*Position is Subject to Contract Award*Onsite Position at SEFSC Laboratory or at Sea in Pascagoula, MS or Panama City, FLPosition Overview Learn Gulf & Caribbean Reef Fish (GCRF) at-sea duties and perform as a Survey Watch Stander for reef fish surveys conducted on NOAA Ships and Small Research Vessels, and participate in other PEMD resource surveys as requested. Requires work aboard NOAA Ships and/or small research vessels for fisheries and water quality sampling, and the ability to troubleshoot issues with limited resources while at sea.
Key Responsibilities:
Task #1 - Survey DutiesAt-sea duties focus on video camera and CTD deployments, habitat mapping, and other environmental data collection, including but not limited to:
Survey watch stander.
Pre-survey and post-survey inventory of equipment and gear.
Preparing and loading survey gear, supplies, and equipment.
Cleaning and maintenance of equipment.
Learning to conduct data collection and biological/environmental sampling, and logging and processing data and/or samples under field conditions per prescribed SOP.Unloading gear/equipment, cleaning and storing equipment, and logging and storing data upon completion of each survey.
Task #2 - Laboratory Duties
Primary duties revolve around annotation of video for habitat and species detection and enumeration, using a semi-automated multi-stage process (1. automated processing in Google Cloud Platform using VIAME software, 2. human-in-the-loop review and correction, 3. data review and QA/QC, 4. data output/ingest into GCRF Oracle databases, and updating GitHub for project management), including but not limited to:
Learning annotation SOPs for GFISHER and PRDW video data.
Identifying marine fishes in all life stages from diverse habitats of the Gulf of America and adjacent seas.
Updating annotation tracking sheets.
Communicating with reviewers and the survey coordinator on annotations.
Task #3 - Data Management Support
Data entry, QA/QC, and validation.
Learning the use of AI/ML software and managing outputs to post-process data (near-future duty).Identifying marine fishes in all life stages from diverse Gulf of America habitats.
Data entry or upload into GCRF Oracle databases; QA/QC of data entry and fixes as necessary.
Updating annotation tracking sheets and GitHub project management tools.
Task #4 - Outreach & Education
Participate in public outreach and education efforts, e.g., marine science education at local schools, judging science fairs, conducting SEFSC/NOAA ship tours (with federal employees), and staffing outreach booths at fairs and festivals.
Qualifications:
(Required)BS degree in Marine Science or a related field (volunteer experience valued).Computer literate and experienced with common word processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs; capable of writing reports at the college level. Proficient in the use of fish, invertebrate, and protected species identification books and keys; knowledge and identification of reef taxa from the Gulf of America. Knowledge of endangered or threatened species. Sea-going contractors on OMAO NOAA ships must submit a NOAA Health Services Questionnaire (Form 57-10-01) and Tuberculosis Screening Form (NF 57-10-02) annually/biennially, and must have a current tetanus vaccine (within 10 years).
