Faculty Research Assistant: Marine Mammal Institute-GEMM Lab

Important Notifications

Application Deadline: When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

Current Employees: Do not apply via the OSU Career site. Instead, please login to your regular Workday account and visit the Jobs Hub to apply.

Department: Marine Mammal Institute

• Special Instructions to Applicants:

When applying you will be required to attach the following electronic documents:

• A resume/CV; and
• A cover letter detailing qualifications and experience.

Starting salary will be commensurate with skills, education, and experience.

For additional information please contact: Leigh Torres

Job Summary

The Marine Mammal Institute invites applications for an hourly or salaried part-time (0.60 FTE), 12-month, fixed-term Faculty Research Assistant position. Reappointment is at the discretion of the Department Head.

Key Responsibilities

• Operate small boat (e.g., RHIB, Zodiac) around cetaceans for ecological data collection
• Perform routine maintenance tasks on research vessel, truck, and trailer, and coordinates specialized maintenance and repairs as needed
• Conduct marine mammal survey observations aboard US Coast Guard helicopters and mid-size and large research vessels
• Oversight of equipment (cameras, drones, sensors, etc.) maintenance, storage, organization
• Data management and sample storage/archiving
• Process and organize photo-ID images
• Assist with data analysis (e.g., photo-ID, drone imagery, environmental data)
• Data entry into database
• Lead and participate in lab outreach activities
• Lab management duties such as ordering supplies, shipping, meeting organization
• Support implementation of lab and field health and safety procedures
• Assist with permit and project reporting
• Reconciliation of expenditures

Required Qualifications

• A Bachelor's degree combined with 2+ years of research experience
• Experience as a marine mammal observer
• Significant experience as a small boat driver around cetaceans
• Experience in ecological data collection methods, such as one or more of the following: cetacean photo-ID, behavioral observations, prey sampling, drone operations, suction-cup tagging, biopsy, and passive and active acoustics
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Clear, honest communication skills
• Ability and willingness to work occasional long days in the field when the weather is right, which may include weekends and holidays
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a team environment and maintain a constructive and positive research culture.
• Valid U.S. driver's license with the ability to tow small boats on trailers
• Boating safety certification, or ability to obtain certification shortly after hire. Oregon State University offers the Scientific Boating Safety Association (SBSA) Motorboat Operator Training Course (MOTC).
• Experience using R programming for data wrangling, organization, visualization, and statistical analysis

Additional information

This position requires driving a university vehicle or a personal vehicle on behalf of the university; therefore, the incumbent must successfully complete a motor vehicle history check, possess and maintain a current, valid driver's license in their state of residence, be determined to be position qualified and self-report convictions as per University Policy 05-030.

Preferred Qualifications

• A Master's degree in the natural sciences
• Experience using Microsoft Access, ArcGIS, and/or Matlab
• Record of scientific publication as lead or co-author
• Experience conducting photo-ID analysis (matching) of cetaceans
• Demonstrated success of working on several concurrent projects and adapting to shifting priorities and deadlines
• Experience maintaining and/or contributing to long-term ecological datasets

Working Conditions/Schedule

• This position must be able to work regularly in outdoor environments, including on boats in marine environments.
• Incumbent must be able to lift heavy objects (>30lbs).
• Occasional travel and driving for remote fieldwork is expected.
• Incumbent must have ability and willingness to work occasional long days in the field when the weather is right, which may include weekends and holidays.

Salary Range

Anticipated Start Date: 2027-04-15

Anticipated End Date: 2027-06-30

When applying, please keep in mind this posting will close at 11:59 pm the night before the posted "end date". Applications MUST be submitted prior to this deadline.

OSU will conduct a review of the National Sex Offender Public website prior to hire.

We encourage applications from candidates who bring a wide range of lived experience including involvement with the justice system.

If this position has "critical or security-sensitive" responsibilities and/or driving duties and you are selected as a finalist, your initial job offer will be contingent upon the results of a job-related pre-employment check (such as a background check, motor vehicle history check, sexual misconduct reference check, etc.). Background check results do not automatically disqualify a candidate.

Take a look at our Background Checks website including the for candidates section for more details. If you have questions or concerns about the pre-employment check, please contact OSU's Employee and Labor Relations team at.