Freshwater Invertebrate Biologist

Working Title: OPS BIOLOGICAL SCIENTIST I - 77907244

Position Number: 77907244

Salary: $16 per hour

Posting Closing Date: 08/18/2023

TITLE: Freshwater Invertebrate Biologist (OPS Biological Scientist I)

SECTION/SUBSECTION: Freshwater Fisheries Research: Resource Assessment/FWRI

POSITION #: 77907244

SUPERVISOR: Kasey Fralick

EMPLOYEE GROUP: Included Other Personnel Services (OPS)

EMPLOYEE SUBGROUP: Temporary

POSITION TYPE: Full-Time (40 hrs/week)

EFFECTIVE DATE: 09/08/2023

END DATE: 09/19/2024

Job Description: This position is for a full-time OPS Biological Scientist I to work on the SFWMD-funded Lake Okeechobee Invertebrate Studies grant (FWRI grant F5489). The position will be of approximately 1-year duration and will be headquartered in the Gainesville Freshwater Research Lab. Responsibilities include laboratory processing of freshwater invertebrate samples, field collection of freshwater invertebrate samples, slide making, maintenance of laboratory and field equipment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

1. Laboratory Processing of freshwater invertebrate samples collected from lakes, ponds, streams, and spring systems. This includes slide mounting of certain groups of aquatic invertebrates for identification, including Oligochaeta, Chironomidae, Ceratopogonidae, and Simuliidae.

2. Field sampling of freshwater invertebrate communities, including crayfish, snails, mussels, and insects in streams, springs, and lakes using a variety of methods that may include wading, snorkeling, dip netting, trapping, dredging, and motor driven sampling devices. Handling, enumeration, and measurement of live and dead freshwater invertebrates. Measurement of environmental parameters concurrent with sampling using a variety of electronic equipment that may include flow meters, multi-probe units (temperature, dissolved oxygen, SCT, salinity, pH) and GPS units. Accurate recording of organism counts and field measurements on field sheets. Boat operation and trailering of boats to and from sample sites.

3. Taxonomic identification of freshwater invertebrates in field and laboratory situations.

4. Data entry. Management of freshwater invertebrate databases and vouchered collections.

5. Assist Project Leader with production of reports, scientific publications, posters, and presentations.

6. Maintenance of laboratory equipment including meters, scales, analytical balances, ovens, and microscopes.

7. Maintenance of field equipment including vehicles, boats, motors, trailers, meters, and invertebrate sampling gear.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

The entry-level knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform job duties are: Ability to work independently and within a research team environment. Knowledge of field methods used to quantitatively and qualitatively sample freshwater invertebrates in lakes, streams, ponds, and marshes. Knowledge of taxonomic literature and techniques used to identify major groups of freshwater invertebrates to family, genus, and species level. Knowledge of operation of handheld units used to measure environmental parameters (pH, dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, current velocity, and geolocation). Knowledge of boat operation, boat trailering and boat and trailer maintenance. Ability to write legibly and record data accurately. Ability to complete assigned tasks on, or before, deadlines. Ability to swim. Ability to conduct vigorous field work outdoors for long hours in harsh weather conditions that may include rain, high winds, high temperatures, low temperatures, alligators, snakes, and biting insects. Ability to operate a computer with Windows operating system. Ability to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point. Ability to curate collections of freshwater invertebrates, including production of legible handwritten notes and labels for specimens. Ability to enter recorded data into excel spreadsheets. Ability to manage Excel databases.