Seasonal Biological Technician

Home Base:
Eugene or Portland, Oregon
· Season:
July 1 – October 31, 2026 (potential extension through December)

Cramer Fish Sciences (CFS) is seeking Seasonal Biological Technicians to support several current CFS projects in the Pacific Northwest. Primary work will include adult spring Chinook salmon spawning surveys in the upper Willamette Valley, stream habitat surveys and backpack electrofishing on remote headwater streams throughout Washington State, and bulk PIT tagging of juvenile Chinook salmon at hatcheries in the Willamette Valley.

This position is primarily field-based and involves physically demanding fieldwork, frequent travel, and extended periods working outdoors in remote settings, with limited office time dedicated to data entry, QA/QC, equipment maintenance, and project preparation. Regular field rotations of 4–8 days away from home base are expected, including up to 5 consecutive nights camping in remote areas. Seasonal technicians will support three primary tasks:

• Adult Spring Chinook Spawning Surveys: Conduct spawning ground surveys in tributaries and mainstem reaches upstream of Detroit, Cougar, and Green Peter reservoirs in the upper Willamette River basin. Surveys involve long days hiking and wading streams or floating rivers by kayak to enumerate live spawners and redds and to sample carcasses. Carcass sampling includes scanning for PIT tags and coded wire tags, recording standard biological measurements (fork length, sex, origin), and collecting tissue samples (otoliths, scales, and fin clips) for age and genetic analysis.
• Stream Habitat Assessments and Electrofishing: Conduct electrofishing and habitat surveys on remote headwater streams in Washington State to identify the upstream extent of fish distribution and characterize associated habitat conditions.
• Other CFS Projects: Depending on scheduling and project needs, technicians may assist with a variety of other ongoing CFS projects, which may include bulk PIT tagging of juvenile Chinook salmon at hatcheries in the Willamette Valley, snorkel surveys for juvenile salmonids, piscivore diet sampling, and Pacific lamprey trapping. Occasional night work may be required for some of these projects.

This is an excellent opportunity for early‑career fisheries professionals to gain hands‑on experience with a wide range of fisheries field sampling techniques.

• Team Player: Work with crews of 2–3 individuals daily to conduct field tasks. Extended travel rotations and camping require strong interpersonal skills, mutual support, and effective communication among crew members.
• Communication: Routine communication with supervisor and staff to ensure all requirements of the project are met and that project and personnel needs are addressed effectively and efficiently.
• Field Work: This role requires long days in the field in rugged and remote terrain under variable weather conditions including heat, cold, and rain. Work involves extended hiking and kayak travel on rivers and streams, often in wildfire‑prone landscapes and recently burned areas requiring situational awareness and strict adherence to field safety protocols. The position is physically and mentally demanding and requires resilience, sound judgment, and a positive attitude.
• Fish Handling and Biological Sampling: Use safe handling techniques and best practices when handling adult and juvenile fish. Carcass sampling duties include scanning for PIT and coded wire tags, recording length, sex, and origin, and collecting otolith, scale, and fin clip samples. When assisting with juvenile tagging, technicians will measure, weigh, and implant PIT tags in large numbers of juvenile Chinook.
• Data Collection and Management: Collect data following standard protocols with accuracy and precision. Will be responsible for accurate field data collection, data offloads, and data QA/QC.
• Adaptability: Multiple CFS projects are occurring simultaneously across the Willamette Valley and Pacific Northwest in 2026. Successful candidates will be flexible and willing to shift between project tasks and work sites as needed to support overall program goals.