Research Biologist

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration•Milford, CT

10d•Onsite

About The Position

This position is with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service, with one vacancy in Milford, Connecticut. The Research Biologist develops and directs long-term research initiatives to support the health, physiological resilience, and sustainable cultivation of marine bivalve mollusks amid changing environments and ecological pressures. The role applies a One Health framework to synthesize interdisciplinary findings in areas such as bioenergetics, immunology, pathology, and health management, and uses statistical and mechanistic models to inform decision-making tools for constituents. The position serves as principal investigator for complex, multi-year research efforts and oversees their full lifecycle, including proposal development, team building, grant and budget management, experimental execution, data synthesis, and dissemination of findings. It provides technical expertise and recommendations to agency leadership and stakeholders; builds strategic partnerships across government, academia, nonprofits, and commercial aquaculture; and produces and presents scientific publications, reports, guidance, and briefings. The role also contributes peer review and editorial expertise, serves on scientific advisory panels, leads professional committee initiatives, and directs multidisciplinary projects, schedules, and resources. The duties described are at the ZP-4 full-performance level; the ZP-3 level is developmental. The position requires the ability to lift and carry 20–25 pounds unassisted, a valid state driver’s license, and operation of a federal motor vehicle. Duties may be performed at sea in inclement but nonhazardous weather. The position is subject to federal employment and background-investigation requirements.

Requirements

Meet the basic education requirement: a degree in biological sciences, agriculture, natural resource management, chemistry, or a related discipline; or equivalent coursework combined with appropriate experience or additional education.
Meet the specialized experience requirements for the applicable grade level. At ZP-3/GS-11, this requires one year equivalent to ZP-2/GS-09, including participation in activities involving larval development, life-history stages, or cultivation practices affecting shellfish growth and health, and assistance publishing experimental results in technical reports and scientific manuscripts.
At ZP-3, a master’s or equivalent graduate degree may substitute for specialized experience, or qualifying graduate education may be combined with experience.
At ZP-4/GS-13, this requires one year equivalent to ZP-3/GS-12, including planning research activities involving larval development, life-history stages, or cultivation practices affecting shellfish growth and health, and authoring peer-reviewed scientific publications, technical reports, or guidance briefings for presentation at conferences and national forums.
Submit transcripts when qualifying based on education; foreign education must be documented as equivalent to U.S. education standards.
Be a U.S. citizen and suitable for federal employment, as determined by a background investigation.
Register for Selective Service if applicable.
Possess and maintain a valid state driver’s license.
Be able to lift and carry 20–25 pounds unassisted.

Responsibilities

Develop, initiate, and direct long-term research initiatives focused on the health, resilience, and sustainable cultivation of marine bivalve mollusks.
Apply a One Health framework to integrate interdisciplinary data on bioenergetics, immunology, pathology, and health management.
Use statistical and mechanistic models to translate findings into decision-making tools for constituents.
Serve as principal investigator for complex, multi-year research efforts.
Oversee research project lifecycles, including proposal development, team building, grant and budget management, experimental execution, data synthesis, and dissemination.
Provide technical expertise and authoritative recommendations on complex scientific issues to agency leadership and stakeholders.
Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with government agencies, academic institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and commercial aquaculture sectors.
Author peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and guidance briefings, and present findings at scientific conferences and national forums.
Provide peer-review and editorial expertise, serve on scientific advisory panels, and lead professional committee initiatives.
Oversee multidisciplinary research projects, set priorities, allocate resources, and direct schedules.
Lift and carry 20–25 pounds unassisted when performing duties such as handling sampling equipment.
Maintain a valid state driver’s license and operate a federal motor vehicle to visit hatcheries, attend meetings, and access field sites.
Perform duties at sea in inclement but nonhazardous weather, as needed.