Description
Assist aquatic biologists and environmental scientists in field and laboratory settings. Set up, operate, and maintain boats and water-quality instruments, collect and process water, sediment, and biota samples, monitor aquatic experiments and habitats, record observations, and calculate and report results. May culture aquatic organisms and analyze water chemistry.
- • Keep detailed field and laboratory logs for aquatic sampling, husbandry, and maintenance activities.
- • Monitor field and lab procedures for compliance with sampling protocols, permits, QA/QC, and safety standards.
- • Collect, sort, and identify aquatic organisms and prepare, label, and preserve specimens for examination.
- • Use GPS, GIS, data loggers, computer-interfaced sensors, and ROVs to collect and manage data.
- • Assist research and monitoring by collecting water, sediment, and biota samples and operating boats and sampling gear at freshwater and marine sites.
- • Set up, calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot water-quality sondes, CTDs, DO meters, pumps, nets, and other field and lab equipment.
- • Provide technical support for fisheries, aquaculture, habitat restoration, and environmental science projects.
- • Clean and decontaminate gear, vessels, and work areas to prevent cross-contamination and invasive species transfer.
- • Participate in aquaculture, hatchery, or restoration activities, including spawning, rearing, and release support.
- • Conduct standardized water and microbiological analyses (e.g., pH, temperature, turbidity, nutrients, chlorophyll, salinity).
- • Analyze and visualize data and prepare summaries, figures, and brief reports for project staff.
- • Prepare reagents, standards, and solutions; measure and weigh compounds and fish feed as needed.
- • Monitor tanks, aquaria, mesocosms, and field experiments; record environmental and production data.
- • Examine fish and invertebrates for disease, parasites, or stress; document findings.
- • Feed and care for fish and aquatic invertebrates; maintain life support systems and aquaria.
- • Enter and QA/QC field and laboratory data in databases and GIS.
- • Place orders and manage inventory for sampling consumables, reagents, and field gear.
Related specializations
Interview options
Interview options
Interviewee gender
Interviewee accent
Available on paid plans only
Interview time
Related Pathways
Healthcare & Human Services
View
Source
Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
Learn more
Sources & Standards:
This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
