OverviewLynker Corporation is seeking a Marine Passive Acoustics Scientist to support NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center (SEFSC) Fisheries Assessment, Technology & Engineering Support (FATES) Division. This proposed role will manage, quality-control, archive, and analyze passive acoustic data used to study marine soundscapes, fishes, marine mammals, and vessel activity across the southeastern United States. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award.
The SEFSC Advanced Technology and Innovation Branch develops and applies new instruments and analytical methods to improve fisheries and ecosystem research. Passive acoustic monitoring provides information about biological, geological, and human-generated sound, helping scientists evaluate marine species occurrence, distribution, habitat use, and environmental conditions.
Responsibilities
Duties of the Marine Passive Acoustics Scientist will include the following:
- Manage passive acoustic data collected from North Carolina through Texas.
- Organize and communicate with project partners to maintain year-round data collection.
- Assist with passive acoustic field-data collection as needed.
- Process acoustic data and conduct quality assurance and quality control using standardized practices within the acoustic community.
- Maintain current records of data availability, location, and quality.
- Organize and document acoustic data and metadata using established protocols and tracking interfaces.
- Package passive acoustic data, metadata, and analytical results for submission to the National Centers for Environmental Information National Passive Acoustic Archive.
- Analyze bottom-mounted and mobile passive acoustic data using manual and automated detectors.
- Characterize marine soundscapes, including biological, geological, and anthropogenic contributions.
- Analyze the occurrence and distribution of fishes and marine mammals.
- Analyze vessel occurrence, distribution, and relative source levels.
- Participate in national passive acoustic monitoring working groups and multidisciplinary collaborations.
- Assist with project planning and information dissemination.
- Prepare scientific proposals for extramural funding.
- Review reports, manuscripts, and scientific proposals.
- Participate in stakeholder meetings, public events, workshops, scientific meetings, symposiums, and public forums.
- Provide required monthly status reports and timely outreach and scientific-meeting summaries.
Qualifications
The Marine Passive Acoustics Scientist should have the following:
- A master’s degree in marine biology, a related biological science, or data science, or an undergraduate degree with one year of relevant research experience.
- Experience analyzing passive acoustic data.
- Ability to participate in fieldwork.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills.
- Ability to collaborate on large, multifaceted projects.
- A basic understanding of programming.
- Experience managing large datasets.
The ideal Marine Passive Acoustics Scientist will have the following preferred qualifications:
- A Ph.D. in marine biology or a related biological science.
- Extensive experience leading passive acoustic data analyses.
- Experience using Raven Pro, MATLAB, and R.
- Experience programming in Python.
- Experience using cloud platforms.
- Understanding of signal processing.
Work Environment
The position is located at the SEFSC Beaufort Laboratory in Beaufort, North Carolina. Work will include laboratory and computer-based data processing and analysis, collaborative scientific activities, public outreach, and fieldwork as needed. Travel may be required for field activities, scientific meetings, workshops, and outreach events. Facility access is generally available from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Travel and overtime must be authorized in accordance with contract requirements.
