Marine Biologist

Ocean Associates Inc. (OAI) is seeking an applicant to provide Marine Biologist support to the Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, CA. OAI is a Virginia corporation established in 2003 that provides consulting and technical services to the U.S. government, non-governmental organizations, international organizations, and the private sector. We specialize in scientific program and project management, strategic planning, professional and technical services, and stakeholder engagement, supporting government contracts.

Background

The Southwest Fisheries Science Center’s Marine Mammal & Turtle Division’s (MMTD) primary mission is to assess marine mammals and turtles relative to management objectives in U.S. waters, or oceans where the U.S. has a vested interest under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA; including 16 U.S.C. § 1881a/c/d and 16 U.S.C. § 1882-4), the Endangered Species Act (ESA; including 16 U.S.C. §1533, and 16 U.S.C. § 1536), and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA; 16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.). The research feeding into our assessment science includes abundance estimation and monitoring of abundance trends, identification of units to conserve, assessing health and condition of individuals in the context of life histories, and understanding ecosystem state (structure and function).

MMTD is seeking Marine Biologist support services for laboratory and field work, including but not limited to responding to strandings, shore and ship-based surveys, operating Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS), collecting and processing samples from dead and live animals, conducting molecular laboratory and analytical analysis for population and health studies, and various associated administrative tasks.

Tasks

• Laboratory analysis in support of ESA/MMPA protected species assessments. Assist in conducting laboratory analysis of hormone levels and genetic assessments, reproductive status, population assessments, age determination, and health in marine mammal and turtle tissues (e.g., blood, blubber, skin, serum, teeth, bones, and whale blow).

• Photographic analysis of ESA/MMPA protected species. Assist in conducting analyses of cetacean and marine turtle photographs for species and individual identification, estimation of life-history parameters, and photogrammetry.

• Data entry & report assistance. Assist in organizing digital data files, enter data and records into the provided database(s) and digital repositories, conduct data QA/QC protocols, prepare data summary spreadsheets, and provide assistance with writing reports, technical memorandums, and scientific manuscripts.

• Participate in site-specific informational meetings and offsite scientific meetings. Participate in periodic SWFSC and MMTD meetings with the Project Lead(s), NMFS staff, and Center leadership. May participate in offsite scientific meetings to present scientific results, exchange information, and stay informed.

• Fieldwork in support of ESA and MMPA scientific research survey efforts. Participate in fieldwork/scientific research surveys on an as-needed basis, including driving government vehicles, shore and ship-based surveys, and participating in travel when necessary to complete tasks.

• Shipping samples. Assist in shipping samples to other FMCs, organizations, institutions, and universities as needed. This task may require handling and shipping of hazardous materials (e.g., dry ice, formalin, ethanol), which will require current DOT and IATA hazardous material shipping certifications.

• Operations support. Assist in completing a variety of administrative tasks, including, but not limited to, curating inventories of supplies and properties, developing paperwork for placing orders, and receiving and storing supplies.

Location: Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla, CA.

Travel: Travel is anticipated and authorized for this task order.

• Participate in gray whale surveys for up to two weeks at a time at Granite Canyon and/or the Piedras Blancas light station, CA per Period of Performance.

• Attend conferences and meetings in order to present scientific findings.

• Participate in fieldwork in support of protected species research projects.

• Exact dates and locations are TBD.

• Locations could be either domestic or international.

Requirements

Applicants must have the following minimum requirements:

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university with a major directly related in a field of study as related to the requirements of specific task order with emphasis in biology, fisheries, or oceanography, plus three (3) years of experience in related field. Master’s or doctorate degree in a related field may be substituted for experience.

• Experience conducting marine mammal and/or turtle necropsies

• Experience responding to marine mammal and/or turtle strandings

• Experience collecting biological samples and data in the field

• Certification of hazardous material shipping training

• Experience with image analysis, including images of cetaceans collected from boat and aerial platforms for species and individual identification