THIS OPPORTUNITY HAS CLOSED.

About Us: The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) National Climate Adaptation Science Center (NCASC) is a partner-oriented institution. NCASC manages a suite of eight regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs). These centers and NCASC are designed to provide scientific support for natural and cultural resource managers, primarily at federal and state management agencies, as they address adaptation to climate change. This position will be coordinated with USGS Science Analytics and Synthesis (SAS) which provides critical data, services, and capabilities to USGS, the Department of Interior, and other organizations.

Project background: Inland fisheries are important contributors to global food security and poverty alleviation, yet increasingly subjected to a diversity of stressors. Effectively tracking progress toward global targets for sustainability and biodiversity conservation requires a risk index and baseline assessment of inland fisheries. Limited and disparate fish harvest data necessitates an alternate approach of evaluating fish habitat as a proxy. The overall goal of this project is to develop a systematic assessment of the relative level of threats to inland fisheries within nested hydrological basins. The resulting framework will directly contribute to the work of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and inform prioritization of inland fisheries conservation efforts globally.

Position description: The successful applicant will assist in the compilation, summarization, and management of national and global datasets that will be used to analyze threats to fishery resources. The individual will work closely with senior scientists to learn and implement reproducible science practices while documenting scientific data and workflows. Python programming will be used to implement data processing and analytical workflows.

Duties:

• Assist NCASC and SAS biologists with research efforts including, but not limited to:
  • Compilation of fish threat data at national and global scales
  • Document and manage data products
  • Development of geospatial data processing workflows
  • Conducting a pilot study for a temporal geospatial aquatic threat assessment
• Other activities as needed

Required Skills:

• Experience with Python Programming Language
• Education and experience in one or more of the following scientific disciplines: fisheries/wildlife management, biology, environmental science, computer science at an undergraduate level
• Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks and projects at the same time
• Self-starter and detail oriented
• Familiarity with basic database system design
• Comfortable learning new technologies and tools
• Experience with geospatial software such as ArcGIS or QGIS is recommended

Salary: This position is contract appointment paid within the general range of GS-5 to GS-9 (Step 1) of the Federal pay scale (see http://www.opm.gov/oca/12tables/pdf/DCB.pdf). It is NOT a Federal position. Further details will be made available to qualified applicants. Students can work a maximum of 30 hours per week during school and 40 hours per week when school is not in session. Hours are flexible.

Duty Station: NCASC is a unit at USGS Headquarters in Reston, VA. However, we are a virtual center and this position may be fully remote from any location. 

How to Apply: This is restricted to current full-time students and recent graduates (within 1 year of graduation). Only current US Citizens are eligible and any offer of employment may be contingent upon a favorable background investigation. All applicants will be judged based on their resume submitted by email. If NCASC determines your qualifications match the needs of their position, you will be contacted directly for an interview.

Please submit a resume and cover letter describing education and work experience to Abigail Lynch, Ph.D. (ajlynch@usgs.gov). For full consideration, please submit materials by Friday, June 12th. The position will close when it is filled.