Are there any jobs that is mostly out in the field?

Posted by Cokezerowh0re@reddit | marinebiology | View on Reddit | 6 comments

I know all MB jobs will have lab/office work but are there any sectors that have a very minimal amount? I love being out on the water and dread the statistical/lab work😭

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huntermarine@reddit

I’m an Aquarist and biological supplier and between collection and husbandry I’m at a desk maybe 1 hour a day.

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NOAA hires survey techs that work out on the white ships, as a part of the various research cruises each year and as part of ongoing projects. The work varies ship to ship, some are hydrography but on others the techs run CTDs, sonar systems, fish surveys, plankton and benthic sampling, AUVs and ROVs, and so forth.

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akbelugababe@reddit

Protected species observers are mostly in the field and we have several here in Southcentral Alaska. They monitor for marine mammals while construction activities are taking place. For example, if construction crews are driving piles for a new bridge and beluga whales come within a certain distance, the PSO will alert the team to pause pile driving until the whales have left the area. So yeah, minimal office work, but not sure sitting around staring at the water for 12+ hour shifts is your ideal field job. They’re also seasonal contract jobs which sucks but that’s most field jobs tbh. There are also observer jobs aboard fishing vessels collecting catch data, but based on the horror stories I’ve heard those jobs aren’t for the faint of heart.

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Fish_Beholder@reddit

Fisheries observing is definitely for the brave, but if you're looking to get your hands dirty seeing cool fish it's a hell of an experience. I have a friend who went from fisheries to PSO and she's still not over how much cushier it is.

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Hydrokine@reddit

I know that several universities with marine labs have "marine collector" positions. They're in charge of gathering organisms from the field and bringing them into the lab for research or outreach. They're often also responsible for ensuring the creatures being kept in the lab's tanks remain properly taken care of. You could also look into boat captaining or scientific diver positions. Working as support staff for organizations or researchers would allow you the chance to work in the field for a variety of projects without having to worry about the less "fun" aspects of research.

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reotati@reddit

idk where you're from but the us fish and wildlife department has a lot of field work! i know a few folks that do that and i'm planning on trying to do an internship with them.