Plankton Taxonomist

Saltwater Inc•Pascagoula, MS

10d•$35 - $55•Onsite

About The Position

Saltwater Inc. is seeking a Plankton Taxonomist – Level III to work as a contractor for NOAA’s Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Population & Ecosystems Monitoring Division (PEMD). This role will provide support for various tasks related to ichthyoplankton taxonomy, plankton sample processing, data management, and other research activities. The position is a full-time contractor role with a one-year base period and potential for three option periods. The work will be performed at the SEFSC Laboratory in Pascagoula, MS, with potential for limited work on NOAA Ships, charter vessels, and small boats.

Requirements

MS Degree in Marine Science or a related field of study, plus a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience; OR BS Degree in Marine Science or a related field of study, plus a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
Expertise in marine fish systematics, ontogeny, and larval morphology.
Prior experience in larval fish identification.
Proficiency in using primary literature sources and regional taxonomic atlases.
Experience in working with large data sets.
Capable of writing reports at the college level and making oral presentations.
Computer literate and experience with common word processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs.
Sea going contractors must have a current tetanus vaccine (once every 10 years).
Driver’s license to operate government vehicles.

Nice To Haves

Experience in marine zooplankton identification.
Knowledge of statistical treatment of marine plankton and oceanographic data.
Proficiency with EcoTaxa or similar AI-assisted taxonomic validation platforms.
Experience with ImageJ or other microscope imaging software.
Experience with software used for database management (e.g., Excel, Access, SQL).
Familiarity with R (for biological data graphing, synthesis and analysis) is highly desirable.
Knowledge of techniques and instrumentation (e.g., Zooscan, Flowcam) used to gather digitized data on marine plankton specimens.
Experience with molecular methods needed to prepare samples for species identification (e.g., tissue sampling, DNA extraction, amplification, sequencing, etc.).

Responsibilities

Perform microscopic examination and morphometric/meristic identification of marine fish larvae to the lowest possible taxonomic level.
Use microscope-digital imaging systems to image, identify, enumerate, and measure larval fish specimens.
Conduct life history analyses on larval fish specimens, including otolith removal, larval ageing, and gut content analysis.
Maintain updated knowledge of plankton taxonomy and systematics, and participate in relevant workshops.
Assist in prepping specimens for molecular identification/DNA barcoding.
Process plankton samples using standard laboratory methodologies, including sample splitting, aliquoting, and manual sorting.
Perform microscopic examination and identification of marine invertebrate zooplankton to higher level classifications.
Scan and analyze invertebrate zooplankton using benchtop imaging systems and develop reference libraries.
Assist with the tracking, maintenance, and curation of archived plankton samples.
Assist with the preparation of biological samples for shipping.
Perform plankton survey, ichthyoplankton, and zooplankton data entry, edits, and updates.
Provide verified identifications and plankton data to support stock assessment forums.
Assist with the management of plankton survey data and coordination of data exchanges.
Provide ichthyoplankton and zooplankton expertise for research projects and contribute to science deliverables.
Support other Trawl and Plankton Branch, PEMD, and SEFSC activities, including serving as a Watch Stander on surveys.
Participate in public outreach and education efforts.
Prepare for and present, facilitate, or participate in various workshops, scientific meetings, symposiums, and public forums.