Wildlife Biologist

Virginia Tech; Blacksburg (VA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

The Conservation Management Institute (CMI) at Virginia Tech is seeking a field biologist to assist with research projects across various taxa and locations, focusing on freshwater aquatic fauna. You will design and execute fieldwork, conduct mussel and fish surveys, analyze data, and develop large databases across multi-taxa datasets in collaboration with project managers.

Applicants should have a B.S. in a natural resources field and experience in field projects, data analysis, and reporting,

Qualifications

• B.S. degree in fish and wildlife sciences or comparable natural resources discipline.
• Considerable direct experience working on wildlife and natural resources field projects.
• Ability to swim and snorkel.
• Ability to carry heavy equipment and navigate through rough terrain and adverse field conditions, and work in remote field locations.
• Ability to assist in the field/lab or with data analyses across various aquatic and terrestrial taxa research projects.
• Experience conducted freshwater mussel and fish surveys and instream habitat assessments.
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications, statistical computing software, and geospatial processing programs.
• Experience with database management and analyzing spatially and temporally extensive datasets.

Responsibilities

• Assist with fieldwork and research tasks across multiple taxa and locations.
• Design and execute field surveys and instream habitat assessments.
• Perform statistical analysis of biological data and write technical reports.
• Develop and manage large-scale databases across multi-taxa datasets.
• Collaborate with project managers to coordinate field activities and data collection.

Skills

Field survey experience

Swimming

Data analysis

Database management

Geospatial analysis

Microsoft Office

Statistical software

R programming

Genetic sampling/analysis

Education

B.S. degree in fish and wildlife sciences

Tools

Microsoft Office

Statistical software

Geospatial processing programs

R programming

DNA sampling/analysis

Job description

Job Description

The Conservation Management Institute (CMI) at Virginia Tech is seeking a field biologist to assist with research projects across various taxa and locations, with a focus on freshwater aquatic fauna. This person will be responsible for working collaboratively with project managers to design and execute various fieldwork and research tasks including aquatic fauna surveys and instream habitat assessments, statistical analysis of biological data, writing technical reports, and developing and managing large-scale databases across multi-taxa and sampling-collection specific datasets. The successful applicant will have skills conducting freshwater mussel and fish surveys, preferably with experience sampling and identifying mussels in the Upper Tennessee, Atlantic Slope, and New River drainages. This person must be able to travel frequently for fieldwork, swim, and be able to work under a range of field conditions including water, remote sampling locations, adverse weather, and rugged terrain.

Required Qualifications

• B.S. degree in fish and wildlife sciences or comparable natural resources discipline
• Considerable direct experience working on wildlife and natural resources field projects
• Ability to swim and snorkel
• Ability to carry heavy equipment and navigate through rough terrain and adverse field conditions, and work in remote field locations
• Ability to assist in the field/lab or with data analyses across various aquatic and terrestrial taxa research projects
• Experience conducting freshwater mussel and fish surveys and instream habitat assessments
• Experience using Microsoft Office applications, statistical computing software, and geospatial processing programs
• Experience with database management and analyzing spatially and temporally extensive datasets

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with surveying in, and identifying freshwater mussel species from, the Upper Tennessee River, Atlantic Slope, and New River drainages of Virginia
• Experience with designing and leading mussel surveys using multiple sampling approaches and both qualitative and quantitative methods
• Experience leading and supervising field-teams and data collection
• Experience using fish collection equipment and various sampling methods (e.g., electrofishing gear, traps, nets, and seine)
• Proficiency with large-scale database organization and management and using statistical software R programming
• Experience with genetic sampling, DNA extractions, processing and analyzing, and interpreting DNA samples for freshwater mussel populations and taxonomy.

Pay Band

3

Overtime Status

Non-Exempt: Eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Restricted

Hours per week

40

Review Date

10/21/2026

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands‑on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem‑solvers. A comprehensive land‑grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including Blacksburg, the greater Washington, D.C. area, the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke, sites in Newport News and Richmond, and numerous Extension offices and research institutes. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $650 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact Kelsey Lesterat [e-mail] during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.