Research Technician

What it’s really like to work here 

At Riverence, we do things differently. We work together as a team, like a close-knit family, to achieve innovation, initiative, and encouragement in the workplace. We are on the mission to raise the standards of aquaculture, redefine what it means to be a responsible fishery and become the leading provider of truly sustainable seafood. Riverence consists of facilities located primarily in the Magic Valley of ID that range from 14 different fish farms, a research and development facility, a processing plant, and 4 brood facilities that are located in WA and rural ID. 

We offer excellent comprehensive benefits to our employees to ensure their health which include medical, dental, vision, 401K with company match, life insurance, short term & long-term disability plans and more! 

If you are ready to put in hard work as a valued member of our team, while making a positive difference in our environment, Riverence is the fit for you! 

Classification: Nonexempt

Reports to: Research Scientist or Chief Science Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION

Summary/Objective

The Research Technician will demonstrate a strong commitment to the scientific method, rigorous testing of hypotheses, and close attention to detail in executing research involving trout and salmon. Responsibilities include day-to-day oversight of research projects (e.g., care for experimental animals, sampling), con-ducting laboratory assays, data entry and statistical analysis. Other duties may include assisting laboratory staff with water quality and diagnostic testing, contributing to technical presentations and report preparation.   

Essential Functions

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting feeding trials, stress and disease challenges, and other experiments involving live trout and salmon
• Providing daily care to experimental animals consistent with animal welfare standards to ensure the generation of valid data (e.g., observation, feeding, removing mortalities, water quality, recording da-ta)
• Conducting field sampling and biological/physiological/molecular laboratory assays (e.g., fish nec-ropsy, hematology, tissue extractions, spectrophotometry, ELISA, PCR prep) in support of ongoing research initiatives
• Exhibiting familiarity with and adherence to laboratory safety standards and other safety guidance
• Documenting and managing data in keeping with standards of laboratory records-keeping
• Conducting basic statistical procedures (e.g., means and measures of variation, ANOVA, regression) and reporting results
• Providing progress updates to supervisor and other team members regarding the status of ongoing experiments or other projects, including reporting of adverse events
• Assisting laboratory staff with collection and analysis of samples to determine water quality or for disease diagnostic purposes
• Always working to produce products people can trust by recognizing poor quality and communi-cating with management.
• Providing prompt, friendly and courteous service to internal and external customers.
• Continually pursuing sustainability of our natural resources with every decision, decreasing waste and being conscious of individual choices
• Advocating positive change within our team, empowering one another
• Completing other duties as required

Competencies

• Experience conducting fisheries or aquaculture research
• Familiarity with principles of experimental design and SAS or comparable statistical software
• Competency with Microsoft Office program suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Attention to detail, critical thinking, safety, and continual improvement

Supervisory Responsibility

This position has no supervisory responsibilities

Work Environment

This job occasionally involves work in an outdoor environment and may involve exposure to inclement weather conditions

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• This job is occasionally physically demanding and requires the ability to lift 50 pounds.  
• Alternately walking and sitting for long periods of time is required. 
• The ability to bend, squat, kneel, step, reach, lift, push, pull, see, hear and talk are required.  
• Fine motor skills associated with laboratory work (e.g., necropsy procedures, chemical handling, operation of analytical equipment) are required.  

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, which could include occasional work on Saturdays or Sundays

Travel

Local travel is required

Required Education and Experience

• The ability to speak, read, understand and follow directions with or without reasonable accommodations
• Experience conducting aquaculture research, including feeding trials, stress challenges, laboratory analyses, etc.
• Technical presentations in professional settings and/or (co)authorship of peer-reviewed publications
• Valid driver’s license and good driving record

Preferred Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or other post-graduate education, training, or experience specializing in fisheries, aquaculture, or a related field

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

None

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.