As the designated project leader, plans, organizes, conducts, and evaluates departmentally recognized technical field projects that support habitat utilization or enhancement, production assessment, or similar studies for an assigned region/area; participates in the development of new tagging methods and supervises tagging operations; monitors commercial and recreational mutli-species fisheries in an assigned area and maintain computerized data bases for the fisheries and/or habitat; supervises a region for the salmon Puget Sound Sampling Program; manages the technical staff and activities for a laboratory; manages the State Oyster Reserves; maintains large data bases used for fisheries management.

Organizes and directs or performs chemical and biological analysis on a variety of species of salmon, shellfish and groundfish;

Plans and conducts environmental studies on salmon, groundfish and shellfish, involving sampling, identification of parasites, age determination, analysis of component parts of the various species, basic bioassays and other research studies; organizes biological field programs which involve data collection, installation of biological devises on research projects;

Performs microscopic observations of various species of shellfish, salmon and groundfish; conducts and plans limnological survey on freshwater reservoirs analyzing optimum fish rearing environment; and testing for origin, temperature and further analysis of dissolved solids; compiles summaries and reports on research studies and submit findings and recommendations on such studies;

May train and supervise other aides;

Performs other work as required.

Knowledge of: names and functions of principal organs of fish and shellfish; spawning habits and reproductive systems of vertebrates and crustaceans; natural habitats of fresh and salt water commercial and sport fish species; common fish diseases and parasites; laboratory tests for water pH, alkalinity, salinity, oxygen content, fluid density, and viscosity; biological sampling for limnological, pollution, migration, and population studies; commercial and sport fishing methods and gear.

Ability to: record and compile research data, using arithmetical and elementary statistical procedures; organize and present laboratory and field data in writing; enlist assistance and interest of others in biological and/or chemical sampling and data gathering projects.

There may be instances where individual positions must have additional licenses or certification. It is the employer’s responsibility to ensure the appropriate licenses/certifications are obtained for each position.

Graduation from high school or GED, including one year of high school science and five years of experience as a Scientific Technician, three years of which must be as a Scientific Technician 2 and/or 3. 

OR

Graduation from high school or GED including one year of high school science and five years of laboratory or field experience as an assistant to a biologist, chemist, or zoologist. 

College course work involving major study in biology, zoology, fisheries, chemistry, natural sciences, or closely allied field will substitute, year for year, for experience, provided the course work includes at least six semester or nine quarter hours of natural science classes.

New class adopted June 9, 1972.
Revise class. Revises title (formerly Scientific Aide 4); adopted October 10, 1980.
Revise class. Revises definition, minimum qualifications, deletes distinguishing characteristics; adopted September 14, 1990.
Revise class. Revises definition; adopted September 10, 1993.
Revise class. Revises definition; adopted July 1, 1999.
Revise class. Revises class code (formerly 53280); adopted May 10, 2007, effective July 1, 2007.