Scientist - Marine Mammal Hormone Research

Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking a Scientist  to provide support to the NOAA Southwest Fisheries Science (SWFSC),Marine Mammal & Turtle Division (MMTD). OAI supplies personnel support services on contract to government and industry clients for marine fisheries and protected species. Scientists at MMTD/SWFSC conduct research on marine mammals to assess health, which is a key part of diagnosing and understanding population trends. To assess physiological and individual health, MMTD/SWFSC evaluates hormone levels in tissue samples from free-ranging marine mammals and examine stranded animals to diagnose the cause of death and other health issues. MMTD is seeking an individual for both laboratory hormone analyses and stranding inspections in order to understand physiological and whole-animal health.  

DUTIES

The Individual shall provide the following services:

• Biochemical Processing and Measurements 
• Process marine tetrapod tissue samples (e.g., blubber, skin, serum, and whale blow) for use in endocrine studies. 
• Development of New Endocrine Assays 
• Provide quality control assessments for the development and validation of new endocrine assays. 
• Database Maintenance 
• Aggregate data produced, enter data into the databases, conduct data checking protocols. 
• Whole-animal health 
• Examine stranded and by-caught marine mammals for health abnormalities, including use of X-ray machine. 
• General Fieldwork 
• Participate in fieldwork on an as needed basis to support for field work operations including potential stranding response and marine mammal observation surveys.

Other Duties Include:

• Provide laboratory records with full laboratory notes and data.
• Submit report delineating findings of quality control assessments for the development and validation of new endocrine and DNA assays.
• Provide data additions to existing databases.
• Provide additions to NMFS necropsy and stranding reports.
• Submit report detailing field work activities.  

Travel is anticipated 

Average estimated hours per week are 20 to 25.

Start Date: October 1, 2018 

Location: La Jolla, CA 

Salary and Benefits: Commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package. 

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE

Selected individual(s) must have the following minimum qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university with a major directly related in a field of study as related to the requirements of specific task order with emphasis in fisheries, oceanography, social science, natural science, mathematics, or hydrology, plus three (3) years of experience in related field or combination of such totaling seven (7) years combined education and experience. Master’s Degree may be substituted for experience.

 Additional required qualifications include:

• Experience in laboratory procedures for endocrine biomarkers from marine mammal tissue, particularly blubber. 
• Experience in quality control assessment and databasing of marine mammal endocrine data. 
• Experience of identifying health abnormalities during whole-animal inspections, including those associated with various endocrine regimes and nutritive states.
• Experience conducting marine mammal necropsies. 

If you are interested in being considered for this position, please APPLY THROUGH OUR ADP WEB PORTAL, AT THE LINK AT THE TOP RIGHT OF THIS PAGE

Only qualified applicants that meet minimum experience or background requirements stated above need apply. When applying for this position you will be asked to upload your resume at the end of this online application.

Applicants should submit a resume that includes the following:

• Cover letter that briefly describes how you meet the required and preferred qualifications listed.
• Work history for past 10 years or since last full-time education.
• Education.
• Previous experience or training with similar requirements.
• Three professional references.
• Include your name in the document file name.
• Upload your resume in readable, not scanned, PDF or Word format (PDF is preferred).   

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check.  Ocean Associates Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. 

OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to self-identify their race, gender, national origin, disability status and veteran status. OAI is required to use the information it collects as part of its future affirmative action efforts in hiring. The information is collected anonymously by computer and is not connected to your application. You will see a place to check certain boxes in OAI's online application. Even though the information is anonymous, self-identification is voluntary. You can always check the box that says you decline to self-identify. 

Note:  If you are not selected, your materials may be retained for present or future opportunities. We may use your resume in bidding on a project and if we are awarded the work we will contact you before seeking further applicants. If you do not wish us to retain or use your resume to seek work for you, please let us know in the "Notes" section on the second page of the online application.