Seasonal Biological Technician

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

This seasonal position is anticipated to run from October through December 2026. Itis 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, listed in order of emphasis, along with other CFS projects as needed:

• Stream Habitat Surveys: Conduct habitat surveys on remote headwater streams in Washington State to characterize channel and habitat conditions near the upstream extent of fish distribution. Surveys involve long days hiking and wading small, steep channels, often off-trail, to measure habitat attributes such as channel gradient and bankfull width, document natural obstacles and other habitat features, and record survey locations with GPS.
• 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.
• Backpack Electrofishing: Conduct backpack electrofishing surveys in coordination with habitat surveys to document fish presence and identify the upstream extent of fish distribution. Duties include operating electrofishers or netting following established protocols, identifying and measuring captured fish, and returning fish to the stream with minimal handling stress.
• 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, off-trail travel in steep headwater terrain, 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, including fish captured by electrofishing. 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…