Primary Function:
The Fisheries Biologist will support NOAA at the Auke Bay Laboratory by processing fish and zooplankton samples, conducting laboratory analyses, and performing data entry and quality control in support of ongoing fisheries oceanographic research. Work supports long-term data sets related to the survival and recruitment of commercially important Alaskan fish species, including salmon and groundfish.
Duties/Responsibilities:
- Inventory fish arriving at the laboratory and verify species, including Alaskan marine larval fish
- Measure length and weight of fish samples
- Remove otoliths, tissue pieces for genetics, RNA/DNA, isotopes, and coded-wire tags
- Remove and analyze fish stomachs and tissues for diet and energetic work
- Homogenize fish and analyze energy density using a PARR semi-microbomb calorimeter
- Analyze lipid content and stomach contents of juvenile fishes
- Prepare samples for isotope and thiamine content analysis
- Enter data accurately and conduct quality control procedures on raw and electronic data, including use of relational databases and SQL
- Prepare monthly progress reports covering accomplishments, issues encountered, and recommendations
- Participate in single-day vessel surveys from Juneau, AK as needed to assist with oceanographic and fish collections
Minimum Qualifications:
- 0–3+ years of experience
- Demonstrated ability to identify, enumerate, and weigh juvenile marine fish stomach contents
Preferred Qualifications:
- A few semesters of college-level coursework in a field related to fisheries, oceanography, biology, social science, or natural science
- One year of experience in both a biology and chemistry laboratory
- Experience processing larval or juvenile marine fish, including identifying species at the larval and juvenile stages and dissecting otoliths, fins, and scales
- Experience operating a bomb calorimeter or other instrumentation for measuring fish condition
- Experience organizing field and laboratory data, including performing quality control procedures on both raw and electronic data
- Proficiency with relational databases and structured query languages (QA/QC procedures)
Travel:
All field work, including vessel-based surveys, will be completed within a single workday, and will be conducted on government-provided vessels or vehicles.
Location:
- 17109 Point Lena Loop Road, Juneau, Alaska (Auke Bay Laboratory)
- Applicants must be currently living in, or be willing to relocate to, the Juneau, AK area.
Salary range: $23.00 – $25.00/hour
