Shellfish Positions Available

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Broodstock Development Hatchery Technician, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Washington (USA):  Starting Wage: $14-$16/hr depending on research experience.  The employee will work closely with the research department team as well as the other hatchery staff to test future broodstock lines and create polyploids from selected stocks. Culture techniques include small volume static and continuous larval and seed cultures. This is a very physically active position including repetitive lifting of 2 gallon buckets, standing and working on concrete floors and working long hours on occasion. More specific duties include the following:  MAJOR AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY: Conduct oyster spawns; Daily larval and seed care including feeding and cleaning; Tissue sampling for disease and genetic analysis; Assess broodstock lines to determine ploidy; Assist Broodstock Manager with tidal work and broodstock cleaning; Participate in grant research for Taylor Shellfish Farms; May be required to work at other work sites/locations as needed; and May be required to do other tasks as needed.  REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  College degree (required); A science background is preferred; Experience using sterile techniques; Must be able to carry out repetitive tasks; Have good communication and time management skills; Ability to work independently and in teams; Proficiency with: (Microsoft Office- Word and Excel); Well organized and detail oriented; Regular, reliable, predictable attendance; and Must be able to work occasional weekends. PHYSICAL DEMANDS:The employee is required to stoop, bend, kneel, twist and squat 10 percent of the time; The employee needs to be able to lift up to 50 lbs.; The vision requirements include: close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus; Must be able to speak and hear well enough to communicate with co-workers, supervisors and managers, and Must be able to use hands for repetitive simple grasping, pushing, pulling and fine manipulation. Here at Taylor Shellfish we offer health insurance for the employee and their family with incredibly low premium costs and annual deductibles. We offer dental, vision, plus an excellent 401K program with 100% match up to 5% of the employee’s gross income. We also offer paid time off which starts to accrue immediately and gives you a whole week of paid time off in the first year (dependent on hours worked), plus 6 paid holidays a year, amazing company discounts, paid training through the company and a tuition reimbursement program. Hands on training in a commercial shellfish hatchery and Internship credit is available on a case by case basis.   Individual must provide own housing and transportation.  Taylor Shellfish Farms is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, material status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with federal, state and local ordinances. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please let us know. Applicants can apply at https://www.taylorshellfishfarms.com/about-us/careers and if they have questions they should contact me, Molly Jackson via email at [email protected].(posted 2/20/19)

Shellfish Aquaculture Research Associate, Gulf Shellfish Institute, Florida (USA): The mission of GSI is to facilitate, support and encourage increased production of shellfish in Florida and the Gulf region for both economic and environmental benefit through cooperative, industry-driven research and outreach. GSI believes that high quality seafood produced in an environmentally sustainable fashion can boost coastal economies, preserve and strengthen working waterfronts, improve coastal water quality and habitats and encourage the development of a domestic aquaculture industry capable of reducing existing trade deficits. We are seeking a motivated individual to help achieve these goals.  Essential duties for this position include: Travel (own vehicle) to study sites throughout Florida (expenses to be reimbursed); Ability to communicate and coordinate field work with industry collaborators; Work with industry cooperators to collect necessary data and maintain dataloggers.  Additional duties (as determined by the Executive Director) may include: Data analysis; Report writing; Proposal writing; Presentations at professional meetings.  Qualifications: M.S. or Ph.D. Degree in environmental, marine or aquatic sciences; A commitment to achieving the mission of GSI; Must be reliable, flexible and self-motivated; Research experience in lab and field settings; Experience with shellfish aquaculture; Comfortable working on water; Willingness to get wet and muddy.  The base salary for this position is $40-50,000 per year (depending on qualifications) for a minimum of two years. The position and salary can be extended depending on grant funding. There are no fringe benefits.  Send a cover letter, resume and list of three professional references to: Dr. Bruce Barber, Executive Director [email protected] (posted 2/1/19).

Oyster Aquaculture Training Program P/articipant, Virginia Institute of Marine Science (USA)- The Virginia Institute of Marine Science Aquaculture Genetics and Breedin /Technology Center invites qualified applicants to apply for the temporary position as an Oyster Aquaculture Training Program Participant.  The successful candidate(s) must be physically able to start work April 1, 2019 and work through August 31, 2019, 40 hours a week.  The center’s (ABC) mission is to develop superior shellfish brood stocks and support breeding programs using traditional and cytogenetic approaches.  ABC has four main components of operation: hatchery, field and nursery, Kauffman Aquaculture Center (KAC), and laboratory. POSITION SUMMARY: Oyster Aqua Train Program participants will assist in all oyster aquaculture operations of ABC. Specific rotations will be in the oyster hatcheries, (both Gloucester Point and Kauffman Center in Topping, VA, 40 minutes from Gloucester Point) the field grow-out (6 field sites including one in Maryland) and the flow cytometry laboratory.  Participants will have the opportunity and are encouraged to work externships with other hatcheries/commercial farms. Duties will also include: Broodstock maintenance, algal culture, oyster spawning, larval rearing, setting, field grow out.  Perform field and laboratory work and maintain equipment.   William & Mary and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science values diversity and invites applications from underrepresented groups who will enrich the research, teaching and service missions of the university.  The university is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, protected veterans, and individuals with disabilities.  Applications are only accepted online at W&M and more detailed information regarding the position can be found at http://jobs.wm.edu/postings/34491. Title: Oyster Aquaculture Program Participant Position Number: T0253V

