Scientist VI

Job Summary:

ASE is looking for a Scientist VI to work in Barnstable, Massachusetts. To join our team of outstanding professionals, apply today!

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center (WHCMSC) conducts a wide range of interdisciplinary research activities in marine, estuarine, lacustrine, and terrestrial regions of the United States, including the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, the Arctic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, Great Lakes, and Alaskan North Slope, as well as international locations (e.g., South America and Europe). The research addresses issues of local, regional, national, and global concern, such as natural hazards, environmental quality, living and non-living resources, and climate change. The fundamental goal is to develop a scientific understanding of Earth processes that contributes to decision making in coastal and marine environments.

Renewable energy development is increasing on the Nation’s outer continental shelves. Active Wind Lease Areas currently occupy 9930 km2 on the U.S. Atlantic Margin. These areas are in varying stages of development and occur in different geologic and oceanographic settings. In partnership with the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) the USGS is conducting a study to analyze the 29 Active Lease Sites in the Atlantic Ocean, and the Humboldt and Morro Bay planning sites (2590 km2) in the Pacific Ocean. The study will characterize the geological features and physical processes that may pose hazards to infrastructure and workplace safety. Akima Systems Engineering is looking for a Scientist VI who will work with project staff to track scientific data through acquisition, processing, and the publication processes.

Job Responsibilities:

• Lead, with assistance from WHCMSC staff, the formal publication of a meta-analysis as a USGS report and, potentially, outside (peer-reviewed journal) articles.

• Identity and review scientific articles and reports (including relevant BSEE, BOEM, and USGS studies), historical marine records of geological and geophysical data available in and adjacent to the 29 active lease areas in the Atlantic Ocean and two planning areas in the Pacific Ocean.

• Acquire (e.g., from online data repositories, project collaborators) reports and geophysical datasets collected in the wind energy areas of interest.

• Review reports and datasets for quality and completeness.

• Identify and delineate geohazards in the study areas of interest.

• Identify relevant American Bureau of Shipping, DNV (Det Norske Veritas) and other maritime standards that apply to offshore wind development.

• Collaborate, coordinate, and communicate with multiple internal projects and external agencies to improve data and knowledge sharing related to geological hazards, and regulatory constraints impacting safe offshore energy development.

• Work closely with other project scientists to incorporate findings into a GIS.

• Synthesize findings into a meta-analysis report.

• Identify U.S. Federal and U.K. North Sea regulations for offshore wind development.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in earth science, geophysics, oceanography, or geography, with 5 to 7 years' experience.

• Experience in conducting an extensive literature review, amassing and evaluating cultural, geophysical and other existing marine geo-spatial datasets relevant to offshore wind development. A report will be prepared that will give insight into safety monitoring criteria.

• Experience in obtaining, reviewing, and synthesizing literature, data and lead the preparation of the report.

• Be familiar with and capable of interpreting seismic, backscatter, bathymetry, geological data in addition to other geospatial datasets.

• Experience in Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software to perform geospatial analysis.

• Core competencies include interpersonal communication skills using email, telephone, or virtual spaces, strong writing skills, the ability to work independently on assigned tasks with minimal supervision, and knowledge of earth science in a coastal and marine environment.