Job Description and Duties

• Field collection and laboratory processing of fish and zooplankton samples from San Francisco Bay and the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta.
• 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.
• Remainder of time will be spent in a laboratory processing preserved fish samples, which may include sorting, identifying, and measuring specimens.
• Field days can be 10-14 hours long and start early in the morning.
• Also includes driving the boat crew to or from various marinas in the Bay Area.

You will find additional information about the job in the Duty Statement.

Working Conditions

Expected irregular work hours and varying workweek schedules to accommodate fieldwork.  Fieldwork aboard a moving research vessel under varying environmental conditions including rough water conditions and inclement weather for up to 12 hours a day.  Requires standing and walking on uneven, moving, and slippery surfaces and repetitively lifting sampling gear that weighs up to 40 pounds.  Laboratory work involves sitting up to 8 hours a day sorting samples, looking through a dissecting microscope, or entering data into a computer, with the appropriate breaks and walking or standing for brief periods.  Field and laboratory work requires handling formalin or ethanol in properly ventilated situations.  Must be able to operate a motor vehicle and equipment and be prepared to travel using a State vehicle.  Driving may be for long distances, often in heavy traffic and early in the morning and requires sitting for long periods of time.