Research Technician (Seasonal)

**Job Title: **Research Technician (Seasonal) Department: Natural Resources Department Location: Hatchery - Levering, MI Reports To: Hatchery Manager Status: Non-Exempt Salary Range: $17.64 to $28.67 per hour Level: G2 Terms: Seasonal Position November 2026-April 2027 Open: October 05, 2026 Closes: October 19, 2026 **SUMMARY: **The Research Technician conducts applied research and daily aquaculture operations at the LTBB Fisheries Enhancement Facility. Operating under the direction of the Hatchery Manager, this position will perform routine fish care, biosecurity, water quality monitoring, field sampling, and site maintenance. This role requires flexibility to work some nights and weekends, particularly during peak fall and spring seasonal field and hatchery operations. This is a deeply rewarding opportunity for an early-career professional looking to make a direct, hands-on impact on Great Lakes fisheries restoration, applied research, and tribal natural resource management. The exclusive purpose of this position is to work in Whitefish and Whitefish related restoration activities, supported by the Great Lakes Fisheries Trust Directed Lake Whitefish Funding Initiative. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Hatchery Operations & Fish Culture - Daily Fish Culture: Perform daily fish care across all in-house developmental stages---including feeding, tank cleaning, growth tracking, and monitoring behavior, health, and fry/fingerling development. - Water Quality & Monitoring: Monitor critical environmental and water quality parameters (dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature) to maintain optimal rearing conditions. - Fish Health & Biosecurity: Support facility health-testing logistics while maintaining strict biosecurity protocols across holding tanks, trucks, nets, field gear, and work areas. Fieldwork & Sampling - Field Assessments & Egg Take: Assist with wild fish collection, fisheries assessments, and field gamete collection using diverse sampling gear (gill nets, seines, fyke/trap nets, electroshocking). - Stocking Logistics: Support fish stocking operations, including loading, transporting, and releasing fish at designated sites. - Field Gear & Instrumentation: Safely operate, calibrate, and care for field equipment, monitoring tools, and sampling gear (GPS, field meters, radios, power tools). Facility Maintenance & Operations - Systems Maintenance & Repair: Perform routine maintenance and basic mechanical, electrical, and plumbing repairs on facility equipment, structures, and systems. - Groundskeeping & Site Upkeep: Assist with general facility groundskeeping and overall site maintenance. - Vehicle & Trailer Operations: Safely operate department vehicles and haul large trailers (i.e. ~26' boats, stocking trailers, mobile laboratories, streamside units). - Administrative Support: Assist the Hatchery Manager with preparing operational reports and presentations. Additional Responsibilities Research & Project Support: Assist the Hatchery Manager in executing facility research projects related to Whitefish and processing biological samples. Data Systems & Record Keeping: Maintain accurate research logs and utilize specialized software (ArcGIS, R, QGIS, QCapture, MS Office, Access) to input data, map locations, and manage records during daily dutie