Phd Ecology Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Overview
Lynker Corporation is seeking a Senior Fisheries Data Scientist - Salmon Survival, Migration, and Mark-Recapture Modeling to support NOAA Fisheries' Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC), Fish Ecology Division, by providing statistical analysis to inform management decisions. This proposed contract role will support analysis of migrating salmon in river systems, with emphasis on survival and migration patterns through hydropower systems and across salmon life cycles. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award. Lynker will be operating under its FLOAT joint venture, a NOAA ProTech Fisheries 2.0 prime contract holder.*
The NWFSC Fish Ecology Division conducts scientific research on marine and anadromous species in the Pacific Northwest and California to support fisheries management, ESA-related needs, and sustainable fisheries decision making. This role supports NOAA's need for high-level statistical modeling, quantitative analysis, and ecological knowledge to produce products that inform management decisions affecting Pacific salmon, including dam operations, habitat changes, and harvest limits.
Responsibilities
Duties of the Fisheries Data Scientist will include the following:

• Provide statistical analysis to inform management decisions.
• Statistically analyze spatial and temporal variability in processes experienced by migrating salmon in river systems.
• Analyze survival and migration patterns through hydropower systems and across salmon life cycles.
• Analyze and generate relationships between fish responses, including density, growth, survival, and migration rate, and stressors such as environmental or ecological conditions, habitat metrics, and management actions.
• Develop novel probabilistic mathematical and simulation models representing unique and complex ecological and behavioral processes using modern statistical methods.
• Provide statistical support for other researchers during study design and analysis.
• Organize and curate ecological datasets relevant to mark-recapture modeling needs.
• Document and share reproducible research workflows and analytical protocols to support scientific transparency and peer collaboration.
• Publish reports and scientific papers, and present results at regional and national meetings and scientific conferences, as needed.
• Assist with field collection of fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments of the West Coast region, as needed.
• Support analysis products archived in accessible and organized formats, including final data and models shared through public scientific repositories or interactive research dashboards.
• Prepare written status reports and other ad hoc communications, as needed.

Qualifications
The Fisheries Data Scientist selected should have the following:

• PhD degree from an accredited college or university with a major in a field of study related to the requirements of the task order, with emphasis in statistics, mathematics, fisheries, ecology, or the natural sciences.
• Strong quantitative background with a solid foundation and extensive coursework in statistics and probability.
• Ten or more years of experience related to the task order, including familiarity with the species and habitats managed by NOAA Fisheries in the West Coast region.
• Advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for two years, MS, or four years, PhD, of experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience writing reports and publishing peer-reviewed articles.
• Strong quantitative skills, including extensive experience in statistical modeling and data analysis.
• Extensive experience conducting analyses and coding in R.
• Experience with programs Stan and JAGS.
• Experience with open science concepts.
• Strong computational skills, including the ability to manipulate large environmental datasets within a command-line environment, such as Linux/shell scripting, to support statistical workflows.
• Familiarity interpreting or interfacing with C or C++ code within a scientific modeling context.
• Familiarity with common software including Google Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Ability to manage workload, stay organized, and produce high-quality work products efficiently.
• Ability to work both independently and on interdisciplinary teams.
• Valid driver's license, maintained during the period of performance.

The Ideal Fisheries Data Scientist will have the following:

• Knowledge and experience in Bayesian statistics and mark-recapture methods.

Work Environment
Work will be conducted on-site at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, WA, or at one of its associated field stations in WA or OR, or at a mutually agreed upon location. Work may be performed at other than the government facility on a limited basis and in coordination with the COR and Project Lead. Part-time telework is authorized with a formal telework agreement between the Contractor and employee, subject to Office of the Chief Information Officer IT security requirements.
The role may include assistance with field collection of fish and environmental data in freshwater, estuarine, and nearshore marine environments of the West Coast region, as needed, and may involve riding in vehicles and/or boats. Travel is anticipated and authorized for this task order and must be approved by the Contractor in coordination with the COR before travel occurs. Overtime is not anticipated and must be coordinated and authorized before being worked.
This project is considered low risk, and Contractor staff must be suited for public trust classification. Background investigations are required for all Contractor staff proposed for this project and must be cleared prior to beginning performance. Effective January 1, 2026, vendors and visitors must present REAL ID-compliant identification, or an acceptable alternative government-issued photo identification, to enter applicable DOC/NOAA facilities.
About Lynker
Lynker is a growing, employee owned business, specializing in professional, scientific and technical services. Our continually expanding team combines scientific expertise with mature, results-driven processes and tools to achieve technically sound, cost effective solutions in hydrology/water sciences, geospatial analysis, information technology, resource management, conservation, and management and business process improvement.
We focus on putting the right people in the right place to be effective. And having the right people is critical for success. Our streamlined organization enables and empowers our talented professionals to tackle our customers' scientific and technical priorities - creatively and effectively.
Lynker offers a team-oriented work environment, and the opportunity to work in a culture of exceptionally skilled professionals who embrace sound science and creative solutions. Lynker's benefits include the following:

• Comprehensive healthcare for the employee at no monthly cost
• Healthcare benefit covers medical, prescription drug, dental, and vision
• Personal Time Off (PTO) Policy plus paid holidays
• Highly competitive compensation plan regularly calibrated against industry and location benchmarks
• 401(k) retirement plan with company-matching
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) - we're all company owners!
• Flexible spending accounts
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Life and accident insurance
• Tuition assistance/Training/Workforce improvement reimbursement per year
• Spot bonuses for exceptional performance
• Annual Employee Recognition Awards with bonuses
• Employee Referral Program
• Free centralized, self-directed Learning Management System to learn at your own pace
• Personalized career growth plans for every employee

Lynker is an E-Verify employer.
Lynker is an equal opportunity employer and makes all employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, or gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other legally protected status under federal, state, or local laws.
*This position is advertised through our joint venture, FISH and Lynker Ocean Alliance Team (FLOAT), a partnership between Lynker and Fisheries Immersed Sciences Hawaii (FISH) serving the NOAA ProTech Fisheries 2.0 IDIQ contracting vehicle.
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