Jr. Sea Turtle Research Ecologist Position Available In Barnstable, Massachusetts

Jr. Sea Turtle Research Ecologist A.I.S. Inc. Woods Hole, Massachusetts Job Type Permanent
Salary Negotiable
Deadline Sep 30, 2025
Experience 0 – 1 years 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 is looking for a Jr. Sea Turtle Research Ecologist to participate in data collection for the Sea Turtle Ecology research program. This position is part of a contract opportunity we are currently bidding on.

Primary Function:

NOAA fisheries evaluate the status of sea turtle populations within the Greater Atlantic Region of the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. This program assesses the current and anticipated population dynamics of these species, as well as their ecology, distribution, occurrence, health, and habitat usage.

Duties/Responsibilities:

Preparation for field work and de-staging
Participate in data collection for land-based or at-sea field research programs
Take photos of species that are able to positively identify sea turtles and other marine species
Interacting with live turtles or turtle carcasses
Record/edit data collected at sea and maintain databases and equipment
Pursue, handle, collect physical measurements (i.e. carapace lengths and width), collect samples, and apply tags to live turtles. Be able to collect physical measurements, tag, and necropsy dead turtles. This includes collecting the following counts/surveys: epibiota removal, laparoscopy, cloacal, gastric lavage, measure, monitor vitals, photograph/video, blood, fecal material, scutes, skin, ultrasound, and weight
Participate in small boat operations deployed from land or sea
Complete project reports

Compensation:

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

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree in one of the biological sciences and more than 3 months of experience with the tasks listed above.
Have excellent communication skills, both verbal and written (including visual presentations) that may target a variety of audiences including technical, scientific, and the general public, as appropriate.
Have previous experience working as an effective member of a team; adapting to quickly changing priorities and strict timelines; and exhibiting self-motivation to complete assigned tasks; strong time management skills; the ability to work both independently and as part of a team, strong management skills, and attention to detail
Shall have all necessary medical clearance and required safety training certificates before research activities
Shall have corrected 20/20 vision when position is a visual observer
Shall have capability to work outside, including on a small boat, for periods of up to 12 hours at a time
Be able to safely lift 40 lbs. on a rolling vessel
Willingness and ability to work far from home (including far from land) for weeks at a time
Meet the requirements listed under

NOAA Small Boat Requirements Preferred Qualifications:

At least one (1) year of experience successfully performing the above tasks, or a Master’s degree in relevant field.
Demonstrated proficiency with Oracle, R, and R shiny is also required.
Past experience working in offshore research activities
Experience with necropsies, especially performing sea turtle necropsies
Some experience with data management, analytical reporting, and environmental and biological data

Travel:

Domestic travel may be required as follows: offshore survey support, attendance at project-related workshops and conferences, in addition to working group meetings.
Anticipated three (3) travel events per year, excluding field work.

Location:

166 Water St, Woods Hole, Ma, 02543