Senior Fisheries Data Scientist – Salmon Survival, Migration, and Mark-Recapture Modeling

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 app