A.I.S., Inc. (AIS) is a national scientific services firm supporting maritime activities requiring certification of compliance with environmental regulations as well as collecting data for use by Federal, State, Municipal, and other government agencies along the US coastline. AIS seeks a highly qualified Spiny Dogfish Aging Technician to support a Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) stock assessment study.

Primary Function:

The selected candidate will be tasked with providing information on catch/population age compositions, recruitment strength, and fish population growth dynamics to support determinations of stock status, biological reference points, and annual catch limits. Updated age and growth information was identified as a key research priority.

Duties/Responsibilities:

The NEFSC has approximately 7,500 dogfish spines to age, which will comprise the bulk of the work for this project. NEFSC staff will provide training on reading and cleaning methodologies.

The selected candidate will regularly meet with NEFSC staff and may be requested to meet with a Contract Oversight Team to ensure the work elements are being completed on time.

The selected candidate will be required to assist with at-sea sampling onboard research vessels. Such work typically occurs in 12-hour on/off shifts with a total of 84 hours per week and up to 4 weeks per year of at-sea time required.

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

Minimum Qualifications:

• Applicants should have a background and/or experience in marine, estuarine, environmental science, biology, or other related fields.
• A valid driver’s license is needed.
• Experience using and caring for microscopes is preferred and the ideal applicant would have experience in processing samples and aging fish and/or shellfish (utilizing structures such as otoliths, scales, and shells).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Demonstrated experience recording biological data.
• Demonstrated experience with microscopes, image analysis systems (Image J), or electronic data entry systems.
• Demonstrated experience aging hard parts of fish.
• Experience working on vessels and at-sea dissection/sample collection.
• Demonstrated experience with personal computers using word processing software,
• spreadsheets, and email.

Travel:

• Some travel using government vehicles to collect samples from Woods Hole, MA or in the region will be required.
• Required to assist with at-sea sampling onboard research vessels. Such work typically occurs in 12-hour on/off shifts with a total of 84 hours per week and up to 4 weeks per year of at-sea time.

Locations:

• 28 Tarzwell Drive, Narragansett, RI 02882 (NEFSC Narragansett Lab)
• The work environment will vary from office to laboratory to field sites, and will occasionally involve working with chemicals, walk-in freezers, or areas that are slippery, uneven, and unsteady