Title: Research Assistant II Position #: TBD
Department: Environmental Studies Category: DRM
Reports to: Professors Anne Kapuscinski and Pallab Sarker Level: A
Salary Range: $32,000-$38,000 Commensurate with Experience Date: April 11, 2016
Position Purpose
1. Assist with research of Kapuscinski Lab on integrated food-energy systems, primarily
project led by Research Assistant Professor Sarker and Prof. Kapuscinski to develop
sustainable aquaculture diets via microalgae replacing fish oil and fishmeal ingredients.
2. Maintain smooth operations of new aquaculture research facility (3 miles north of
campus at Dartmouth Organic Farm), including multiple recirculating aquaculture
systems, life support systems, biosecurity, and alarm systems.
3. Conduct fish husbandry, biofilters management, water chemistry measurements,
supplies ordering, and related tasks.
4. Conduct aquafeeds research tasks including making experimental diets, conducting
feeding experiments with fish, certain chemical analyses of feeds and biological tissues,
preparation of samples for more complex analyses, and data collection and management.
5. Coordinate research team work-flow including for experiments, compliance with
animal care protocols, training and coordination of student research assistants, literature
searches and may help with preparation of grant proposals and journal manuscripts.
Review of applications will begin on April 30, 2016.
Key Accountabilities
• Conduct feed digestibility and growth experiments in recirculating aquaculture
systems (RAS) laboratory at the Dartmouth Organic Farm; and lab-bench
aquafeeds preparation and sample chemical analyses on campus.
• Responsible for: daily fish care, and management of RAS, especially biofilters, to
provide optimal conditions for research animals; safe and orderly management of
lab bench research on campus; ordering and maintaining inventories of research
equipment, chemicals, preparing solutions and reagents, feed, and other supplies.
• Take active role in: maintaining protocols for fish care (including reporting to
Dartmouth’s Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee); developing and
conducting standard operating procedures for maintenance of and experiments in
the RAS lab and campus lab-bench; collecting data, managing databases and basic
statistical analyses; training and coordination of student research assistants.
• Conduct proximate analysis methods for experimental diets and biological
samples including dry weight, ash weight, and gross energy (bomb calorimetry).
• Prepare samples for more complex analyses of crude protein, phosphorus and
other minerals, amino acids, lipids and fatty acids (done by other chemists).
• Help establish and then learn to conduct protocols for certain antinutrient analyses
of microalgae ingredients.
• Help with occasional side experiments such as in-vitro digestion studies.
• Prepare data graphics and other visuals for presentations and manuscripts.
• Periodically assist with literature searches and preparation of manuscripts and
proposals.
• Coordinate research team work-flow such as team meetings, experimental
planning and schedules, and work of student research assistants.
• Communicate regularly with students, faculty, staff, suppliers, and other parties.
• Keep the Kapuscinski lab website updated.
• Must have means to commute to Dartmouth Organic Farm daily (3 miles from
campus).
• Must be able to manage multiple projects/priorities and perform miscellaneous
job-related duties as assigned.
Skills and Knowledge
• Strong organizational and time management skills and able to work
independently.
• Eager to do physically demanding labor in an aquaculture setting.
• Solid experience with fish husbandry, preferably for tilapia and in recirculating
aquaculture systems.
• Knowledge of and experience with water chemistry testing and management in
aquaculture systems.
• Sufficient knowledge and experience with inorganic chemistry methods to readily
learn to conduct proximate analyses, prepare samples for more complex nutrient
analyses, and conduct certain anti-nutrient analyses.
• Familiarity with running fish culture experiments, preferably studies measuring
growth and related parameters.
• Familiarity working with hand tools and basic computer skills to maintain water
piping systems, aeration supply, UV water filters, computerized alarm systems,
and other RAS components.
• Eager to do physically demanding labor in an aquaculture setting.
• Willing to feed fish on weekend day and holidays.
• Must have means to commute to Dartmouth Organic Farm (3 miles from
campus).
• Strong, professional communication skills.
Minimum Experience
• Scientific knowledge of and hands-on experience with fish culture, preferably of
tilapia and in recirculating aquaculture systems.
• Experience with basic inorganic chemistry and water chemistry techniques. Has
worked with hand tools and basic computer software to maintain aquaculture
systems.
Minimum Education
• Bachelor’s degree in relevant field with post-bac aquaculture work experience or
Master’s degree that included research experience in relevant area.
• Course work or other educational training relevant to recirculating aquaculture
systems, fish husbandry, inorganic chemistry and water quality.
• Preferred to have educational training or equivalent experience in sustainable
aquaculture and/or fish nutrition.
Application Procedure
Review of applications will begin on April 30, 2016
Address cover letter to Dr. Anne Kapuscinski.
Required documents: resume, cover letter, names, title and organization, email addresses
and phone numbers of three references
This position is a 19-month term position through December 31, 2017 with anticipated
continuation thereafter contingent on funding and quality of performance.
Employment in this position is contingent upon consent to and successful completion of a
pre-employment background check, which may include a criminal background check,
reference checks, verification of work history, and verification of any required academic
credentials, licenses, and/or certifications, with results acceptable to Dartmouth College.
A criminal conviction will not automatically disqualify an applicant from employment.
Background check information will be used in a confidential, non-discriminatory manner
consistent with state and federal law.
