Primary responsibilities of the Research Associate include leading/assisting research in the Fisheries Ecology Lab which includes environmental DNA (eDNA) sample collection and processing, fish collections (seining, hook-and-line fishing), active acoustics, and cooperative research with the commercial fishing industry. The Research Associate will also support development of data products to provide information and support decision-making related to Gulf of Maine fisheries and ecosystem change.
Responsibilities/Tasks:
- Lead eDNA collection, processing and analysis
- Operate a research skiff in the inshore Gulf of Maine
- Assist with Casco Bay Aquatic System Survey (CBASS) data collection and management
- Conduct active acoustic transects
- Assist with data collection aboard commercial fishing vessels
- Perform literature reviews
- Contribute to writing of project reports and manuscripts
Other General Responsibilities:
- Assist with general lab management, including purchasing supplies and equipment, coordinating logistics, and other tasks as needed
- Contribute to development of project and research team websites
- Help populate and manage department-wide databases
- Contribute to efficiency of operations across lab and projects through sharing of skills and data with other relevant associates
- Collaborate across departments and engage with non-GMRI project partners
Required Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in marine biology, fisheries, molecular biology or related discipline
- Experience in fisheries research
- Experience with molecular biology methods (e.g. qPCR, metabarcoding)
- Experience with molecular biology/genomics instruments
- Integrity towards scientific research and data quality
- Experience on vessels, either research vessels or commercial vessels
- Experience with active acoustics
- Ability to operate small vessels in the Gulf of Maine
Other Preferred Qualifications:
- Ability to identify fish normally caught in the Gulf of Maine
- Familiarity with statistical software such as R
- Familiarity with Simrad and Echoview acoustic software
Salary and Benefits:
Gulf of Maine Research Institute offers a competitive salary and benefits package.
Salary: $53,800–$58,500
Applications will be accepted until 3/15/2024.
