Lynker Technologies Plankton Biologist and Engineer US-WA-Lacey Job ID: 2024-1081 Type: Full-Time # of Openings: 1 Category: Engineering Lacey, WA Overview

Lynker Corporation is a leading provider of innovative solutions in weather and climate science. With a commitment to excellence and a passion for innovation, Lynker leverages cutting-edge technologies and scientific expertise to support the creation and delivery of improved operational weather forecasts.

As part of our ongoing growth and expansion, we are seeking a dynamic and experienced Plankton Biologist and Engineer to support a contract with NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Northwest Fisheries Science Center (NWFSC).

This is a full-time position that is anticipated to begin as early as May 1, 2024 and will be based at the NWFSC facility in Seattle, WA with some related field work. Hiring for this position will be contingent on contract award.

The quantity and quality of food for juvenile salmon when they first enter the ocean is important for their growth and survival. This project will develop new indicators of food quality at the base of the marine food web (i.e., phytoplankton) to better parameterize salmon life cycle models, improving estimates of growth, survival, and adult return forecasts. Indicators will be developed using phytoplankton community composition data collected by a robotic microscope (Imaging FlowCytobot [IFCB]) and from environmental DNA (eDNA) sample collections. The IFCB is an automated imaging flow cytometer that generates on the order of 30,000 images of particles (i.e. phytoplankton) per hour in the size range of <10 -- 150 µm. Machine learning algorithms are used to automate the taxonomic identification of phytoplankton images obtained by the IFCB. High-throughput sequencing of eDNA samples can be used to determine phytoplankton diversity. A DNA reference database is used to make taxonomic assignments to the sequences and the results are then used to determine differences in phytoplankton diversity in space and time.

The NWFSC requires technical and engineering support services to assist with the collection and processing of IFCB and eDNA samples, develop and manage IFCB and eDNA data pipelines and databases, and assist with IFCB operations and maintenance.

Responsibilities

Key tasks of the Plankton Biologist and Engineer will include the following:

Task 1 : Collect and analyze eDNA samples.

• Collect and filter water samples - may require participating in fisheries surveys and spending days at sea.
• Extract DNA from archived filters.
• Prepare libraries for DNA sequencing following established protocols involving polymerase chain reaction, agarose gel electrophoresis, magnetic bead cleanup as well as DNA fragment size and quantification analyses.
• Pool libraries for analysis with an Illumina MiSeq benchtop sequencer.
• Prepare and maintain a sample log for eDNA samples.
• Prepare text describing methods and results and prepare summary figures and data tables as requested by the project lead.

Deliverables:

• Sequencing libraries of all eDNA samples prepared for analysis.
• Complete and thorough sample log documenting the eDNA samples collected and processed (e.g. samples filtered, extracted, and prepared for DNA sequencing).
• Draft text, tables, and figures for reports and manuscripts.
• Monthly progress report to include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following: accomplishments, issues encountered, travel (including purpose, significant outcomes, action items), and recommendations, if applicable.