Research Associate III

Research Associate III

The Research Associate III will serve as a core member of a multidisciplinary research team focused on ocean sensing, marine ecology, and conservation technology. Day-to-day operations span three interconnected areas: maintaining and expanding a network of real-time whale detection systems across the northeastern United States; planning and executing field campaigns to measure dissolved dimethyl sulfide (DMS) in marine environments; and supporting the full lifecycle of biologging instrument development, from bench prototyping through animal-borne deployment and data recovery.

The role is field-intensive, with regular travel to coastal and offshore sites, and requires close coordination with collaborators, vessel operators, and regulatory stakeholders.

Lab Management, Field Preparation, Data Analysis & Publications

• Oversee day-to-day laboratory operations, including equipment maintenance, supply procurement, safety compliance, and supervision of junior staff, students, and visiting researchers
• Lead the planning and logistical preparation of field seasons, including scheduling, permitting, equipment readiness checks, shipping, and coordination with field partners and vessel operators
• Conduct quantitative data analysis across projects using scripting languages (Python), including statistical modeling, signal processing, and geospatial analysis as appropriate
• Take a lead role in the preparation of peer-reviewed publications, from study design and analysis through drafting, revision, and submission, and contribute as co-author on collaborative manuscripts
• Present research findings at scientific conferences, workshops, and stakeholder meetings
• Maintain organized, well-documented data repositories and ensure reproducibility of analytical workflows

Whale Detection Systems

• Lead installation, commissioning, and ongoing maintenance of real-time whale detection systems at sites across the northeastern U.S., including offshore platforms, buoys, and coastal infrastructure
• Coordinate with port authorities, vessel operators, offshore energy developers, and regulatory agencies to facilitate deployments and data-sharing agreements
• Troubleshoot field hardware and software issues, including acoustic sensors, embedded computing systems, satellite and cellular communications, and power systems
• Maintain detailed deployment logs, service records, and system performance metrics
• Contribute to detection algorithm validation and data quality assurance

Dimethyl Sulfide (DMS) Field Measurements

• Plan and execute field campaigns to measure dissolved and atmospheric DMS concentrations in reef and open-ocean environments
• Operate and maintain analytical instrumentation for trace-gas measurement
• Collect, process, and archive water samples and environmental metadata following established protocols
• Collaborate with co-investigators on experimental design and lead data analysis and manuscript preparation

Biologger Development, Testing & Deployment

• Lead the design and fabrication of biologging tags for marine wildlife, including electronics assembly, sensor integration, encapsulation, and bench testing
• Conduct laboratory and field trials of prototype biologgers, documenting performance under realistic operating conditions
• Support animal-borne sensor deployments, including equipment preparation, fieldwork logistics, and tag recovery operations
• Perform data offloading, processing, and archival from recovered biologgers
• Maintain organized inventory of parts, tools, and field equipment

Additional Job Requirements

Required Experience & Education

• PhD degree in mechanical engineering, marine science, electrical engineering, environmental science, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated hands-on experience with field deployment and maintenance of oceanographic or environmental monitoring instrumentation
• Proficiency with electronics prototyping, soldering, and basic mechanical fabrication
• Strong working knowledge of embedded systems (e.g., Arduino, Raspberry Pi, ESP
  32) and data acquisition hardware
• Experience with at least one programming or scripting language (Python, or C/C++) for data processing and instrument control
• Valid driver's license…