The Colleen Hansel and Amy Apprill lab groups at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution are currently searching for a Research Assistant to join the Marine Chemistry and Geochemistry Department.
This is a regular, full-time, non-exempt position and is eligible for benefits.
The position will involve laboratory experiments to improve the growth and resilience of corals, including the use of micronutrient amended substrates and microorganism supplements. The position will involve maintaining and monitoring an aquaria array on the WHOI campus, assisting in experiments growing reef-building corals on engineered materials, and analyzing water and coral samples in the laboratory. The work could involve field work at coastal field stations and/or at sea, and SCUBA diving certification and American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) training is desirable.
The position will be initially for one year, with the potential for extending the position dependent on performance and available funds.
Essential Functions
- Coral husbandry
- Aquaria maintenance
- Weekly aquaria water quality testing and adjustments
- Coral health assessments via pulse amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorometry
- Track coral growth over time via buoyant weight method
- Coral tissue extractions for secondary analysis
- Coral tissue and skeleton analysis via microscopy, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and DNA analysis
- Data processing using spreadsheets and statistical analysis
- Writing up methods and results
- Communicating with team
- Training and assisting students and other staff with experiments
Education & Experience
Undergraduate degree in biology, biogeochemistry, or ocean science preferred. Relevant work experience in coral research and husbandry is desirable. The successful candidate should possess these qualities:
- Experience working with corals and/or benthic organisms
- Ability to work independently
- Ability to learn new techniques
- Ability to troubleshoot instrumentation (aquaria, sensors)
- Ability to work professionally with people from different disciplines
- Experience with data analysis, including data synthesis in spreadsheets and statistical analysis
- Ability to communicate effectively and educate new users
- Special Requirements
- Fieldwork
- Prior experience in coral husbandry, either in laboratory or reef restoration settings
- SCUBA certified and/or willing to be trained
