The California Department of Fish and Wildlife's Bay Delta Region is accepting applications for a Scientific Aid position. Job Description: The Fish and Wildlife Scientific Aids will work with a group of scientists studying the effects of freshwater outflow and other physical and biological factors on the abundance and distribution of Delta Smelt and Longfin Smelt in the San Francisco Estuary. The Delta Smelt Project is part of the Interagency Ecological Program for the San Francisco Estuary (see www.water.ca.gov/iep). Duties: 1) Field collection and laboratory processing of fish and invertebrate samples from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. 2) During field work, the Scientific Aid will deploy and retrieve various types of fishing gear from a moving vessel and participate in the sorting, identifying, counting, and measuring of fishes and invertebrates. 3) Remainder of time will be spent in a laboratory processing preserved fish samples, which may include sorting, identifying, and measuring of specimens. 4) Field days can be 10-14 hours long and start early in the morning. 5) The position will also involve driving the boat crew to or from various marinas in the Bay Area. Minimum Qualifications: Possession of a valid driver’s license, and one of the following: 1) Education equivalent to completion of 2 years of college with a minimum of 10 semester hours in biological or chemistry sciences, OR 2) One year of experience in surveying, studying, or evaluating fish or wildlife populations or habitat, or working in a chemistry laboratory. Desired Knowledge and Abilities: Knowledge of: Basics of biology, zoology, and fisheries principles and practices Ability to: 1) Work irregular hours and varying workweek schedules to accommodate field work. 2) Work from a moving vessel in rough conditions or inclement weather. 3) Move, deploy, and retrieve fishing gear weighing up to 40 pounds repetitively on a research vessel, in a variety of weather conditions. 4) Drive field crews to and from sampling locations for long distances, often in heavy traffic and early in the morning. 5) Work with samples preserved with formalin and ethanol in properly ventilated situations up to 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. 6) Use a microscope for up to 8 hours per day, 5 days a week to identify biological specimens. 7) Collaborate and communicate with other field, laboratory, and project staff.
Location: Stockton, CA Salary Range: 12.11 - 14.36 per hour Hours: 1500 hours or approximately 9 months To Apply: Fill out a State Application Form (STD 678), available at https://jobs.ca.gov/Profile/StateApplication, attach a resume and cover letter and send to: California Department of Fish and Wildlife Attention: Lauren Damon 2109 Arch-Airport Rd Stockton, CA 95206 Contact: For further information or questions, please contact Lauren Damon by e-mail at lauren.da...@wildlife.ca.gov or by telephone (209) 234-3660.
