Salmon and Steelhead Research Assistant

The Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group is one of 14 regional fisheries enhancement groups in the state of Washington. Its mission is to protect and restore wild salmon ecosystems in the Hood Canal Watershed through restoration, research, education and stewardship. More information available at www.pnwsalmoncenter.org.

The goal of the Summer Chum Salmon Conservation Initiative is to protect, restore and enhance the productivity and diversity of Hood Canal summer chum salmon and their ecosystems. 

Eligibility:

• Open to current college students and graduates pursuing fisheries work experience
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must be able to pass a background check
• Must be available on weekends

Desirable Skills/Qualifications:

• Be a dependable individual
• Have a strong attention to detail and be conscientious about safety
• Have a passion for wanting to learn more about salmon recovery and assessments 
• Have ability to maneuver through rough stream terrain at a relatively rapid pace 
• Be able to work in cold weather conditions

Responsibilities/Tasks:

• Installing/removing and operating a rotary screw trap to collect juvenile salmon data
• Follow established protocols for daily trap checks 
• Transport volunteers to field locations and guide them in trap check procedures
• Assisting in the collection of biological samples from adult and juvenile chum salmon 
• Assisting with the mark/recapture protocol for juvenile chum salmon 
• Assisting with watershed nutrient enhancement and remote site incubation 
• Entering field data into MS Excel spreadsheets

Terms of Employment:

Project Duration: November 2024- March 2025 with the potential to extend until June, 2025

Total hours: 10-30 hours/week

Pay:  Stipend available; based on credit hours

To Apply: 

Please submit a letter of interest, a current resume, and an unofficial transcript to Joshua O’Hara at josh@pnwsalmoncenter.org. Questions and comments may also be directed to this address or by calling (360) 275-3575 Extension 115.

Internship Stipend Rate Sheet 

Salmon Center internships are available to students enrolled in an undergraduate, graduate, or continuing education program where they receive school credits and monetary stipend for their time. Internship opportunities have flexible time commitments along with corresponding credit hours and stipends. Students must coordinate with their school or advisor in advance to ensure they receive school credit for their internship. Stipends are awarded upon completion of hours.

Stipends will be distributed in two installments upon the completion of committed contract hours. The first payment will be distributed at midterm (of internship) and the last payment will be distributed at end of term.*

*Start and end dates of projects may not necessarily coincide with quarterly school schedules. Start and end dates and/or weekly hour commitment for internships are negotiable but must be determined before work commences.