Hatchery/Field Technician, Morgan State University
Description: Morgan State University Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (MSU PEARL) is seeking to hire a hatchery/ field technician for the 2026 hatchery season to work with Eastern oysters and Softshell clams.
Responsibilities include:
Hatchery Duties- Keep detailed and organized records for all daily hatchery processes
- Microalgal Culture
- Media preparation
- Assisting with inoculations (carboys, kwalls)
- Counting algae and calculating feeding
- Culture health assessments
- Water quality monitoring
- Broodstock
- Daily maintenance (cleaning and feeding)
- Conditioning assessment
- Spawning (natural and strip spawning)
- Larval Culture
- Water changes (3x/week)
- Counting larvae (health assessment, measuring, recording data, restocking)
- Feeding
- Setting and post-sePreparation of setting tank (microcultch and cultchless setting)
- Setting larvae
- Daily maintenance (cleaning, feeding, health assessment)
- Grading seed
Field Duties-
- Deploy seed from nursery in the field
- Assist with fieldwork at partner oyster farms
- Oyster bag maintenance (splitting bags, replace floats, repair broken gear, remove dead oysters)
- Record fieldwork and maintain shellfish inventory
- Sampling shellfish (record measurements)
- Powerwash dirty gear
Position:
This is a full-time contractual one-year position, with the possibility of extension given available funds and satisfactory performance.
Salary:
The annual salary rate for the position ranges between $50,000- $60,000, commensurate with experience.
- Posted: November 7, 2025
- Job Type: Field technician
- Organization: Morgan State University Patuxent Environmental & Aquatic Research Laboratory (MSU PEARL)
- Qualifications: Minimum Qualifications: − High School Diploma − Valid Driver’s License with reliable transportation to and from work − Ability to lift 50lbs − Ability to complete repetitive tasks well and efficiently − Willingness to work in challenging physical conditions (rain, cold, heat, wind) − Experience with MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint) − Flexible schedule including occasional weekend shifts and holiday coverage Preferred Qualifications: − BS in Biology or related field preferred − Experience working in a field station or biological research laboratory setting − Attention to detail, ability to record all pertinent data for research purposes − Excellent time management skills − Experience working in a shellfish hatchery
- How to apply: To apply: Please email resume, cover letter, and contact information for three professional references to brittany.wolfe@morgan.edu with “Hatchery/Field Technician” as the subject line.
- Location: St. Leonard, MD
Contact Information
Brittany Wolfe-Bryant
brittany.wolfe@morgan.edu