IN PERSON ONLY: The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Shellfish Program is responsible for conducting shellfish and habitat assessments for each estuary in Oregon and monitoring shellfisheries for the state. These efforts inform resource management decisions and are also used to track changes in Oregon’s estuaries and shellfisheries. The scholar would work on the ODFW Shellfish and Estuarine Assessment of Coastal OR(SEACOR) conducting a study of shellfish populations and estuarine habitats in Tillamook Bay, Oregon’s 2nd largest outer coast estuary. Shellfish in Tillamook Bay are an important cultural, economic, and food resource for people in this area. The Scholar will work collaboratively on a team to collect shellfish and estuary habitat data in various intertidal regions of Tillamook Bay. The scholar will also participate in an Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS, or drone) project with a focus on using UAS imagery to map intertidal eelgrass in Oregon estuaries. The Scholar will work out of the ODFW Marine Resources Program offices in Newport with the rest of the SEACOR team. To learn more about SEACOR and the work we do, view the following video at: Science on the Bay: Clamming Part 2

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The primary role and responsibility of the Scholar will be collecting field data as an important member of the SEACOR team. Tasks include participating in team meetings, preparing field gear, traversing intertidal flats, collecting environmental and biological data with a partner, extracting and measuring shellfish, and entering data. The Scholar may also interact with recreational harvesters and engage the public at clamming clinics and outreach events during the summer. Opportunities are also available to meet with other members of the Shellfish Program to better understand how the SEACOR field data is used to manage shellfish and estuaries. Depending on their interests and skills, the Scholar may also conduct an independent data project under the guidance of a mentor. Opportunities include mapping of bivalve populations, analyzing habitat-species associations, or assisting in the spatial analysis of UAS imagery from the eelgrass mapping project.

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Fieldwork: 80-85%, Office work: 15-20%, weekly travel to field sites

• MinimumQualifications: basic background in biology and ecology, comfortable working independently and as part of a team, willingness to work outdoors in all weather conditions (ability to traverse unstable substrates and work from small boats), strong work ethic, attention to detail, and willingness to learn intertidal field sampling methods
• Other Optional Qualifications: strong communication skills, experience with small motorized boats (<25’) or other watercraft (e.g. kayak, canoe), experience with statistics, data entry, R coding, and/or GIS, able to drive a vehicle
• Eligibility: Open to US citizens only