At the Fisheries Ecology Division of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Southwest Fisheries Science Division (SWFSD), research is focused on Pacific coast groundfish and Pacific salmon. Groundfish under study include rockfishes, flatfishes, Pacific whiting, sablefish, and lingcod; salmon include coho, chinook, and steelhead. Results of this research are used by the Pacific Fishery Management Council to manage fisheries and by NMFS to manage threatened and endangered species. Fisheries Ecology Division scientists study causes of variability in abundance and health of fish populations, analyze ecological relations in marine communities, and study the economics of exploiting and protecting natural resources. They also assess the stocks of species targeted by various fisheries, and assist in evaluating potential impacts of human activities on threatened or endangered species.

Information about part-time or seasonal positions for undergraduates are here. If there is nothing listed there, highly motivated students should contact leaders of teams that are doing the kind of work they are interested in.  Research teams are listed here and the descriptions have links to the names and emails of team leaders.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Student Opportunities website also lists open positions.  The database link is here.

Keywords: Fisheries Ecology Division; NOAA; Southwest Fisheries Science Division (SWFSD); Pacific coast groundfish; Pacific salmon; Pacific Fishery Management Council; fishery management; threatened species; endangered species; fish stock assessment; variability fish populations; ecological relations; marine communities; economics; internships; jobs