Title: Fish & Wildlife Scientist III – Fish Health Biologist
Application Deadline: 12/22/2019
The Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department is seeking applications for a Fish Health Biologist (F&W Scientist III) to work in the Fish Health Laboratory located in a brand new, state of the art facility in Randolph Center, VT. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated laboratory scientist to advance established methods in fish health testing, conduct research in the fields of fish health and microbiology and expand laboratory capabilities in the future to include disease monitoring of wildlife species. The laboratory is responsible for conducting annual fish health inspections on all state owned and private fish culture stations as well as investigating fish kills and studying fish disease agents in the natural environment.
Duties for this position involve professional biological work in the field of fish health. Work will be performed primarily in a laboratory setting and will include collection and processing of fish tissues for disease testing. This position will be responsible the operation and maintenance of the fish health laboratory including conducting all bacteriology, virology, parasitology and polymerase chain reaction assays in compliance with guidelines set by the Northeast Fish Health Committee, the American Fisheries Society / Fish Health Section (AFS/FHS), and the World Organization of Animal Health. Additional responsibilities involve occasional travel to field collection sites, assisting in public outreach efforts, report writing, budget preparation and administration of the program’s budget, coordination of scheduling between programs of operation, supervision and training of seasonal employees and cross-training of Fish Culture Specialists to ensure smooth operations of the Fish Health Laboratory.
Experience working in a laboratory setting, developing and implementing methods and protocols in bacterial, viral and parasitological assays, and/or experience with quantitative real-time PCR assays is highly desirable.
The primary duty station for this position will be in Randolph Center, Vermont. Work requires a high degree of independence and initiative and is performed under the supervision of the Fish Culture Operations Manager. Employees in this position are expected to obtain and maintain certification as an Aquatic Animal Health Inspector through the AFS/FHS within two years of hire. Additionally, the successful applicant will be required to obtain an aquatic pesticide applicators license and CPR certification within six months of hire.
For more information and to apply: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcareers.vermont.gov%2Fjob%2FRandolph-Center-Fish-%26-Wildlife-Scientist-III-Fish-Health-Biologist-VT-05061%2F610248700%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7C5b9ecf5290c649f5644b08d7796d0645%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637111381481027437&sdata=mjl0WNn24cjqjoQd7bqtdh4vzWKMri5i5AfEnjpts6s%3D&reserved=0