Bioacoustic Research Analyst

Primary Function

A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is a national scientific services firm supporting maritime activities that require certification of compliance with environmental regulations and collecting data for use by Federal, State, Municipal, and other government agencies along the U.S. coastline. AIS is looking for a Bioacoustic Research Analyst to support the NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center’s (PIFSC) Protected Species Division’s passive acoustic studies of cetaceans program.

• Assist with passive acoustic data analysis tasks under the direction of senior analysts, including cetacean detection, classification, and localization using MATLAB, Python, R, and PAMGUARD.
• Support analysis of archived passive acoustic datasets from stationary recorders, towed hydrophone arrays, drifting acoustic recorders, Seagliders, and other platforms.
• Use and validate automated detectors and classifiers for cetacean species in passive acoustic datasets; perform manual review to validate classifier outputs.
• Assist with data processing efforts: convert RAW acoustic files to WAV format using MATLAB routines, conduct QA/QC, and prepare datasets for archiving at NCEI and partner institutions.
• Support maintenance of PIFSC acoustic metadata databases (TETHYS, Makara, NCEI), including data entry, quality checking, and uploading detection and classification data.
• Assist with soundscape analyses computing ambient noise metrics and automating measurement routines at hourly to annual timescales.
• Support analysis of fishery vessel acoustic recordings (underwater and in‑air) and assist with acoustic propagation analyses.
• Contribute to the drafting of technical reports, manuscripts, and presentations on project results.
• Maintain analysis code in publicly accessible repositories (Git Hub / NOAA Fisheries Git Hub Enterprise) consistent with open science practices.
• Maintain dataset logs, including analysis method, outcomes, and location of derived products; submit monthly progress reports to the project lead.
• Assist with preparation for and participation in working group meetings and scientific conferences as directed.

Candidates will be paid an hourly rate to be negotiated, and total compensation will vary depending on the candidate’s depth of experience. This is a full‑time position. AIS benefits package includes health and dental insurance, vacation, sick and holiday benefits.

• Bachelor’s degree in statistics, marine science, or a related field with at least 2 years of relevant experience.
• Working knowledge of underwater acoustic theory and practice.
• Experience using, testing, or validating automated detectors and classifiers for passive acoustic datasets.
• Ability to assist with the execution and interpretation of statistical analyses of acoustic data.
• Prior experience contributing to the drafting of technical reports and presentations on project results.
• Proficiency in at least one of the following: MATLAB or R, including familiarity with MATLAB‑based acoustic analysis software (Triton).
• Familiarity with open science practices and version control systems (e.g., Git Hub) for managing analysis code.
• Familiarity with passive acoustic metadata databases such as TETHYS and Makara.
• Current MS Office skills.
• Ability to obtain a Public Trust background investigation clearance prior to beginning performance.

• Master’s degree in marine science, bioacoustics, statistics, or a related field.
• Proficiency in Python in addition to MATLAB or R.
• Experience with cloud‑based data processing workflows.
• Familiarity with NOAA Fisheries data archives (NCEI, InPort).
• Prior experience with acoustic data from autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) or gliders.
• Experience with fisheries acoustics or cetacean call library datasets.

• Travel is anticipated.
• Travel may include participation in NCEI data workshops, PAM SI meetings, DCLDE workshops, Glider meetings, Acoustical Society of America meetings, Marine Mammal Conferences, and potential field research activities.

• 1845 Wasp Blvd., Building 176, Honolulu, HI 96818 (Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center)

An Equal Opportunity Employer. It is the policy of A.I.S. to recruit, hire, train, promote, transfer and compensate our employees and provide all other conditions of employment including company‑sponsored events without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, lawful alien status, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship status, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.

Must be able to work in the U.S. VEVRAA Federal Contractor Request Priority Protected Veteran Referrals Equal Opportunity Employer