NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center in Seattle, Washington, will be issuing a contract for an analytical scientist position to support research in the Fish Ecology Division within the next few months (June-August 2026). This position will be hired and employed through a NOAA ProTech vendor to support our division’s research. The focus of this research is on salmonids and the effects of predation on their survival through different life stages.
Analytical Scientist of Predation. On the US West Coast, predation on Pacific salmon by avian predators, marine mammals, and invasive fish has emerged as a critical focus of ecological research and resource management. As freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments rapidly shift, producing timely management advice to mitigate these threats relies heavily on advanced quantitative analysis. The Contractor will provide a lead quantitative analyst to deliver high-level statistical modeling, advanced quantitative techniques, and ecological expertise necessary to transform raw field data into actionable management products.
The core focus of this role is to directly inform critical management decisions affecting Pacific salmon by:
- Quantifying predation pressure and identifying primary sources of predator-induced mortality across various life-stages.
- Modeling complex trophic interactions and estimating salmon survival rates.
- Developing predictive frameworks to assess how changing environmental conditions influence predator behavior and salmon vulnerability.
This position is ideal for a PhD-level scientist looking to apply advanced statistical modeling to high-priority, real-world fisheries management challenges, culminating in peer-reviewed publications and management-ready deliverables.
Contracting for this position will be done through NOAA’s Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (ProTech) Program (https://www.noaa.gov/acquisition-grants/protech). Under this program, proposals will be submitted from a pool of qualified contracting companies (https://www.noaa.gov/sites/default/files/2026-05/ProTech%20Fisheries%20Domain%20Contractors_23APR2026_0.pdf).