Survey Watch Stander & Video Annotator I — Mesophotic Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) Survey

Think Tank, Inc.; Delwood Beach (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Think Tank, Inc. seeks a Marine Science Survey Specialist to support deep and mesophotic reef surveys, data collection, and video annotation for Gulf of America habitats.

Responsibilities include leading field surveys, maintaining equipment, and coordinating data management with NOAA partners. You will contribute to data analyses, report generation, and outreach activities, requiring strong scientific writing and presentation skills.

Qualifications

• MS degree in Marine Science or BS with 1 year of relevant experience.
• Computer literate with common word processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs; capable of writing college-level reports and making oral presentations.
• Experience as a data collector on at-sea surveys; skilled with software handling hydrological and biological data streams.
• Proficient in fish, invertebrate, and protected species identification; knowledge of Gulf of America reef taxa.
• Expert knowledge of major structure-forming invertebrates in mesophotic and deep benthic communities of the Gulf of America.
• Knowledge of procedures for encountering endangered or threatened species.
• Sea-going contractors on OMAO NOAA ships must submit NOAA forms annually and have a current tetanus vaccine.

Responsibilities

• Survey at-sea duties as Field Party Chief or Watch Leader per MDBC SOPs.
• Pre- and post-survey inventory and maintenance of equipment and gear.
• Data collection, sampling, and logging per MDBC SOP.
• Video annotation, QA/QC of ROV footage, and data management.
• Coordinate with NCEI/NCCOS Biogeography to integrate bathymetric data.
• Develop basic data reports and presentations; assist with graphs/ visuals.
• Participate in outreach and education activities.

Education

MS in Marine Science

BS degree + 1 year relevant experience

Tools

C-Vision tools

GCRF Oracle databases

GitHub

Job description

*Position is Subject to Contract Award

*Onsite Position at SEFSC Laboratory and at Sea in Panama City, FL

Position Overview

SEFSC-PEMD personnel are critical collaborators in restoration work responding to the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. This role supports surveys of mesophotic and deep benthic reef communities (50–1,800 m) using platforms such as ROVs and AUVs to detect, classify, and enumerate corals, sponges, octocorals, crustaceans, mollusks, fishes, and other fauna, including acoustic mapping of areas affected by oil or dispersant exposure, and ground-truthing to confirm habitat condition. Serves as Survey Watch Stander for MDBC surveys on NOAA Ships and Small Research Vessels and participates in other PEMD resource surveys as requested.

Key Responsibilities

Task #1 - Survey Duties

• Knowledgeable in MDBC data-collection SOPs; execution of at-sea mapping and ground-truthing missions as Field Party Chief or Watch Leader.
• Pre- and post-survey inventory and maintenance of equipment and gear.
• Conducting data collection and biological/environmental sampling, and logging/processing data per prescribed MDBC SOP.
• Completing incident reporting procedures per NOAA Small Boat Program requirements (small boat operations only).

Task #2 - Laboratory Duties

Requires subject-matter expertise on biota associated with mesophotic/deep reefs of the Gulf of America. Video is annotated via a semi-automated process (1. automated processing using C-Vision tools, 2. human-in-the-loop review and correction, 3. data review and QA/QC, 4. data output/ingest into GCRF Oracle databases, and GitHub updates), including but not limited to:

• Subject-matter expert identifying marine fishes in all life stages from mesophotic and deep reef habitats.
• Video annotation, review, and data QA/QC of ROV-based footage.
• Management of review and tracking sheets; updating project management tools and annotation tracking sheets.

Task #3 - Data Management Support

• Coordinating with NCEI and NCCOS Biogeography Branch to integrate existing bathymetric data (U.S. EEZ Gulf of Mexico, 50–1,800 m) into the MDBC database.
• Inputting and correcting data in the MDBC database and associated applications per MDBC survey SOP (including metadata).
• Updating video annotation project management tools.

Task #4 - Analytical Support

• Maintaining knowledge of relevant scientific literature; supporting data analyses and developing data summaries.
• Maintaining project management tool updates.
• Developing basic data reports and presentations; assisting with graphs/visuals from survey outcomes.

Task #5 - Outreach & Education

• Participate in public outreach and education efforts, e.g., school programs, science fair judging, facility/ship tours, and outreach booths.

Qualifications (Required)

• MS degree in Marine Science or a related field, or BS degree plus 1 year of relevant experience.
• Computer literate with common word processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs; capable of writing college-level reports and making oral presentations.
• Experience as a data collector on at-sea surveys; skilled with software handling hydrological and biological data streams.
• Proficient in fish, invertebrate, and protected species identification; knowledge of Gulf of America reef taxa.
• Expert knowledge of major structure-forming invertebrates in mesophotic and deep benthic communities of the Gulf of America.
• Knowledge of procedures for encountering endangered or threatened species.
• Sea-going contractors on OMAO NOAA ships must submit a NOAA Health Services Questionnaire (Form 57-10-01) and Tuberculosis Screening Form (NF 57-10-02) annually/biennially, and must have a current tetanus vaccine (within 10 years).