Fisheries Research Associate – Field, Lab, Data Support

Jobtailor; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

NOAA Fisheries on the U.S. West Coast seeks a data‑driven ecologist to collect and analyze aquatic data across freshwater, estuarine and nearshore environments. You will perform fieldwork outdoors and assist ship surveys as needed, using R and GitHub for analysis and reporting.

Responsibilities include data visualization, literature reviews, and collaboration to improve decision tools. Strong communication and a Bachelor’s degree in a related field are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a field related to fisheries, ecology or natural sciences.
• Strong written and spoken communication skills.
• Experience writing reports and publishing peer‑reviewed articles.
• Familiarity with Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Strong quantitative skills including modeling and data analysis.
• Experience with R and GitHub.

Responsibilities

• Collect fish and environmental data across West Coast freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore areas.
• Conduct fieldwork outdoors, sometimes in harsh conditions.
• Operate vehicles/boats and assist ship surveys as needed.
• Run occasional lab experiments and data processing tasks.
• Visualize and analyze data; conduct literature reviews.
• Collaborate to develop tools improving transparency and decision‑making.
• Share workflow protocols and research outputs for reproducibility.
• Write reports, contribute to manuscripts, and present results.
• Participate in field/lab activities coordinated by NOAA Fisheries West Coast.
• Document sample collection, storage, and processing per protocol.
• Maintain reproducible workflows and organized analysis products.
• Provide written status updates as needed.

Skills

Data analysis

Verbal & written communication

Time management

Independent work

Team collaboration

Laboratory work

Education

Bachelor's degree in fisheries / ecology / natural sciences / math / statistics / oceanography / hydrology

Tools

R

GitHub

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Responsibilities

• Collect fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments of the West Coast region.
• Conduct field work outdoors in or around water, including in sometimes harsh conditions.
• Drive vehicles and/or boats and trailers, and provide occasional assistance on ship surveys lasting days to weeks, as needed.
• Implement occasional laboratory experiments and data processing activities.
• Conduct data visualization and analysis.
• Conduct literature reviews to extract data and published relationships between ecological outcomes and potential stressors or habitat metrics.
• Collaborate with team members to produce tools that improve transparency and efficiency of management decision making and permitting.
• Share comprehensive workflow protocols and research products so others can easily interact with them and understand what was done.
• Write reports, contribute to journal manuscripts, and present results at regional meetings and scientific conferences, as needed.
• Participate reliably in field and/or laboratory activities coordinated by the NWFSC.
• Document that samples or data were collected, stored, and processed using established protocols.
• Maintain reproducible workflows and store analysis products in an accessible and organized way.
• Provide written status reports and other ad hoc communications, as needed.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study related to the requirements of the task order, with emphasis in fisheries, ecology, natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, or hydrology.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience writing reports and publishing peer-reviewed articles.
• Familiarity with common workplace software such as Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Strong quantitative skills, including familiarity with modeling and data analysis.
• Familiarity with software such as R and GitHub.
• Ability to manage workload, stay organized, and produce high-quality work products efficiently.
• Ability to work both independently and on interdisciplinary teams.
• Valid driver’s license, maintained during the period of performance.
• Three years of experience related to the task order, including familiarity with the species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries in the West Coast region.