University Policy 05-030.
• Ability to work regularly outdoors, including on boats in marine environments.
• Ability to lift objects weighing more than 30 pounds.
• Ability and willingness to work occasional long field days when weather permits, which may include weekends and holidays.
• Willingness to travel and drive occasionally for remote fieldwork.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in the natural sciences.
• Experience using Microsoft Access, ArcGIS, and/or Matlab.
• Experience using R for data wrangling, organization, visualization, and statistical analysis.
• Record of scientific publication as lead or co-author.
• Experience conducting cetacean photo-identification analysis.
• Demonstrated success working on several concurrent projects and adapting to shifting priorities and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Operate small boats, such as RHIBs and Zodiacs, around cetaceans for ecological data collection.
• Perform routine maintenance on the research vessel, truck, and trailer, and coordinate specialized maintenance and repairs as needed.
• Conduct marine mammal survey observations aboard US Coast Guard helicopters and mid-size and large research vessels.
• Oversee the maintenance, storage, and organization of equipment, including cameras, drones, and sensors.
• Manage data and store and archive samples.
• Process and organize photo-identification images.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Mid Level