Temporary Scientific & Technical Officer (STO) biology and ecology of bivalve molluscs

The Scientific and Technical Officer (STO) will work within the Shellfish and Environment Team in FEAS. This team provides stock assessment advice on commercially exploited species of bivalve molluscs and crustaceans and assesses the effects of fishing for such species on the environment including on benthic (seafloor) habitats and on seabirds. The STO will work to collate existing and gather new data on distribution and biology of bivalve molluscs and the environmental conditions where they occur in a number of areas off the coast of Ireland. The data will be used to develop population distribution and habitat suitability models. The role will involve sea time on commercial vessels and traveling to ports to carry out duties.

Among the duties and responsibilities, include:

The role may involve:-

• Undertaking field surveys of commercially exploited bivalve molluscs (oysters, clams, cockles) in collaboration with project team;
• Collection of new environmental data, habitat data and faunal data in areas supporting populations of bivalve molluscs;
• Collating existing environmental data in areas where bivalve populations occur;
• Maintain and use environmental sensors for the collection of data on temperature, salinity, pH, oxygen, chlorophyll and turbidity;
• Management of data under the Marine Institute data quality management framework;
• Deriving biological parameters on bivalve growth, mortality and reproduction from existing and new survey data;
• Develop species distribution and habitat suitability models for bivalve species;
• Work generally to deliver the objectives of the BIVALVE project in collaboration with UCC and MI. This will include taking part in and coordinating field work with teams at UCC and MI.

Educational and Professional Requirements

• A Degree in Science or an equivalent qualification.
• A relevant third level degree in a marine science, ecology, renewable resource management, or related field
• Work experience (post-degree qualification) in a relevant scientific area
• Some proficiency with the R statistical programming language.
• Spatial data analysis skills in GIS, R or other relevant platforms.
• High level of experience in the use of Microsoft Office or similar applications.
• Proven scientific report writing skills and / or published peer-reviewed papers.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Sufficiently fit to pass an ENG II Medical and Personal Survival Training Programme.
• A full, clean drivers licence.
•  Experience or knowledge of species distribution modelling
• Experience in environmental surveys and methods including marine benthic faunal surveys
• An understanding of life-history of bivalve molluscs.
• Good knowledge of inshore fisheries and aquaculture in Ireland.
• Experience at collaborating with others through scientific expert groups or research.
• Sea going experience

A detailed job description can be downloaded here

How to Apply:

C.V. and letter of application, summarising experience and skill set applicable to the position should be emailed to recruitment@marine.ie or posted to Human Resources at the Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Galway. All correspondence for this post should quote reference  FEAS/STO/BIO-ECO/April22

Closing date for Applications:

All applications for this post should be received by the Marine Institute in advance of 12 noon Wednesday 4th of May. Please note that late applications will not be accepted.

Use of Data - all personal data and the information submitted for this application will be used solely for the purpose of this campaign, after which it will be deleted in line with our General Data Protection Regulation Policy and data retention schedule. All information will be treated with the strictest confidence and accessed only by those involved directly in the campaign.

The Marine Institute is an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from anyone interested in this role. Please do advise if there are any special accommodations required for the recruitment process.