BIOLOGICAL TECHNICIAN JOB DESCRIPTION

A Biological Technician in government fisheries research collects the field and laboratory data that scientists cannot generate at scale alone. Simple to state, hard to do well. The role spans remote river systems and research vessels, where conditions are unpredictable and data integrity depends entirely on the technician's precision in the field. Fishery-independent survey programs - including spawning area measurement and at-sea trawl sampling - produce the population estimates that drive federal stock management decisions under programs administered by agencies such as NOAA and the US Forest Service.

As the Biological Technician, you collect, process, and record fisheries data across field and vessel environments to support government conservation and stock assessment programs. You operate within a scientific party or field crew, reporting to a project biologist or task leader, and your data directly feeds into population models and regulatory reporting used by federal fisheries managers.

Career Impact: Hands-on experience with federal fishery-independent survey methods and spawning habitat assessment builds a technical foundation that is directly transferable to Fisheries Biologist and Marine Research Scientist roles in government and academic settings.

Business Impact: The population and habitat data this role generates underpins federal stock management decisions affecting commercial and recreational fisheries across US waters.

Growth Opportunity: Exposure to both vessel-based sampling and freshwater field survey methods broadens your technical range and increases competitiveness for permanent federal positions and advanced fisheries science roles.

• Conduct field surveys of spawning areas to measure stream habitat quality, discharge volumes, and pool-to-riffle ratios across designated waterways.
• Collect and analyze bottom gravel, aquatic insect, and biological samples to assess habitat conditions and support silt and size-fraction reporting.
• Serve as a member of the scientific party during research cruises, standing watch and supporting data collection for up to 12 hours per day.
• Assist with sorting, identification, measurement, and dissection of fish and invertebrates collected during vessel-based survey operations.
• Operate electronic data acquisition systems aboard research vessels to record physical and biological fishery-independent survey data.
• Compile, summarize, and QA/QC data from biological evaluations and field surveys, checking outputs for inconsistencies before submission.
• Draft maps of survey areas and develop field records into statistical reports for review by senior scientists and project managers.
• Support leadership of field watches or sampling parties of up to seven individuals in remote or at-sea environments.

• Bachelor's degree in Biology, Fisheries Science, Ecology, or a closely related field, or equivalent work experience.
• One or more years of field or laboratory experience in fisheries research, biological data collection, or a closely related natural resources discipline.
• Experience with species identification of fish and invertebrates in marine or freshwater environments.
• Ability to work in remote, physically demanding, and unpredictable field conditions including extended periods at sea or in bear habitat.
• Familiarity with aquatic habitat assessment methods including stream measurement, gravel sampling, and discharge volume recording.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills sufficient to document field data accurately and contribute to technical reports.
• Must meet applicable health and fitness standards for sea duty or remote field assignments, including drug testing requirements where designated.

• Experience working aboard research vessels or participating in NOAA-administered fishery-independent survey programs.
• Familiarity with electronic data acquisition systems used in at-sea biological sampling and data entry workflows.
• Firearm certification or demonstrated willingness to obtain certification required for field safety in predator habitat.
• Prior experience compiling biological data into statistical summaries or running routine data processing programs.

• Specimen or sample count processed per survey leg, reflecting throughput accuracy across assigned collection tasks.
• Data error rate on QA/QC review, measuring the proportion of field records requiring correction before submission.
• Percentage of assigned survey stations completed per cruise or field season, tracking coverage against program targets.
• Timeliness of statistical report drafts relative to project schedule, reflecting consistency of documentation output.
• Watch hours logged per survey leg, confirming sustained contribution to scientific party operations at sea or in the field.
• Typical tools: Field data acquisition systems (commonly vessel-based electronic loggers and handheld GPS units); laboratory preparation equipment (commonly lapidary saws, microscopes, and image analysis systems)

• Base Salary Range: $36,000 to $52,000 per year, consistent with federal GS-5 to GS-7 pay scales
• Bonus: not typical for federal or government-contracted technician roles
• Equity: not applicable
• Health Benefits: federal or contractor health insurance including medical, dental, and vision coverage
• PTO: 13 to 26 days accrued annually depending on federal employment tenure and schedule
• Common Perks: Housing or per diem for remote assignments, sea pay supplements, and federal retirement plan eligibility

Figures are estimates based on general US market benchmarks and may be outdated. Adjust based on location, company size, and seniority level.

Work authorization in the United States is required for this position, and federal employment eligibility verification applies to all candidates. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process upon request. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local law. Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background investigation and, where applicable, a pre-employment drug screening.

The Biological Technician at TRC Companies owns field biological surveys and in-office report writing to support permitting, planning, and licensing projects across Puerto Rico, working under project managers and task leaders. The role delivers compliance documentation and site monitoring that enables clients to advance energy and infrastructure development projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform field surveys to identify and map wetlands, streams, and habitat for protected species of wildlife.
• Prepare technical reports and compliance statements documenting results of field surveys.
• Review and understand the scope, schedule, and budget of work to be completed.
• Monitor project sites for natural resources and erosion control conditions and compliance with regulations.
• Coordinate activities and work products with other staff resources as needed.
• Prepare field data forms and assist in preparation of reports.
• Support energy and infrastructure development projects including electric transmission and distribution systems, renewable energy, and other industrial or commercial development.
• Assist technical staff in land use planning, environmental permitting, and regulatory compliance.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's Degree in Biology, Ecology, Wildlife Management, Botany, Zoology, or a closely related field.
• Basic to moderate experience in biological surveys and methodologies including those conducted in accordance with Section 404 of the Clean Water Act.
• Basic familiarity with wetland delineations and the flora and fauna of Puerto Rico including dominant plant species identification and plant community description.
• Experience in field biology and technical report writing.
• Ability to operate field equipment such as handheld Trimble GPS units, 4WD vehicles, and digital cameras.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong English and Spanish verbal and written communication skills.
• Fluency in Spanish spoken required and written fluency preferred.
• Valid driver's license with a driving record acceptable to TRC's insurance carrier.

