QMEL Manager

CP11 University of New Hampshire; Durham (NH); On-site; USD 44,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The White Lab and Jellison Lab at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) invite applications for a Research Technician / Lab Manager to support a NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy-funded project developing oyster biosensors and deploying them to improve aquaculture yield and food safety in the Gulf of Maine.

The two-year, Fall 2026 start, full-time position offers opportunities to work at the intersection of marine ecology, aquaculture technology, and data science, with responsibilities spanning

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in marine science or closely related field; Master’s preferred.
• Experience with field and/or laboratory research in marine or aquatic systems.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Willingness to conduct fieldwork in coastal environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the construction, testing, and maintenance of oyster biosensor units.
• Coordinate logistics for ongoing fieldwork including permits and sampling.
• Oversee and maintain laboratory equipment and computing resources.
• Support data management, cleaning, and archiving of large datasets.
• Assist with coding, statistics, and reproducible workflows (R).
• Maintain day-to-day QMEL operations, purchasing, inventory, and scheduling.
• Onboard and mentor new students; coordinate collaboration with researchers.
• Assist with grant reporting and manuscript preparation.

Skills

Field and lab research

Organizational & project management

Fieldwork in coastal environments

Written & verbal communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree (Master’s preferred)

Tools

Arduino/electronics

Data analysis (R/Python)

Job description

The White Lab and Jellison Lab at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) are seeking a motivated and skilled Research Technician / Lab Manager to support a NOAA Saltonstall-Kennedy-funded project focused on developing and deploying a network of oyster biosensors to improve aquaculture yield and food safety in the Gulf of Maine.

The position is a two-year, grant-funded role beginning in Fall 2026, working under the primary guidance of PI Dr. Easton White and co-PI Dr. Brittany Jellison. This is an exciting opportunity to work at the intersection of marine ecology, aquaculture technology, and data science, contributing to cutting-edge research with direct real-world impact for oyster farmers and coastal managers in New England. This is a full-time position with opportunities for professional growth, collaboration across multiple research projects, and contributions to cutting-edge ecological science.

Duties/Responsibilities

Research and Technical Support Assist in the construction, testing, and maintenance of oyster biosensor units (electronics, solar panels, waterproof housing, and data transmission systems). Coordinate logistics for ongoing fieldwork (e.g., oyster farms, salt marshes, coastal sampling) including permitting, equipment preparation, and data collection. Oversee and maintain laboratory equipment, field gear, and computing resources. Support data management, cleaning, and archiving of large ecological datasets. Contribute to development of lab protocols, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and safety guidelines. Assist with coding, statistical analyses, and reproducible workflows (primarily in R). Additional duties as assigned.

Lab Operations and Coordination

Manage day-to-day operations of QMEL, including purchasing, inventory, and scheduling. Maintain compliance with university safety standards, IACUC/IRB protocols, and other regulatory requirements. Organize and run weekly lab meetings, track action items and project progress. Serve as primary point of contact for internal and external collaborators. Help onboard and mentor new students, ensuring alignment with lab culture and research practices. Additional duties as assigned.

Administrative and Grant Support

Track lab budgets, expenditures, and reimbursements. Assist with grant reporting, including assembling progress reports, metrics, and supporting documentation. Support manuscript preparation (e.g., formatting references, figures, and supplementary materials). Coordinate outreach and science communication activities, including website updates and social media. Additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

Minimum Acceptable Education & Experience: Bachelor's degree in marine science, biology, environmental science, engineering, or a closely related field (Master's degree preferred).

• Experience with field and/or laboratory research in marine or aquatic systems.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple tasks and personnel simultaneously.
• Ability and willingness to conduct fieldwork in coastal marine environments, including work on boats and in variable weather conditions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with electronics, Arduino microcontrollers, or similar embedded systems.
• Familiarity with bivalve biology, aquaculture, or shellfish physiology.
• Experience with data analysis in R, Python, or similar programming environments.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students or working in a team research environment.
• Familiarity with open-source data and code practices.

Compensation and Benefits

Pay Range: $43,710.00 - $77,920.00 The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations.

More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

Location

Durham

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Equal Opportunity Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire's lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full-time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

The University System of New Hampshire is the largest provider of postsecondary education in the Granite State. With approximately 30,000 enrolled students annually and more than 90,000 alumni living in state, the institutions of the University System - the University of New Hampshire - Durham, the University of New Hampshire School of Law, the University of New Hampshire at Manchester, Plymouth State University, and Keene State College - have a direct impact on hundreds of thousands of New Hampshire citizens every year.