Plankton Taxonomist
$64,000–$84,000 year
On-sitePascagoula, Mississippi, United States
Job Summary
Perform microscopic examination and morphometric identification of marine fish larvae and invertebrate zooplankton collected in the Gulf of America to support fisheries stock assessments. Utilize microscope-digital imaging systems to image, enumerate, and measure specimens, while conducting life-history analyses including otolith removal and gut content analysis. Process plankton samples using standard laboratory methodologies, maintain reference libraries for AI-assisted validation, and curate archived specimens. Provide verified taxonomic data for SEDAR forums and update larval fish databases, contributing expertise to research proposals and scientific deliverables. Work at the SEFSC Laboratory in Pascagoula, Mississippi, with facility access from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Limited work aboard NOAA ships may be required.
Required Qualifications
- Master of Science degree in Marine Science or a related field of study
- Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Science or a related field of study
- Minimum of five years of relevant experience (for Master's degree holders)
- Minimum of ten years of relevant experience (for Bachelor's degree holders)
- Expertise in marine fish systematics, ontogeny, and larval morphology
- Prior experience identifying larval fish
- Proficiency using primary literature sources and regional taxonomic atlases
- Experience working with large datasets
- Ability to prepare college-level reports and make oral presentations
- Computer literacy and experience with common word-processing, database, statistical, and graphics programs
- Driver's license to operate Government vehicles
- Ability to meet NOAA sea-duty health requirements
- Required NOAA Health Services documentation
- Required tuberculosis screening documentation
- Current tetanus vaccination
Desired Qualifications
- Experience identifying marine zooplankton
- Knowledge of statistical treatment of marine plankton and oceanographic data
- Proficiency with EcoTaxa or similar artificial intelligence-assisted taxonomic validation platforms
- Experience with ImageJ or other microscope imaging software
- Experience with database-management software such as Excel, Access, and SQL
- Familiarity with R for biological data graphing, synthesis, and analysis
- Knowledge of techniques and instrumentation such as ZooScan and FlowCam used to gather digitized data on marine plankton specimens
- Experience with molecular methods used to prepare samples for species identification, including tissue sampling, DNA extraction, amplification, and sequencing
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