Advanced Sampling Technologies in the Northwest Atlantic
This program uses acoustics, trawling, and optics to estimate fish populations in the Northwest Atlantic, focusing on herring and mackerel, with future expansion to other species.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: May 1, 2025 (Application Deadline)
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $71,000 plus $4,000 travel allowance; experience-based supplements available; typical award duration 2-3 years.
Summary: Fellowship supporting advanced fisheries sampling research using acoustics, trawling, and underwater optics in the Northwest Atlantic, focusing on Atlantic herring and mackerel.
Key Information: Open to postdoctoral and senior researchers including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens; relocation and health insurance benefits provided.
Description
This fellowship opportunity is offered through the NRC Research Associateship Programs at NOAA's Northeast Fisheries Science Center (NEFSC) in Woods Hole, MA. The program focuses on advanced sampling technologies to provide fisheries-independent estimates of abundance and biomass for pelagic fish species in the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank regions of the Northwest Atlantic. The primary species of interest are Atlantic herring and Atlantic mackerel, with plans to expand research to other commercially and ecologically important pelagic and demersal fish and invertebrate stocks.
The research employs multifrequency acoustic data collection using EK500 or EK60 echo sounders across frequencies of 18, 38, 70, 120, and 200 kHz. Midwater trawling and underwater optical imaging are used to verify species composition and quantify organism behavior. The program integrates research and survey components to test and implement new technologies into standardized survey methodologies. Fellows will have opportunities to participate in pelagic and bottom fish survey cruises, applying underwater acoustic methods to fisheries ecology and management.
Research topics include:
- Laboratory measurements of acoustic scattering by marine fish species
- Theoretical modeling of acoustic scattering by individual fish and fish aggregations
- Underwater optical imaging techniques
- Multifrequency acoustic methods for target species identification
- Acoustic detection and enumeration of demersal species
This fellowship is ideal for researchers interested in fisheries science, hydroacoustics, marine ecology, and advanced sampling technologies.
