Research Technician III, Temporary - Marine Ecology

The University of Southern Mississippi • Ocean Springs, MS

7d • $16 - $19 • Onsite

About The Position

The University of Southern Mississippi is seeking a Research Technician to support ongoing laboratory- and field-based projects focused on invertebrate behavior, coastal ecology, and seagrass biology in the Gulf of Mexico. The position is located at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS. The selected applicant will be co-supervised by Dr. Zachary Darnell and Dr. Kelly Darnell. Duties will include a combination of field work, laboratory sample processing, administrative tasks, and data analysis. Additional information on ongoing research projects can be found at https://www.thecraboratory.org and http://www.darnellseagrassecologylab.com.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university in marine biology, ecology, biology, or a related field -OR- 2 years of research experience (can include research conducted during B.S. degree coursework).
• Demonstrated scientific, analytical, and numerical skills.
• Ability to work independently and balance multiple tasks with different deadlines.
• Attention to detail.
• Teamwork and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to communicate with a diverse group of individuals.
• Experience in working on small vessels.
• Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

Nice To Haves

• M.S. degree in a related field.
• Experience using R statistical software.

Responsibilities

• Assists with field operations across the northcentral Gulf of Mexico, including sampling for blue crabs and other nekton species using a variety of sampling gears (traps, trawls, etc.) and in-water seagrass surveys for species composition, condition, and reproductive output.
• Conducts mesocosm experiments in both recirculating and flow-through seawater systems, including experiments quantifying blue crab growth rates and lifetime reproductive output under changing thermal regimes.
• Assists with laboratory data acquisition including seagrass and sediment sample processing and video behavioral analyses.
• Performs data entry and QA/QC in support of multiple projects.
• Assists with manuscript preparation and outreach efforts.
• Assists with other ongoing field and laboratory projects, and other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

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