Wildlife Biologist II

The employee will work on a diversity of research projects related to shellfish ecology, oyster restoration, living shorelines, shellfish aquaculture, and oyster reef mapping as part of the Marine Resources Research Institute’s Shellfish Research Section.

Job Duties Include:

1. Working as part of a dedicated team using a variety of on-the-ground and geospatial techniques to assess the distribution and characteristics of wild intertidal oyster reefs.
2. Leading field teams to collect wild oyster samples across the SC coast.
3. Assisting in laboratory processing of oyster samples to estimate histological and demographic metrics and parameters.
4. Entering and managing data on oyster demographics, disease, condition, and distribution.
5. Performing preliminary analyses and summaries of oyster data.
6. Assisting in writing grant proposals, grant reports, internal summaries, and manuscripts for publication.
7. Being well-organized and maintaining Section equipment in operational readiness.

A master’s degree in biology, chemistry or a related field; or a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry or a related field and two years of experience relevant to the job.

Experience utilizing scientific methods and working in tidal creeks and estuarine environments is preferred. A working knowledge of South Carolina oyster reef ecology and the ability to identify common reef-associated vertebrate and invertebrate species is preferred. The ability to safely and effectively operate outboard vessels (<24ft) in inshore waters is also strongly preferred. A basic proficiency with R programming language is preferred. An intermediate to high level of proficiency with GIS software, including ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, and ESRI Field Maps is highly preferred. Ability to use Python coding language or ArcGIS Pro Deep Learning workflows for imagery classification is a plus. A high level of proficiency across a range of standard Microsoft applications is preferred. The employee should be able to swim, be capable of lifting 50lbs, and be comfortable working outside on a year-round basis.