Research Technician III, Temporary - Marine Ecology

Special Instructions to Applicants Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without the need for visa sponsorship. The University will not sponsor applicants for work visas (e.g., H-1B). Job Summary We seek a Research Technician to begin employment June 1, 2026 at The University of Southern Mississippi’s Gulf Coast Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, MS. The selected applicant will be co-supervised by Dr. Zachary Darnell and Dr. Kelly Darnell. The primary duties of the Research Technician are to support ongoing laboratory- and field-based projects focused on invertebrate behavior, coastal ecology, and seagrass biology in the Gulf of Mexico. Duties will include a combination of field work, laboratory sample processing, administrative tasks, and data analysis. Additional information on ongoing research projects can be found at https://www.thecraboratory.org and http://www.darnellseagrassecologylab.com. The term of the position is 3 months (June 1, 2026–August 31, 2026). Primary Duties and Responsibilities Assists with field operations across the northcentral Gulf of Mexico. This will include sampling for blue crabs and other nekton species using a variety of sampling gears (traps, trawls, etc.) and in-water seagrass surveys for species composition, condition, and reproductive output. Conducts mesocosm experiments in both recirculating and flow-through seawater systems, including experiments quantifying blue crab growth rates and lifetime reproductive output under changing thermal regimes. Assists with laboratory data acquisition including seagrass and sediment sample processing and video behavioral analyses. Performs data entry and QA/QC in support of multiple projects. Assists with manuscript preparation and outreach efforts. Assists with other ongoing field and laboratory projects, and other duties as assigned.