Job Description

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

*Onsite Position at SEFSC Laboratory and at Sea in Pascagoula, MS or Panama City, FL

Perform as a Survey Watch Stander for reef fish surveys conducted on NOAA Ships and Small Research Vessels, and participate in other PEMD resource surveys as requested. Requires work aboard NOAA Ships and/or small research vessels as part of a field crew conducting fisheries and water quality sampling, with the ability to troubleshoot issues with limited resources while at sea.

Key Responsibilities

Task #1 - Survey Duties

At-sea duties focus on video camera and CTD deployments, habitat mapping, and other environmental data collection, including but not limited to:

• Survey watch stander.
• Pre- and post-survey inventory of equipment and gear.
• Preparing and loading survey gear, supplies, and equipment.
• Cleaning and maintenance of equipment; preparing and tracking supply use.
• Conducting data collection and biological/environmental sampling per prescribed SOP.
• Unloading, cleaning, storing equipment, and logging/storing data upon survey completion.

Task #2 - Laboratory Duties

• Annotating GFISHER and PRDW video data based on prescribed survey SOPs.
• Identifying marine fishes in all life stages from diverse Gulf of America habitats.
• Updating annotation tracking sheets; communicating with reviewers and the survey coordinator.

Task #3 - Data Management Support

• Identifying marine fishes in all life stages from diverse habitats.
• Data entry/upload into GCRF Oracle databases; QA/QC of data entry and fixes as necessary.
• Updating annotation tracking sheets and GitHub project management tools.

Task #4 - Analytical Support

• Assisting data analysts with data entry, QA/QC, and fixes.
• Assisting in analysis, drafting reports, creating graphs, and basic review.
• Tracking assigned duties in the GitHub project management tool.

Task #5 - Outreach & Education

• Participate in public outreach and education efforts, e.g., school programs, science fair judging, facility/ship tours, and outreach booths.

Qualifications (Required)

• MS degree in Marine Science or a related field, or BS degree plus 2 years of relevant experience.
• Computer literate with common word processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs; capable of writing college-level reports.
• Knowledge of Southeast Area Monitoring and Assessment Program (SEAMAP) field sampling protocols for reef fish to lead or participate in GCRF surveys.
• Proficient in fish, invertebrate, and protected species identification; knowledge of Gulf of America reef taxa.
• Knowledge of procedures for encountering endangered or threatened species.
• Sea-going contractors on OMAO NOAA ships must submit a NOAA Health Services Questionnaire (Form 57-10-01) and Tuberculosis Screening Form (NF 57-10-02) annually/biennially, and must have a current tetanus vaccine (within 10 years).