Fisheries Biologist - Advanced Field Operations and Data Modernization

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Astor Environmental LLC (Astor) is seeking candidates to support the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC) for duties associated with ocean-going survey support and data modernization. Astor conducts research and provides personnel support services to government and industry clients for marine fisheries and protected species.

Background

The Fish Ecology Division at the NWFSC conducts scientific research on marine and anadromous species in the Pacific Northwest and California to support management of these species as mandated by the authorizing mechanisms outlined above. Some stocks are managed under the MSA to produce abundant harvest opportunities for commercial and recreational fishermen and to meet tribal treaty obligations, while others are in decline and protected by the ESA. The NWFSC also researches ways to improve aquaculture and increase seafood safety. Holistic understanding of all factors controlling the abundance and health of fisheries and aquaculture often requires an ecosystem approach, working to understand how managed natural resources are affected by their prey, competitors, predators, habitats, and humans. Contract employees will support NWFSC staff and interdisciplinary teams of scientists, natural resource managers, and tribal representatives to conduct ecological research on species that NOAA is mandated to manage.

The NWFSC is a leader in quantitative analyses supporting fisheries management for marine and anadromous species. It produces increasingly large datasets as quantitative research techniques become more complex. Researchers examine complex relationships between managed stocks and their environments that involve highly technical statistical approaches that continue to rapidly evolve. The Center collaborates with regional partners to manage data and provide public access to empirical and modeled data products. There is a strong need for continued improvement in both the ability to conduct advanced quantitative analyses and to adeptly manage and share resulting research products. Modern fisheries management faces a growing data-capacity gap: data volume is surging while managers have less time to interpret complex research.

To meet mandate requirements under the ESA and MSA, the NWFSC requires specialized support to provide the high-level statistical modeling, quantitative analysis, and ecological knowledge necessary to rapidly produce products to inform management decisions (e.g. such as those affecting Pacific salmon including dam operations, habitat changes, and harvest limits). The NWFSC requires specialized Contract support in:

• Field Operations & Data Modernization: This role modernizes at-sea operations to meet evolving management needs, while fully preserving the safety and historic continuity of survey efforts. By leading the transition to digital data collection, automating ship-to-shore workflows, and optimizing database usability, this position bridges the gap between physical fieldwork and rapid analytical synthesis. Experience in managing complex logistics and maintaining sample chain-of-custody is vital to survey scientific integrity and supporting the delivery of management-ready ecological products.

Duties  

Long-term surveys, which span multiple decades, require stable logistical expertise to maintain their historical time series, and they also urgently require modernization to meet current management demands. This elevated role focuses on improving project efficiency, advancing the integration of newer field technologies, and bridging the gap between at-sea data collection and rapid analytical synthesis.

• Digital Field Collection & Technology Integration: Lead the field collection of biological and environmental data in estuarine and marine environments, spearheading the transition from traditional analog recording to digital data collection platforms (e.g., electronic measuring boards, ruggedized tablets). The employee shall continuously evaluate and implement new field technologies to improve at-sea efficiency.
• eDNA Sample Collection & Liaison: Develop rigorous eDNA protocols and oversee field-based collection, preservation, and chain-of-custody of environmental DNA (eDNA) water samples. The employee shall ensure strict adherence to at-sea anti-contamination protocols and serve as the primary operational liaison to the 'Omics laboratory personnel to ensure field samples are appropriately primed for bioinformatics processing.
• Workflow Automation & Rapid Product Generation: Design and implement automated data pipelines to streamline the transfer of data from ship to shore. The employee shall develop scripts or workflows that rapidly generate preliminary data products, cruise summaries, and visualization tools immediately following field operations.
• Optimize datasets: Maintain project databases to improve overall organization, accessibility, and usability for interdisciplinary team members. The employee shall ensure that historical and newly digitized datasets are standardized and accessible for analysis.
• Logistics & Asset Management: Direct the mobilization and demobilization of project equipment, utilizing modern inventory tracking systems to keep project members organized and assets deployment-ready.
• Scientific Communication: Synthesize methodological improvements and field results by authoring technical reports, contributing to journal manuscripts, and presenting workflow modernization strategies at regional and national scientific meetings.

Start Date: As soon as possible

Location: Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, OR; or Point Adams Research Station in Hammond, OR. 

Salary and Benefits: $37.00 to $42.00 per hour. This is a full-time position with a generous benefit package.

 Required Knowledge and Experience:

• Education: A Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study directly related to the requirements of this contract. Acceptable fields include, but are not limited to: fisheries, ecology, natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, or hydrology.
• Professional Experience: Three (3) or more years of experience related to the outlined tasks. This experience must include demonstrated familiarity with the marine and anadromous species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries within the West Coast region. An Advanced Degree in a related field may be substituted for two (MS) or four (PhD) years of experience. 
• Technical & Quantitative Proficiency: Demonstrate quantitative capabilities, including proven experience in statistical and complex data analysis. Personnel must demonstrate familiarity with open science concepts and possess working proficiency in analytical tools and software, such as R, Python, or Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
• Scientific Communication: Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Personnel must have a proven track record of authoring technical reports and contributing to published, peer-reviewed scientific articles. Familiarity with standard workplace productivity software (e.g., Google Workspace, Microsoft Office Suite) is required.
• Professional Competencies: Demonstrated ability to efficiently manage dynamic workloads, maintain high organizational standards, and produce high-quality deliverables within established timelines. Personnel must be adaptable, capable of working both independently in the field and collaboratively within interdisciplinary scientific teams.