Job ID: 2024-1254 Type: Temporary # of Openings: 1 Category: Field Technicians Sandy Hook, NJ
Overview
Lynker requires a paid co-op student, summer hire, or intern, for the 2025 winter-summer season . The proposed start and end dates for this hire are 1/15/25 and 8/15/25. The position will be at NOAA's James J. Howard Marine Sciences Lab which is located within the Sandy Hook Gateway National Recreation Area in New Jersey. Our proximity to both major urban waterways and the pristine estuaries of southern New Jersey allows our staff to investigate a range of habitats and human effects on ecosystems. The primary mission of the Howard Laboratory is to conduct research in ecology, leading to a better understanding of both coastal and estuarine organisms and the effects of human activities on nearshore marine populations and their habitats. This position supports Biological Effects of a Changing Climate on Living Marine Resources. Inshore habitats are used by a variety of marine and estuarine organisms as a source of prey, location for reproduction, and shelter during vulnerable life-stages. These habitats are subjected to a variety of environmental stressors including thermal stresses due to a changing climate and the environmental co stressors correlated shifting thermal regimes, e.g., low dissolved oxygen, elevated and variable CO2 (the basis of ocean acidification) and, in nearshore, embayments and estuaries, the infusion of contaminants that augment eutrophication. Understanding the extent and nature of these co-stressors remain significant challenges to researchers and resource managers. NEFSC is conducting research that 1) evaluates the common environmental stressors associated with climate change, and 2) assesses the additive or multiplicative effects of these co-stressors especially in an experimental laboratory context. NEFSC’S focus on how environmental co-stressors affect the early life of finfish and shellfish and the sublethal responses that are expressed then and soon thereafter (e.g., fertilization, embryos, larvae, and young juveniles) that may diminish survival, recruitment, and organismal fitness. Some studies look at impacts on juvenile and adult fish and the impact on interspecific and intraspecific interactions, metabolism, feeding and reproduction.
Responsibilities
Duties of the Fisheries Seasonal Technical Assistant may include the following:
Assists in the planning of and preparations for seawater laboratory studies.
Identifies supply needs, sources, and costs; communicates via list with attributes to Team Leader / Technical Representative.
Experience with plumbing and ability to construct experimental systems.
Maintains the necessary cultures and distributes out live, frozen, and dry feeds for finfish and shellfish maintained prior to, during, and after experiments.
Monitors and maintains seawater system with requisite sampling of water and other system parameters.
Collects, samples, stores, processes, and/or ships finfish and shellfish / study subject samples before, during, and after experiments.
Collects and processes image, video, and/or body component samples related to these studies. h. Runs physiological and bioenergetics assays of test subjects.
Maintains current inventory of all samples (biological, electronic, images, data, etc.) collected during and after experimentation.
Develops and maintains Standard Operating Procedures for all biological, chemistry, animal welfare, and hygienic methods used in support and operation of studies.
Develops and documents data, analytical, and quantitative tools used for studies. l. Enters, organizes, and summarizes data collected along with the metadata that describes data and how these were collected.
Checks data QA/QC, reduces data, and conducts initial analyses as instructed by the PI or surrogates.
Prepares tables, graphs, and summary reports.
Writes grant proposals in support of research. (Fishery Biologist II)
Provides direction on tasks to less-experienced Team members.
Reports at weekly frequency or as determined by the Team Leader / Technical Representative. r. Attends Team and higher level meetings as requested.
Communicates with internal and external collaborators regarding methods, samples, and data. t. Capable and willing to do physical work in indoor/outdoor spaces and possible on a sea-going vessel.
Drives government vehicles (requires valid driver’s license).
Works irregular hours, shift work, and on weekends if experiments require.
Follows safety protocols, participates in training, and satisfies requirements of access to and use of federal property.
Deliverables:
Regular status and progress reports at a frequency requested by Team Leader/Technical Representative.
Regular edits and updates of supporting documentation, SOPs, and metadata. c. Reports to Team members at a frequency requested by the Team Leader / Technical Representative.
Presents results to internal and external committees and regional conferences as deemed appropriate by the Team Leader / Technical Representative.
Drafts summaries of technical work and methods written at appropriate levels for different audiences, e.g., Team members, funding institutions, professional documents (reports, manuscripts), and education and outreach
Qualifications
The Ideal Fisheries Seasonal Technical Assistant will have the following:
B.Sc. in Biology, Marine Science or related fields or 1 year of working experience directly related to the tasks outlined herein.
Proven record of publishing in peer-reviewed journals in disciplines of Ecology, Marine Science or related fields. (Fishery Biologist II)
Ability to enter, organize, summarize, and document data collection; to perform analytical and elementary statistical software on collected data, deduce results, and communicate research findings.
Skilled in organizing, tracking, and documenting research activities; support tasks (supply needs and expenditures); and assisting NOAA personnel in a multi-tasking environment.
Experience with spawning, husbandry, and general maintenance of marine finfish and shellfish adults and early life-stages in a captive, culture-based environment.
Familiarity with methods and equipment for evaluating effects in embryos, larvae, and young juveniles and adults of finfish and shellfish; the experimental manipulations of their habitats (e.g., temperature, dissolved oxygen); and response variable protocols (image data collection, live animal handling and preservation) for research studies of marine and estuarine finfish and shellfish.
About Lynker
Lynker is a growing, employee owned, small business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.
We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities – creatively and effectively.
Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled and diverse professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:
Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) – we're all company owners!
Flexible spending accounts
Employee assistance program (EAP)
Short- and long-term disability insurance
Life and accident insurance
Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
Employee Referral Program
Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
Personalized career growth plans for every employee
Lynker is an E-Verify employer.
Lynker is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages women, minorities, individuals with disabilities and veterans to apply.
