Reintroduction Biologist I

The Reintroduction Biologist I advances Tennessee Aquarium’s freshwater conservation mission by providing daily husbandry needs of reintroduction programs for southeastern aquatic animals. Daily duties include overall husbandry of aquatic animals, primarily fishes, in recirculating systems under human care. This may take place at the Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute (TNACI), Tennessee Aquarium facilities open to the public such as River Journey and Ocean Journey, or Tennessee Aquarium Animal Care Facility (ACF). The Reintroduction Biologist I assists in fieldwork for conservation programs and conducts outreach relating to reintroduction programs for students and lifelong learners as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Provides daily husbandry for reintroduction program animals including feeding, maintaining exceptional water quality, and managing animal health.
• Involved in breeding/spawning a variety of species as needed to support different conservation projects.
• Maintains live food cultures to support conservation program animals.
• Prepares food and washes equipment. This may include but is not limited to chopping frozen fish food by knife as well as utilizing food processors and other kitchen tools daily. Food offered includes, but is not limited to, blood worms, brine shrimp, krill, silversides, and microfauna.
• Routinely conducts water quality testing using various probes, spectrophotometers, and other lab equipment.
• Effectively interfaces with Tennessee Aquarium reintroduction partners including state and federal agency personnel, university professors, and other non-profit organizations.
• Assists with fieldwork and other field support for monitoring, collection, and animal releases for reintroduction programs.
• Acts as a mentor to seasonal staff and/or volunteers, helps with training and coordinating
• daily needs with other full staff members while maintaining a positive attitude.
• Assists with data entry relating to husbandry and monitoring activities.
• Assists with outreach activities, both in-classroom and online, promoting Tennessee Aquarium reintroduction programs to a variety of ages, including lifelong learners.
• Helps maintain field equipment as needed.
• Orders supplies as directed.
• Maintains all working areas in good order and regularly cleans all equipment and surfaces to maintain a hygienic and clean environment as directed.
• Assists and provides feedback with routine welfare assessments.
• Assists with tours of facilities as requested.

Key Requirements

• Bachelor of Science with 1-2 years of experience providing daily animal husbandry.
• Experience in common husbandry techniques of aquatic animals using recirculating aquaculture.
• Experience in aquatic fieldwork preferred.
• Driver’s license required to operate Aquarium vehicles.
• Resilience to conservation fatigue and ability to navigate balancing the health of the population with individual wellbeing.
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude when dealing with stressful situations.
• Effective communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills.
• Some computer skills and familiarity with Word, Excel, and social media sites.
• Ability to complete some light plumbing and carpentry work preferred.

Full-time, hourly ($18.35 – $21.00/hour, commensurate with education and experience); Typical standard 40-hour work week but with some longer shifts, weekends, holidays, and overnights required for fieldwork, research, and conservation support activities.