Fishery Biologist 1- Field crew for Sucker Research

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission•Klamath Falls, OR

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission is hiring two full-time, benefits-eligible Fishery Biologist 1s for the USGS Klamath Falls Field Station in Klamath Falls. The anticipated start date is January 4, 2027. This non-supervisory, field-based position supports research on endangered Lost River and Shortnose suckers in the Klamath Basin, contributing to long-term capture-recapture monitoring and a growing acoustic telemetry program. Work takes place primarily on Upper Klamath Lake and Clear Lake Reservoir, generally within about a two-hour radius of Klamath Falls. The position involves working on the water to catch, tag, and track fish; operate boats, nets, and traps; maintain PIT-tag detection equipment and telemetry receivers; and collect and manage research data used to inform sucker recovery decisions. The field season runs from February through November. Work is generally scheduled as a 40-hour week, using either four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days depending on seasonal needs. Some winter night fishing is conducted to capture adult suckers staging to spawn. The role also contributes to broader fisheries research and data-management activities, including biological sampling, routine analyses, database maintenance, and preparation of data summaries and draft scientific-paper sections. The work may range from sedentary office tasks to moderate or rigorous physical activity. Duties may include hiking, carrying equipment, swimming, standing for long periods, lifting or handling gear weighing up to 50 pounds, and maintaining footing in fast-moving water. Work settings may include an office, fish-processing labs, fish-holding areas, and field locations. Field conditions can include varied weather, slippery or uneven terrain, insects, poison oak, rough or fast-moving water, cold water, elevated walkways or platforms over water, high elevations, and boats. Employment is contingent on meeting federal eligibility requirements for access to federal data systems, U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency maintained for at least three consecutive years, and successful completion of a federal background investigation. For positions located in Oregon, an MVR check is required; the selected candidate must provide a three-year Oregon motor vehicle record and pay the associated DMV fees. Applications must include a resume of no more than six pages and a cover letter addressing interest in the position and alignment with its research program and endangered-species recovery work.

Requirements

A qualifying education-and-experience combination: at the lower end, a completed four-year college course leading to a bachelor's degree or higher, with a major in biological science including at least 6 semester hours in aquatic subjects and 12 semester hours in animal sciences; equivalent combinations of education and experience may qualify.
At the upper end of the qualification range, one year of directly related specialized experience or one year of directly related graduate education. Specialized experience must be equivalent to at least the next lower level in the normal line of progression.
Knowledge of fishery biology, including knowledge of fish species; fish husbandry; aquatic habitats; and the scientific method.
Knowledge of personal-computer applications, technical writing, statistics and mathematics, and database management.
Ability to lift 40–50 pounds.
Valid driver's license; ability to tow and maneuver trailers and load boats onto trailers.
Oral and written communication skills.
Ability to repair and maintain equipment related to acoustic telemetry receiver deployment, maintenance, or data download.
Eligibility to access and use federal data systems.
U.S. citizenship or lawful permanent residency maintained for a minimum of three consecutive years.
Successful completion of a comprehensive federal agency background investigation.
For Oregon-located positions, provide a three-year Oregon motor vehicle record and clear an MVR check; the selected candidate is responsible for related DMV fees.
Submit a resume of no more than six pages demonstrating relevant education and experience, and a cover letter explaining interest in the position and alignment with the role, long-term sucker dataset, and Klamath Falls Field Station research program.

Nice To Haves

Snorkeling experience.
Experience operating traps or weirs.
Boat or backpack electrofishing experience.
Experience operating nets, including seines or gill nets.
Experience with electronic detection technology.
Experience operating motorized and non-motorized boats.
Hiking experience.
Motorboat Operator Certification Course (MOCC) or similar boating certification.
Experience operating GPS equipment.
Fish aging experience using scales, otoliths, or other methods.
Fish species identification skills and experience using fish keys.
Ability to compile and collect neat, accurate data.
Specific software skills in spreadsheets, word processing, databases, GIS, or statistical applications.

Responsibilities

Lead and participate in fishery survey crews conducting presence/absence research, fishing surveys, escapement surveys, tag detection, and mark-recovery surveys.
Collect standardized fish observations, including species identification, length, weight, behavior, growth, survival, reproductive condition, and signs of parasites, disease, pathogens, fin clips, or tags.
Catch, tag, and track Lost River and Shortnose suckers as part of long-term PIT-tag capture-recapture monitoring and acoustic telemetry research.
Maintain PIT-tag detection equipment, including antennas and related field infrastructure, and assist with acoustic receiver-array maintenance, fish capture for tagging, and telemetry data collection.
Operate boats, nets, and traps and conduct fieldwork on Upper Klamath Lake, Clear Lake Reservoir, and other nearby waters.
Enter, error-check, maintain, update, query, analyze, organize, and summarize fisheries and telemetry data; prepare reports and transfer data to relevant individuals, agencies, and organizations.
Assist researchers with investigations of long- and short-term fisheries resource-management problems; collect biological samples, conduct routine data analyses, and contribute draft sections to scientific papers.
Collect blood and tissue samples; maintain fish, hatchery or facility systems, equipment, water quality, and records when assigned.
Assist with the design, development, and installation of naturalistic environments and with analysis or documentation of fish behavior in simulated environments.
Establish or direct sport, commercial, hatchery, and natural-spawn sampling and biosampling protocols to meet data requirements.