Scientist II: Chemical Tracer Analyses of NOAA Trust Resources and Their Prey, Northwest Fisheries Science Center
Ocean Associates, Inc. (OAI) is seeking a Scientist II to support the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), in Seattle, WA. For more than 40 years, the Environmental Chemistry Program at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center has conducted research on NOAA trust resources, with a focus on developing state-of-the-art analytical methods that generate high quality data needed to understand the effects of human and environmental factors on the health and ecology of aquatic organisms. These projects include ensuring seafood safety, examining predator-prey relationships and their marine distribution, assessing the impacts of toxic contaminants across aquatic ecosystems, and identifying contaminants of emerging concern. This knowledge is vital to the development of strategic management plans for NOAA’s marine and freshwater resources and includes developing advanced sampling and analytical methods for toxic contaminants and other chemical and biochemical markers; modifying existing analytical methods to measure chemical markers in a wide range of matrices and species; and establishing quality assurance protocols and criteria for analytical measurements. The Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) established the Marine Mammal Health and Stranding Response Program (MMHSRP) (Title IV) in 1992. The MMHSRP operates in support of the Recovered Protected Species goal of National Marine Fisheries Services’ Strategic Plan. The Northwest Fisheries Science Center serves as the NMFS lead for the biomonitoring components and quality assurance of chemical analyses of marine mammals and their potential prey for the Program. Information generated by these components addresses deficiencies in data quality and quantity on the levels of toxic chemicals in marine mammals, refines methods and approaches for understanding linkages between exposure and specific biological effects or biological processes, and improves the dissemination of the information to constituents and resource managers. The collection and dissemination of these data increases our understanding of the causes of disease and mortality events in marine mammals and provides high quality data to assess the status and trends in contaminant accumulation by U.S. marine mammal populations. Furthermore, these data will provide a measure of the quality of their habitat. The work associated with this task order will enable the NWFSC to complete chemical tracer analyses of marine mammals and their potential prey in a timely manner and ensure that the data are of high quality for inclusion in peer-reviewed reports and publications. In addition, the NWFSC has conducted environmental contaminant studies on outmigrant juvenile Chinook salmon that occur in the lower Columbia River and the Salish Sea for two decades. Additional contaminant data are needed for outmigrant salmon as they pass through each system, including watersheds that occur in regions associated with urban, industrial or agricultural practices. To address this data gap, samples of juvenile salmon and their prey collected in these areas will be analyzed for toxic contaminants and the data will be used in life-cycle models to determine the potential effects of exposure as the outmigrants travel through the systems. Over the past 35 years, the NWFSC has conducted chemical contaminant analyses associated with oil spill and stormwater toxicity studies, including analyses of seafood products, marine mammals, fish and prey, as well as water samples. In recent years, the NWFSC’s oil spill and stormwater research has focused on investigations of the effects on early life history stages of fish. Chemistry data obtained from these research studies combined with biological effects to fish larvae and embryos can be used for environmental monitoring studies and future oil spill impact assessments. The contract is for full-time work. Excellent employee benefits are provided including paid medical insurance, and holiday, vacation and sick leave, and more. The work location will be at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center, 2725 Montlake Blvd E, Seattle WA 98102. Duties: Provide assistance in conducting studies on environmental factors affecting fishery resources, including exposure to pollutants, as it relates to the protection of NOAA trust resources including fish and marine mammals. The contractor shall be responsible for tissue/fluid preparation of marine mammals and their prey (e.g., fish, squid), as well as extraction and cleanup of tissue samples of marine organisms for carbon and nitrogen stable isotope ratios, chemical contaminants, including petroleum-related polycyclic aromatic compounds, persistent organic pollutants and other chemical markers (e.g., lipids). Duties shall include sample preparation, sample extraction using an accelerated solvent extractor or solid phase extraction and cleanup of sample extracts using gravity flow cleanup columns and automated cleanup using high-performance liquid chromatography with size exclusion chromatography. Task #1 Prepare, extract and cleanup approximately 40 tissue and fluid samples of Steller sea lions, and associated quality assurance samples for persistent organic pollutants and percent lipid using analytical protocols and methods developed and validated by the NWFSC. These sample analyses must pass the NWFSC’s laboratory quality assurance criteria. Archive these sample extracts in the appropriate storage area and maintain sample extract inventory of these extracts and samples. Task #2 Help prepare, extract, cleanup and analyze approximately 40 whole body samples of juvenile salmon and their prey, as well as the associated quality assurance samples for persistent organic pollutants, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and percent lipid using analytical protocols and methods developed and validated by the NWFSC. These sample analyses must pass the NWFSC’s laboratory quality assurance criteria. Archive these sample extracts in the appropriate storage area and maintain sample extract inventory of these extracts and samples. Task #3 Help prepare, extract and cleanup approximately 60 water samples, as well as the associated quality assurance samples for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using analytical protocols and methods developed and validated by the NWFSC. These sample analyses must pass the NWFSC’s laboratory quality assurance criteria. Archive these sample extracts in the appropriate storage area and maintain sample extract inventory of these extracts and samples. Required minimum education, knowledge, and experience: Bachelor’s Degree, or higher, from an accredited college or university with a major directly related in a field of study as related to the requirements of the specific task order with emphasis in fisheries, oceanography, social science, natural science, mathematics, or hydrology. Additional required qualifications include: Experience in sample preparation and extraction for analyses of any of the following: chemical contaminants such as persistent organic pollutants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, percent lipid and lipid classes, fatty acids and stable isotope ratios of carbon and nitrogen. Ability and experience to follow performance-based laboratory quality assurance protocols, including following clean-laboratory practices for chemical tracer analyses. Only qualified applicants that meet minimum experience or background requirements stated above need apply. Resumes must include the following: Work history Education Previous experience in a same or similar position with the same or similar requirements Professional references If you are interested in being considered for this position, please APPLY THROUGH OUR ADP WEB PORTAL, AT THIS LINK:https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=oceans&jobId=24962&lang=en_US&source=CC3 <https://workforcenow.adp.com/jobs/apply/posting.html?client=oceans&jobId=24962&lang=en_US&source=CC3> - Include your name in the document file name. - Sending your resume in readable (not scanned) PDF or Word format is preferred. When applying for this position you will be asked to upload your resume at the end of this online application. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States, complete the required employment eligibility verification document form upon hire, and successfully complete a federal government background check. Ocean Associates Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of any status or condition protected by applicable federal or state law. OAI is a government contractor and is required by law to invite applicants to self-identify their race, gender, national origin, disability status and veteran status. OAI is required to use the information it collects as part of its future affirmative action efforts in hiring. The information is collected anonymously by computer and is not connected to your application. You will see a place to check certain boxes in OAI's online application. Even though the information is anonymous, self-identification is voluntary. You can always check the box that says you decline to self-identify. Note: If you are not selected, your materials may be retained for present or future opportunities. We may use your resume in bidding on a project and if we are awarded the work we will contact you before seeking further applicants. If you do not wish us to retain or use your resume to seek work for you, please let us know in the "Notes" section on the second page of the online application. Thank you. -Dr. John Everett, President, OAI ________________ Daniel Grosse, Ph.D. Senior Associate Ocean Associates, Incorporated 4007 N. Abingdon Street Arlington, Virginia USA 22207 dangro...@oceanassoc.com Tel: 202-258-9700 Fax: 202-244-4667 On the web at http://www.OceanAssoc.com
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