Field Operations and Data Modernization Specialist

Responsibilities

• Lead field collection of biological and environmental data in estuarine and marine environments.
• Support the transition from traditional analog recording to digital data collection platforms, such as electronic measuring boards and ruggedized tablets.
• Evaluate and implement new field technologies to improve at-sea efficiency.
• Develop rigorous eDNA protocols and oversee field-based collection, preservation, and chain-of-custody of environmental DNA water samples.
• Ensure adherence to at-sea anti-contamination protocols for eDNA sampling.
• Serve as the primary operational liaison to the ’Omics laboratory personnel to ensure field samples are appropriately prepared for bioinformatics processing.
• Design and implement automated data pipelines to streamline transfer of data from ship to shore.
• Develop scripts or workflows that rapidly generate preliminary data products, cruise summaries, and visualization tools immediately following field operations.
• Maintain project databases to improve organization, accessibility, and usability for interdisciplinary team members.
• Ensure historical and newly digitized datasets are standardized and accessible for analysis.
• Direct mobilization and demobilization of project equipment using modern inventory tracking systems.
• Synthesize methodological improvements and field results by authoring technical reports, contributing to journal manuscripts, and presenting workflow modernization strategies at regional and national scientific meetings.
• Develop and implement standardized, reproducible procedures to format, QA/QC, and transition raw at-sea biological observations into analysis-ready scientific formats.
• Produce near-real-time cruise summaries, data visualization tools, and standardized datasets that accelerate management decision making.
• Develop digital Standard Operating Procedures for digital data collection methods, eDNA field sampling protocols, and database structures.

• Bachelor’s degree or higher from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study directly related to the requirements of this contract, including fisheries, ecology, natural sciences, mathematics, statistics, oceanography, or hydrology.
• Advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for two years, MS, or four years, PhD, of experience.
• Three or more years of experience related to the outlined tasks.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the marine and anadromous species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries within the West Coast region.
• Quantitative capabilities, including proven experience in statistical and complex data analysis.
• Familiarity with open science concepts.
• Working proficiency in analytical tools and software, such as R, Python, or Geographic Information Systems.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven track record of authoring technical reports and contributing to published, peer-reviewed scientific articles.
• Ability to efficiently manage dynamic workloads, maintain high organizational standards, and produce high-quality deliverables within established timelines.
• Ability to work independently in the field and collaboratively within interdisciplinary scientific teams.