Student Research Assistant Lightning Whelk

Student Research Assistant Lightning Whelk

Location

Sarasota, Florida, United States

Job Type

Part-Time

Job Number

00960

Division

Natural Sciences

Opening Date

10/05/2026

Closing Date

10/16/2026 11:59 PM Eastern

• Description
• Benefits

Description

The Undergraduate Research Assistant supports an investigation of predator-prey interactions between lightning whelks (Sinistrofulgur perversum) and southern hard clams (Mercenaria campechiensis) on a restoration clam lease in Sarasota Bay. The position conducts field surveys and shell-damage assessments, assists with PIT and acoustic tagging/telemetry, and maintains controlled mesocosm feeding trials. The assistant records, organizes, and analyzes data on whelk abundance, movement, residency, clam predation, prey-size preferences, and gear effectiveness. This work supports shellfish restoration management while providing hands-on undergraduate research training and contributing to thesis projects, conference presentations, publications, and future grant proposals.

Examples of Duties

• Conduct field surveys on the Sarasota Bay Watch clam lease and nearby control/reference sites; locate and count lightning whelks and collect empty clam shells for predation-damage assessment.
• Assist with PIT tagging, paint marking, acoustic transmitter attachment, mark-recapture sampling, and receiver/detection data collection to evaluate whelk abundance, residency, and movement.
• Maintain lightning whelks in 300-L mesocosms; measure and stock hard clams and monitor and record predation events, prey-size use, shell-growth stage, and gear-effectiveness trials.
• Process collected clam shells for characteristic chipping damage; enter, organize, quality-check, and maintain field and laboratory data.
• Analyze mark-recapture, telemetry, shell-damage, and feeding-trial data and assist with figures, summaries, thesis/conference materials, publications, and future grant products.
• Other duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Currently enrolled undergraduate student.
• Keen interest in marine ecology, fisheries, shellfish restoration/aquaculture, or a related field.
• Willing to learn field surveys, telemetry/tagging, mark-recapture methods, shell-damage assessment, experimental animal husbandry, and quantitative data analysis; willing to participate in outdoor/boat-supported fieldwork and laboratory work.
• Must be able to provide proof of SCUBA certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior coursework or research experience in marine biology/ecology, fisheries, field sampling, animal husbandry, or quantitative data analysis.
• Familiarity with spreadsheets, PIT tags, acoustic telemetry, or mark-recapture methods is helpful but not required.

All candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without requiring immigration sponsorship, including but not limited to non-immigrant visas, such as H1B, STEM, or F1, now and in the future.

New College of Florida (NCF) is an equal opportunity employer and educational provider committed to a policy of non-discrimination for any member of the NCF community on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veterans status, marital status, or any other legally protected group status. This policy applies to faculty, staff, students, volunteers, visitors, applicants, and contractors in a manner consistent with applicable laws, regulations, ordinances, orders, and University policies, procedures, and processes.

Benefits vary by position, please visit https://www.ncf.edu/departments/human-resources/employee-benefits/ for more information.

Employer New College of Florida

Address 5800 Bay Shore Rd

Sarasota, Florida, 34243

Phone 941-487-5020

Website https://www.ncf.edu/