Aquaculture Specialist- Per Diem

Boston Children’s Hospital; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Boston Children’s Hospital is seeking an Aquaculture Technician to support the Aquatic Resources Program (ARP). You will manage recirculating systems, perform husbandry and health checks, and assist with spawning and larval care to sustain experimental populations.

Responsibilities include operating advanced aquaculture equipment, maintaining water quality records, and training staff. Suitable for a candidate with 1+ year aquaculture experience and AALAS certification prospects.

Qualifications

• High School diploma or GED required.
• 1+ year experience in aquaculture environment preferred.
• AALAS level certification or working to obtain AALAS certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Feed populations with the proper type and amount of food according to life stage and experiment.
• Operate recirculating aquaculture systems and related equipment following SOPs.
• Record daily animal health observations and report issues to ARP manager.
• Oversee daily operation of aquaculture systems and communicate problems to ARP Manager or Specialist II.
• Perform spawning, in vitro fertilization, and other fish-handling procedures.
• Maintain live invertebrate cultures for larval feeding.
• Perform water quality testing and record results.
• Provide training to new employees and scientific staff.
• Monitor supply needs and order items as needed.

Skills

Aquaculture operations

Animal care

Water quality testing

Husbandry

Training staff

Education

High School diploma / GED

Tools

Recirculating aquaculture systems

Aquatics tank washers

Water quality monitoring systems

Job description

Position Summary: Provides high quality daily care and maintenance of fish used in research within the Aquatic Resources Program ARP. Under the direction of the ARP Program Manager, this position involves significant and varied technical activities to support the management of aquaculture facilities and laboratory populations of fish. Performs operational, husbandry, and customer service functions and will be responsible for operating multiple recirculating aquaculture systems and ensuring that optimal animal health and productivity is sustained, all in accordance with federal and institutional regulations and policies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Feeds populations of fish the proper type and amount of food, depending on life stage and experimental application.
• Operates sophisticated recirculating aquaculture systems, as well as aquatics tank washers, feeding robots, and integrated electronic water quality monitoring systems, all observing standard operating procedures and safety guidelines.
• Performs and records daily animal health and welfare observations, communicating adverse findings to the ARP manager and Specialist II.
• Performs daily oversight and operation of aquaculture systems and communicates any problems to the ARP Manager or Specialist II.
• Performs various husbandry tasks, including spawning, in vitro fertilization, and other procedures that involve the handing of fish.
• Maintains live invertebrate cultures for feeding larval fish.
• Performs and records all water quality testing.
• Provides training on some practices and procedures to new employees and scientific staff.
• Monitors supply needs and orders needed items in timely manner.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

High School diploma/GED is required.

Experience:

1+ year experience in aquaculture environment is preffered.

Licensure/ Certifications:

AALAS level certification or working to obtain AALAS certification is preferred.