Survey Support — Advanced Field Operations and Data Modernization at Think Tank Inc. in Seattle, WA, USA

Job description

• POSITION DESCRIPTION:

Responsibilities

• Digital field collection & technology integration: lead field collection of biological and environmental data in estuarine and marine environments, spearheading the transition from analog recording to digital data-collection platforms (e.g., electronic measuring boards, ruggedized tablets); continuously evaluate and implement new field technologies to improve at-sea efficiency.
• eDNA sample collection & liaison: develop rigorous eDNA protocols and oversee field-based collection, preservation, and chain-of-custody of eDNA water samples; ensure strict at-sea anti-contamination protocols; serve as primary operational liaison to the 'Omics laboratory for bioinformatics processing.
• Workflow automation & rapid product generation: design and implement automated data pipelines to streamline ship-to-shore data transfer; develop scripts/workflows that rapidly generate preliminary data products, cruise summaries, and visualization tools after field operations.
• Optimize datasets: maintain project databases for organization, accessibility, and usability; ensure historical and newly digitized datasets are standardized and analysis-ready.
• Logistics & asset management: direct mobilization/demobilization of project equipment using modern inventory-tracking systems.
• Scientific communication: author technical reports, contribute to journal manuscripts, and present workflow-modernization strategies at regional and national scientific meetings
• Modernized field execution and eDNA coordination: safe, consistent leadership during field/ship surveys, including delivery of high-integrity eDNA samples and associated metadata to the laboratory team.
• Ecological data processing and standardization: standardized, reproducible procedures to format, QA/QC, and transition raw at-sea biological observations into analysis-ready formats.
• Automated data pipelines connecting raw field collection directly to organized, accessible databases.
• Rapid research products: near-real-time cruise summaries, data-visualization tools, and standardized datasets.
• Digital SOPs for new digital data-collection methods, eDNA field sampling protocols, and database structures

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college/university with a major directly related to the contract; acceptable fields include (but are not limited to) fisheries, ecology, natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, or hydrology.
• Experience: Three (3) or more years of experience related to the outlined tasks, including demonstrated familiarity with the marine and anadromous species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries in the West Coast region.
• Advanced degree in a related field - may substitute for two (MS) or four (PhD) years of experience.
• Valid U.S. driver's license - required and maintained throughout the period of performance.
• Public trust suitability; background investigation cleared prior to beginning performance.
• Government-required training to be completed within 5 business days of start: NOAA IT Security, NOAA Safety, Sexual Assault/Sexual Harassment Prevention & Response (NAM 1330-52.222-70(b)(6)), and Records Management 101.
• Demonstrated quantitative capabilities, including proven experience in statistical and complex data analysis; familiarity with open-science concepts.
• Working proficiency in analytical tools/software such as R, Python, or GIS.
• Excellent verbal and written communication; proven track record authoring technical reports and contributing to peer-reviewed articles; familiarity with Google Workspace/Microsoft Office.
• Adaptable; able to work independently in the field and collaboratively within interdisciplinary scientific teams; strong organization and on-time delivery.

Skills

Required

• Adaptable
• Strong organization and on-time delivery
• R
• Python
• GIS
• Google Workspace
• Microsoft Office