Biological Science Assistant; Research Assistant

Initial Posting Date: 01/09/2026

Final date to receive applications: 01/22/2026

Agency: Department of Fish and Wildlife

Salary Range: $3,429 - $4,023

Position Type: Employee

Position Title: Biological Science Assistant (Research Assistant)

Seasonal Fisheries Employment Opportunities

Make a Difference in Oregon's Natural Resources!

Help the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife fulfill its mission:
To protect and enhance Oregon's fish and wildlife and their habitats for use and enjoyment by present and future generations.

* Note:

Effective Feb. 1, 2026, the compensation plan for this position will be increased to reflect a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) of 2.5%. The salary listed in this posting does not reflect the COLA.

Location: Based at the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife field office in Umatilla, OR.

Anticipated Duration: March 1 – June 15, 2026, (Two seasonal Biological Science Aid positions)

(These are estimated dates. Length of season(s) may be shortened or extended depending on project needs, funding, or factors beyond the project’s control).

Employees will operate and maintain juvenile fish traps. Employees will conduct daily fish sampling, mark sampled fish with PIT tags and enter collected data into computer files. Employees will walk streams to count redds, identify natural or hatchery origin of live spawners based on the presence or absence of an adipose fin for proportion of hatchery origin spawner (pHOS) estimates, and sample carcasses.

Requires working long hours, frequently on weekends, in adverse weather conditions and/or on slippery stream banks. Work requires driving state vehicles long distances, possibly in adverse weather conditions. Lifting of fish and equipment up to 50 pounds is required. The trap will be operated seven nights/days per week. During periods of intense monitoring activity, employees must work long hours at irregular times.

These positions are physically demanding.

These positions require a flexible work schedule that varies in the number of hours worked on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day, or a work schedule in which the starting and stopping times vary on a daily basis, but not necessarily each day including most weekends and some night work.

For a full review of the position details, duties, and working conditions, please review the position description located here.

Questions about the positions? Please contact Patrick.

J.Kenirygon.gov

Minimum qualifications are not established for these positions; however we are seeking applicants with the following related skills and experience (e.g., smolt trap operation, identifying juvenile fish species (especially salmonids), collecting and accurately recording field data, computer skills, and PIT tagging) and who possess or are in pursuit of a Fisheries or Wildlife Science degree or related degree in biological/ecological sciences.

Preference for interviews may be given to candidates with this background.

• Your application helps determine your starting salary. Be sure it accurately and thoroughly reflects your skills, experience, and education even if you don’t believe it directly relates to the position. We cannot accept any additional application materials submitted after the Final date to receive applications.

• The State of Oregon does not request or require your age, date of birth, attendance or graduation dates from an educational institution during the application process.

• This recruitment will be used to establish a list of qualified people to fill the current vacancy and may be used to fill other vacancies as they occur.

• Please save a copy of this job announcement for reference, as it is not available for you to view after the announcement deadline.

• The salary listed is the non-PERS qualifying salary range. If the successful candidate is PERS qualifying, the salary range will reflect an additional 6.95%.

• Reasonable accommodations for interviews will be provided upon request to individuals with disabilities.

• The job posting closes at 11:59 PM (PDT/PST) on the close date. After you submit your application, be sure to respond to…