Azura is looking for a Water Temperature Modeler to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northeast Fisheries Science Center and the Office of Habitat Conservation, as it develops a spatially explicit water temperature model across the Atlantic salmon freshwater distribution in Maine.

The modeler will focus on tasks related to adapting, calibrating, and validating a statistical water temperature model developed by Siegel et al. (2023). The main goal is to adapt the model to Maine’s rivers and test the spatial resolution and accuracy of the model in comparison to field-measured data. A successfully validated model will be used with other spatial data to identify suitable Atlantic salmon thermal habitats today and in projected future climates.

The modeler will work closely with an oversight group consisting of NMFS NEFSC and OHC staff in collaboration with the Atlantic Salmon Federation, who will help guide the work to ensure it adequately addresses the needs of NMFS and partners and advances water temperature modeling in Maine.

The position is full-time (40 hours per week) and is expected to last one year starting in the fall of 2024, with the possibility of extension. The duty station for the position will be Gloucester, MA, or could be remote. If remote, the Modeler should be prepared to attend periodic in-person meetings in Gloucester. For remote work, the Modeler should demonstrate a track record of success in remote working.