• Research Technician V - Marine Ecology

    University of Southern Mississippi (Ocean Springs, MS)


    Special Instructions to Applicants

     

    Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B).

    Job Summary

    The Research Technician V position will support the recently funded project “Understanding Drivers of Change in Seagrass Ecosystems to Inform Management of Critical Habitats in the Gulf Islands National Seashore.” This collaborative, multi-institutional project — conducted in partnership with the National Park Service — aims to identify and monitor long-term trends in seagrass-dominated ecosystems within the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The study will examine how biodiversity and productivity vary across space and time and will assess the environmental and biological drivers influencing these changes to inform evidence-based management decisions. The Research Technician V will play an integral role in conducting extensive field sampling and laboratory analyses, managing data, maintaining research equipment, and assisting with data interpretation, reporting, and dissemination of results. The initial appointment is for 35.5 months (January 5, 2026 – December 15, 2028), with potential for extension contingent on funding availability.

     

    Primary Duties and Responsibilities

     

    + Plan, coordinate, and conduct field sampling operations across the northcentral Gulf, including the collection of seagrass and nekton data using a variety of sampling gears (e.g., traps, trawls, epibenthic sleds).

    + Identify and process nekton specimens collected from field samples, ensuring accurate species-level identification.

    + Perform laboratory analyses on water, seagrass, and benthic core samples, including measurements of biomass and nutrient content.

    + Maintain and calibrate field and laboratory equipment, ensuring operational readiness and data quality for ongoing projects.

    + Operate small research vessels safely and effectively in support of field research activities.

    + Manage and analyze research data, including entry, quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC), and statistical analyses using univariate, multivariate, non-parametric, and spatial methods.

    + Contribute to the preparation of scientific manuscripts, reports, and outreach materials, including summarizing findings for presentations and publications.

    + Collaborate with faculty, students, and partner institutions, supporting interdisciplinary research and assisting with related projects within the laboratory.

    + Perform additional field, laboratory, and administrative duties as assigned to support project goals and overall lab operations.