Job Summary

This position exists to assist in maintaining the freshwater mussel propagation lab (including fish husbandry), which includes supporting propagation and rearing of native freshwater mussels for reintroduction projects statewide; to plan and implement mussel surveys and monitoring in selected streams, rivers and lakes in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin; and to evaluate and interpret the results of the mussel data collection as part of the Center for Aquatic Mollusk Programs annual work.

Responsibilities include:

• Propagate and rear native mussels including setting up and maintaining propagation systems and obtaining and maintaining live host fish and brood mussel collections;
• Maintain host fishes for reintroduction efforts, including but not limited to adequate health and growth of several hundred native fishes;
• Prepare mussels for reintroduction and conduct monitoring at reintroduction sites to document survival and growth of reintroduced mussels, detect natural recruitment when it occurs, and assist with mussel host identification trials to expand potential reintroduction efforts;
• Conduct mussel distribution surveys/reconnaissance surveys to identify mussel reintroduction sites and sample long-term monitoring sites on rivers statewide;
• Prepare and summarize mussel propagation and survey data; and
• Keep up-to-date on scientific advances in mussel propagation, rearing and reintroductions.
• Occasional travel will be required sometimes on short notice and could be up to a week.  Hours will vary and could include evenings, weekends and holidays. 

Qualifications Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, conservation biology, fisheries, or related field. 
• 2 years of experience in mussel propagation. **Master’s degree may substitute for one year of experience.**
• Considerable knowledge and experience with techniques for propagating and rearing native mussels including the ability to spend considerable time using a microscope and recording images to document growth and survival.
• Working knowledge of standard field survey and monitoring techniques for mussels.
• Ability to operate and maintain equipment used for propagation (lab equipment, pumps, manual and power tools).
• Experience maintaining fish aquaria, fish health, and growing large quantities of native fishes.
• Experience in the use of Geographic Positioning Systems (GPS).
• Experience using Microsoft Excel, Word, and PowerPoint software is required.
• Experience in statistical analysis.
• Thorough knowledge of geographic information systems, ArcMap 10 in particular.
• Written and oral communications sufficient to communicate technical and non-technical information verbally and in writing.
• Ability to conduct surveys in rugged, uneven terrain, under adverse weather and other environmental conditions.
• Current Open Water Diver certification in SCUBA.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or PhD in biology, ecology, conservation biology, fisheries, or related field.
• Experience using Microsoft Access relational database software.
• Fish hatchery or similar experience.
• Experience in river diving and low visibility diving.