Hatchery Technician - Oyster Seed Holdings is an independent oyster hatchery located on Chesapeake Bay in Mathews County, Virginia.  We are seeking applicants for a hatchery technician position with duties touching in all aspects of shellfish hatchery production.  These include tank and system cleaning, assistance with microalgae production, diligent husbandry of millions of larval and post-set oysters, and other physical tasks.  Candidates must be willing to work 1-2 weekends per month.  Pay commensurate with experience.To apply, please send resume and cover letter to [email protected] (posted 1/30/19).

2 Internship Opportunities - Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory, Alabama (USA): The Auburn University Shellfish Laboratory has two paid intern positions available (16 weeks – May-September 2019, start and end dates flexible) for a BS-level scientist to work with oyster aquaculture and Vibrio research. The interns will be working between the AU Shellfish Lab and the FDA Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, both located on Dauphin Island, Alabama. The positions will be officially hired through Auburn University’s temporary employee services (TES).  The applicants will be involved in field and lab work related to performing re-submersion research regarding oyster aquaculture. Job duties include traveling to oyster farms in Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida, collecting and transporting oyster samples to the lab; aseptically processing and shucking oyster samples for microbiological analysis; and microbiological media preparation. The ideal applicant will have field work experience and/or microbiology lab experience.  The minimum qualifications for the applicants are: Bachelor’s degree in biology, marine biology, microbiology, ecology, or a related field (current undergraduate students will also be considered); Ability to perform field work in adverse conditions (hot, humid weather) on small vessels; Possess a valid driver’s license; and be a United States citizen, or permanent resident.  Preferred applicants will have experience: In a microbiology lab; With shellfish aquaculture; and working aboard boats.  Salary will be $12.50/hour for 35 hours per week. Applications must include a resume/CV and cover letter and be received by COB February 22, 2019. To apply, or for additional information, email Victoria Pruente, Ph.D. student, at [email protected] and Dr. William Walton at [email protected] (posted 1/30/19).

Post doc - Bioenergetics in lower trophic aquaculture, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norway: The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) has a vacant position for a postdoctoral researcher within bioenergetics. The position will focus on the development of individual based modelling, seeking to understand environmental factors that influence production in benthic organisms at lower trophic levels. The main aims are to contribute basic ecophysiological knowledge about the organisms and to estimate carrying capacity for lower trophic aquaculture related to future scenarios for large-scale production and ecosystem impacts.  The successful candidate will be part of the Research Group for Benthic Resources and the main work place will be at the IMR research station in Austevoll (1h from IMR head office in Bergen). The candidate will also be associated with the relevant ecosystem modelling expertise in Bergen. The position is a part of the increased IMR effort devoted to lower trophic resources in aquaculture, focusing on benthic filter feeders and macro algae. There is currently an increased focus on the use of ecological models in research, targeting processes and interactions between species and their environment and the use of models in applied science on sustainable lower-trophic aquaculture production. Individual-based models on bioenergetics and growth is a central component in this kind of modelling. The successful candidate will be part of a team working on the energetic characterization and estimation of seston quality, feeding processes, and energetics of filter-feeding benthic organisms and macroalgae. The candidate will partake in and lead experiments necessary for parameterization and development of energetic models and experience from this kind of work is required.  Essential qualifications: PhD in marine biology or relevant field; Good skills in and knowledge about programming related to simulations of individual-based bioenergetics and ecological models; Good academic insight in physiology and ecology in marine environments, and experience with interdisciplinary work; Experience in experimental physiology; Ability to work both independently and as part of a group, and good cooperation skills; Ability to generate, complete and publish work efficiently; Desirable qualifications: Experience with Dynamic Energy Budget (DEB) modelling; Experience conducting experimental work on filter-feeding organisms; Experience processing results from numerical ocean models, e.g. ROMS; A good understanding of ecological processes; Ability to communicate well in writing as well as orally.   We offer: A position at one of the leading research institutions in Europe; Salary as a 1352 postdoc, according to the state salary scale; A dynamic and enthusiastic work environment with good academic progress; Flexible working hours; Membership in Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (2% gross wage deposit); Good welfare scheme.  For more information please contact project leader Øivind Strand: [email protected] (phone +47 473 08 955) or research group leader Carsten Hvingel: [email protected] (phone +47 959 80 565), or see our web page www.hi.no. (posted 12/20/18)