Per Diem - Aquaculture Spec

Position Summary/ Department Summary:
Provides high-quality daily care and maintenance of fish used in research within the Aquatic Resources Program ARP. Under the direction of the ARP Program Manager, this position involves significant and varied technical activities to support the management of aquaculture facilities and laboratory populations of fish. Performs operational, husbandry, and customer service functions and will be responsible for operating multiple recirculating aquaculture systems and ensuring that optimal animal health and productivity is sustained, all in accordance with federal and institutional regulations and policies.

Key Responsibilities:
• Feeds populations of fish the proper type and amount of food, depending on life stage and experimental application.
• Operates sophisticated recirculating aquaculture systems, as well as aquatics tank washers, feeding robots, and integrated electronic water quality monitoring systems, all observing standard operating procedures and safety guidelines.
• Performs and records daily animal health and welfare observations, communicating adverse findings to the ARP manager and Specialist II.
• Performs daily oversight and operation of aquaculture systems and communicates any problems to the ARP Manager or Specialist II.
• Performs various husbandry tasks, including spawning, in vitro fertilization, and other procedures that involve the handing of fish.
• Maintains live invertebrate cultures for feeding larval fish.
• Performs and records all water quality testing.
• Provides training on some practices and procedures to new employees and scientific staff.
• Monitors supply needs and orders needed items in timely manner.

Minimum Qualifications
Education:
High School diploma/GED is required.
Experience:
1+ year experience in aquaculture environment is preferred.