Fisheries Ecosystem Model Technician

Position: Fisheries Ecosystem Model Technician

Location: NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office/Cooperative Oxford Lab, Oxford, Maryland

Overview: NOAA’s Chesapeake Bay Office (NCBO) works with marine scientists, coastal resource managers, and the general public to provide products to help protect, restore, and manage U.S. coastal resources. The Chesapeake Bay Office is seeking an individual to assist with the management and development of fisheries-based ecosystem models. The technician will provide support to NCBO in moving towards the goals for ecosystem-based fisheries management and integrated assessments of the Chesapeake Bay. Specifically, the position is designed to primarily support development and review of the Chesapeake Bay Fisheries Ecosystem Modeling and the Chesapeake Atlantis Model.

Duties: A technician will provide the legwork to find and organize fisheries and fisheries-related data from a variety of sources. The technician would especially focus on hard-to-find data and metadata. He/she will develop models using standard modeling software and run model scenarios. Working with the Fisheries Ecosystem Model manager, the technician will:
• Organize the data into a useable format (e.g., MS Excel or MS Access database, write brief summaries of data and data sources, and keep track of data references using bibliographic software (e.g., Endnote),
• Work with modelers to review and update the model technical documentation and provide input on model-based analyses and applications,
• Work with modelers to ensure the data/metadata, model documentation, and model-based analyses and applications are compliant with the Information Quality Act and other applicable standards,
• Maintain ecosystem modeling sections of NCBO’s web site.

Skills and Abilities:
• Ability to adapt quickly to using new tools and techniques
• Ability to deal with large quantities of diverse data from numerous sources and keep the data and documentation organized and easily accessible
• Ability to support modelers in working with stakeholders and colleagues to meet stakeholder needs
• Team player, someone who works well with others and alone on specific projects with little supervision.

Qualifications:
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree.
• The technician should have familiarity with and will develop skill with Microsoft Excel and Access, bibliographic software (e.g., Endnote), and Web Page design and development software. In addition, the compiler should have good communication and interpersonal skills.

Desired:
• Masters degree in biology, ecology, or related field.
• Experience with Ecosystem Modeling Software (e.g., Ecopath with Ecosim, Atlantis) or other modeling software (e.g., AD Model Builder).

Duty station is Oxford, MD, with some travel to agencies and academic institutions around the region and occasional travel to scientific modeling meetings.

The position is full time and funded through the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office via a Cooperative Agreement with the Chesapeake Research Consortium (www.chesapeake.org). Salary will be commensurate with qualifications; benefits available. Persons with M.S. degrees and some experience are encouraged to apply. Send cover letter, resume, and names and contact information of three professional references to D. Jasinski at djasinsk@gmail.com, and cc Kevin Sellner at sellnerk@si.edu.