Embedded within a college biology department, the Biological Technician delivers lab preparation, specimen maintenance, and stockroom management to support faculty and students across biology courses. Working closely with instructors and student assistants, this role ensures safe, well-supplied laboratory environments that enable effective hands-on science education.

Core Functions

• Prepare labs for biology classes and set up and take down lab practical examinations.
• Clean laboratory glassware and equipment.
• Receive and inventory stocks and maintain adequate supplies.
• Maintain safety standards and order in the stockroom.
• Maintain live specimens when appropriate.
• Supervise student laboratory assistants and perform minor repairs or coordinate equipment servicing.
• Assist in ordering materials and perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 12 semester units of biology or biologically related sciences from an accredited college or university, or an equivalent combination of training, education, and qualifying experience.
• Two or more years of experience working in a laboratory.
• Experience keeping accurate records and maintaining inventory control.
• Knowledge of terminology, practices, procedures, and safety precautions related to college-level biology labs including those using human cadavers.
• Experience using standard laboratory equipment including autoclave, pH meters, centrifuges, spectrophotometers, incubators, pipet aids, scales, and magnetic stirrers.
• Knowledge of hazardous materials handling, MSDS, laboratory safety, and animal, plant, and tissue cultures and specimens.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
• Demonstrated cultural competency and sensitivity to diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, and ethnic backgrounds.

Reporting to the scientific party leadership, the Biological Technician supports annual resource monitoring surveys aboard NOAA research vessels, collecting fishery-independent data for up to 150 sea days per year. Partnering with survey teams at sea, this role enables population and distribution monitoring of marine fishery resources that informs science-based fisheries management.

Primary Duties

• Provide at-sea data collection assistance for a period ranging from 30 to 150 sea days per year.
• Serve as a member of the scientific party standing watch for up to 12 hours per day.
• Assist with sorting, identification, measurement, and dissection of fish and invertebrates collected during marine research cruises.
• Utilize research vessel based electronic data acquisition systems for collection of physical and biological fishery-independent survey data.
• Assist with administration and troubleshooting of electronic data acquisition systems used during fishery-independent research cruises.
• Provide leadership assistance for field parties or watches of up to seven individuals at sea.

Skills and Qualifications

• Must meet OMAO health criteria for sea duty on NOAA vessels including a passed TB test within the past 12 months.
• Experience working aboard research vessels conducting fishery research.
• Experience with species identification of fish and invertebrates in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean.
• Familiarity with bottom trawls and scallop and clam dredges.
• Familiarity with electronic data acquisition systems.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and ability to work independently or as part of a team.

Sitting at the intersection of fisheries science and laboratory analysis, the Biological Technician supports NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center by preparing and scanning ageing structures using FT-NIRS methodology for up to 5,000 specimens per year. Operating across lab and field settings, this role produces age and growth data that informs the management of living marine resources along the Atlantic coast.

Duties

• Collect, sort, identify, and preserve biological samples and data as required.
• Inventory, clean, polish, and section ageing structures in preparation for age and growth studies.
• Scan ageing structures for an assigned species using FT-NIRS for up to 5000 specimens per year.
• Manage, organize, and archive samples.
• Perform QA/QC data entry and support senior scientists with analysis and research of spectral data for scientific publications.
• Ensure laboratory equipment is maintained and participate in field surveys as needed for up to 50 days per year.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma with 1 to 2 years of experience using FT-NIRS methodology and equipment, or an Associate's or Bachelor's degree in a related field.
• Experience with microscopes, image analysis systems, lapidary saws, and electronic data entry systems.
• Experience in identification of finfish and elasmobranch species commonly encountered along the Atlantic coast from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras.
• Medically qualified and physically able to go to sea for more than one week at a time.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Good oral and written communication skills.

A key member of a government laboratory research team, the Biological Technician II leads immunological assay development and animal model experiments to advance malaria vaccine research. Collaborating across government and contractor personnel, this role delivers technical data, validated assays, and scientific manuscripts that directly support IND-enabling studies and living marine resource management decisions.

Accountabilities

• Perform experiments to assess immunological responses in animal models including animal immunizations and evaluation of serum and cells for immune responses.
• Design and engineer molecular clones using standard cloning and PCR techniques.
• Perform protein expression, purification, and characterization including fermentation, microfluidization, and analytical methods to assess quantity and quality.
• Perform required animal handling techniques including ear tagging, bleeding, immunizing, and challenging with transgenic rodent parasites.
• Develop and characterize monoclonal antibodies using state-of-the-art techniques.
• Maintain laboratory notebooks and electronic files with experimental plans, results, and data analysis.
• Prepare progress reports, technical reports, manuscripts, and oral presentations.
• Inventory and track laboratory supplies, reagents, and equipment and maintain accurate sample inventories.

Background and Experience

• MS or BS Degree in the biological sciences with 5 or more years of relevant experience.
• US Citizenship required.
• Technical knowledge in molecular and biochemical assays, malaria parasite culture, and parasitology.
• Knowledge of ELISA assay design and validation, laboratory management, and supplies ordering using DMLSS, ECAT, and MMC systems.
• Proficiency in operating ELISA plate washers and readers, flow cytometers, cell counters, cell sorters, array readers, microfluidizers, fermenters, centrifuges, imaging systems, and microscopes.
• Strong communication skills for scientific and personnel interactions with junior investigators.
• Experience managing lab operations for a GOGO Lab and working in a military research setting preferred.