Quantitative Fisheries Scientist

Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has an exciting vacancy for a Quantitative Fisheries Scientistto join our Research and Development (R&D) division. 

The successful candidate will be responsible for undertaking stock assessments of salmon and eel, further developing fish population dynamic models and inputting into the general work of the  R&D division by providing appropriate quantitative support to IFI R&D staff and projects.

This role will provide high-level specialist expertise in statistical and/or mathematical modelling that will support sustainable fisheries management and contribute to the formulation and implementation of appropriate policies, strategies and initiatives for IFI. There will be a specific focus on modelling fish population dynamics and/or fisheries to support on-going programmes including:

• fish population predator-prey interactions for wild brown trout fishery management;

• national salmon catch advice and eel stock assessment;

• management strategy evaluations for inland fisheries;

• analysis of spatially distributed fish and ecological monitoring time-series data.

The work will involve desk-based mathematical/statistical analysis of IFI R&D and fisheries datasets.

There may also be considerable travelling and residing in locations across Ireland, if conducting field work in all weather conditions. Fieldwork will require frequent physical exertion while conducting field activities, including walking over rough, uneven terrain, lifting equipment, wading in streams/rivers and working in boats.

Travelling on a daily or weekly basis may be a requirement. Transport will be provided for field duties, meetings or collaborations and if applicable, depending on location, full Civil Service subsistence rates will be paid.

Inland Fisheries Ireland are the environmental agency responsible for protecting, managing and conserving Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources.

More information can be found by visiting our website.

To place the inland fisheries resource in the best sustainable position possible for the benefit of future generations.

To protect, manage and conserve Ireland’s inland fisheries and sea angling resources and to maximise their sustainability and natural biodiversity.

• We work collaboratively with professionalism

• We are open, transparent and accountable

• We act with respect and integrity

• We are committed to stewardship and sustainability

The main responsibilities of the Quantitative Fisheries Scientist will include;

• Apply, implement and develop innovative modelling and stock assessment techniques to Ireland’s inland fisheries on a nationwide basis;

• Develop fish population and fishery models that support the management of inland fisheries;

• Understand the role of fish community modelling and stock assessment in the development of sustainable fisheries management plans;

• Explore landscape-scale pressures on fish populations by applying appropriate statistical methods to ecological, fish monitoring and fishery data.

• Data mining and aggregation of diverse datasets to parameterise and validate models and/or analyses;

• Apply innovative data analysis techniques, including using relevant process-based and statistical models;

• Understand data management principles, relational database structures and how GIS tools can be leveraged in geo-spatial analysis;

• Apply appropriate statistical methods, including geo-spatial and time-series analyses, to existing IFI research and monitoring datasets.

• Develop interactive visual interfaces to fisheries stock assessment and population modelling analyses to support effective communication of quantitative fishery concepts and results to key stakeholders;

• Support data management, dissemination and sharing including GIS and Open Data initiatives;

• Communicate positively and effectively with internal and external stakeholders through presentations, dashboards, and reports;

• Develop a professional network in Quantitative Fisheries ecology;

• Produce scientific reports and publish peer-reviewed scientific papers in fisheries and quantitative ecology journals, in addition to reports and management briefs;

• Attend and participate in national and international science expert groups focused on sustainable fisheries and aquatic ecosystems.

• Carry out such duties as may be assigned to the post from time to time by the Senior Research Officer or nominee.

The ideal candidate will have the following;

• A recognised third-level qualification, at a minimum level of NFQ Level 7, or equivalent, in a relevant discipline

• A full Category B driving licence that is valid in Ireland

• Proven quantitative and scientific computing skills in a mathematical or statistical software environment such as; R and/or MATLAB

• Demonstrable experience and good knowledge of population modelling and/or fishery stock assessment and/or statistical or mathematical modelling methods

• Understanding of how mathematical or statistical models can be applied to fisheries systems, aquatic ecosystems and ecology

• Demonstrable experience in report writing, scientific writing for peer-review journals, etc.

• Ability to independently perform challenging scientific work

• Excellent attention to detail with the ability to question information received

• Excellent interpersonal skills with an emphasis on communication of science to diverse stakeholders

• A recognised postgraduate qualification, at a minimum level of NFQ Level 9, or equivalent in relevant discipline such as; applied mathematics or statistics, environmental science, ecology or computational science

• Evidence of successful peer review publication as lead author

• Training in fisheries stock assessment or other relevant disciplines

• Experience in ecological population modelling or quantitative ecology

• Experience in one or more of the following areas: database management systems (DBMS), database design, GIS

• Experience in developing R Shiny apps or R packages and/or using version control for scientific software

The salary scale for the position is at the level of Higher Executive Officer as applies in Inland Fisheries Ireland, it is a 9-point scale including 2long service increments (LSI’s): Point 1 €53,745; Point 2 €55,336; Point 3 €56,934; Point 4 €58,526; Point 5 €60,127; Point 6 €61,726; Point 7 €63,323; Point 8 (LSI 1) €65,632; Point 9 (LSI 2) €67,935 (IFI HEO PayScale as of 01/10/2023).

This post is offered on a specified purpose contract basis. It is expected to last until the end of July 2025.

A cover letter and up to date Curriculum Vitae should be submitted via https://inlandfisheriesireland.recruitee.com/o/quantitative-fisheries-scientist  bymidnight on Thursday 18th January 2024.