DNA Metabarcoding Technician – Fur Seal Diets

PSMFC; Juneau (AK); On-site; USD 33,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in Juneau, AK is seeking a full-time Microbiology Technician 2 to support a DNA metabarcoding project on northern fur seal diets. The position involves DNA extraction, PCR amplification, library preparation for high-throughput sequencing, and data quality control, with collaboration across federal and state partners.

Responsibilities include processing scat and fecal loop samples, testing cephalopod primers, generating reference sequences, and

Qualifications

• One year of specialized experience or a year of graduate education directly related to the work.
• Equivalent combination of experience and education also qualifying.

Responsibilities

• Process northern fur seal scat and fecal loop samples, extract DNA and perform PCR.
• Prepare DNA metabarcoding libraries for sequencing, including amplicon and indexing PCR, library cleanup, quantification and pooling.
• Test fish- and cephalopod-specific metabarcoding primers and generate reference sequences from identified prey specimens.
• Apply contamination prevention procedures and use controls and replicates to assess data quality and consistency.
• Maintain organized sample inventories and metadata linking sequencing results to collection information.
• Use bioinformatics workflows to assist with sequence quality control, prey identification, and comparisons among sample types.
• Identify and document methodological improvements and prepare summaries for project investigators.

Skills

Molecular biology

Laboratory techniques

Aquatic sciences

Windows software

Education

Graduate education in molecular biology

Job description

Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission in Juneau, AK is seeking a full-time Microbiology Technician 2 to support a DNA metabarcoding project on northern fur seal diets. The position involves DNA extraction, PCR amplification, library preparation for high-throughput sequencing, and data quality control, with collaboration across federal and state partners.

Responsibilities include processing scat and fecal loop samples, testing cephalopod primers, generating reference sequences, and