Fisheries Stock Assessment and Policy Research Scientist, Gulf of Maine Research Institute

Position Overview

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Salary: $90,000 to $110,000 annually

Education Required: Ph.D. in fisheries science, quantitative ecology, marine science, statistics, or related field

Experience Required: Demonstrated expertise in stock assessment modelling and quantitative fisheries science

Description

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute is hiring a Fisheries Stock Assessment and Fisheries Policy Research Scientist in Portland, Maine, on a full-time basis with a salary range of $90,000 to $110,000.

GMRI develops and delivers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges, dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. The position sits at the interface of science and decision-making, advancing quantitative fisheries research that directly informs management and policy decisions in the Gulf of Maine and broader Northeast U.S. shelf ecosystem.

The successful candidate serves as a Principal Investigator developing a research laboratory that integrates biological, environmental, and socio-economic information into stock assessments and management strategy evaluations. The position enjoys approximately 12 months of fully encumbered institutional salary thanks to a philanthropic gift, with subsequent years offering 6 months of philanthropically supported salary and the remainder funded through competitive grants.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and application of advanced stock assessment models for marine species in the Gulf of Maine and Northeast U.S. shelf ecosystem using tools such as R, TMB, FIMS, and Stock Synthesis.
• Design and conduct research on fish population dynamics, ecosystem processes, and climate impacts on marine resources.
• Develop, test, and implement Management Strategy Evaluations and simulation frameworks to evaluate management options under uncertainty and environmental change.
• Integrate biological, environmental, and economic covariates into stock assessments and forecasting approaches for ecosystem-based fisheries management.
• Translate scientific findings into decision-relevant outputs, including reference points, risk analyses, and tradeoff evaluations.
• Engage directly with fisheries management processes by contributing to NEFMC, ASMFC, and Maine Department of Marine Resources committees, technical working groups, and advisory panels.
• Collaborate with NOAA Fisheries, academic partners, and industry stakeholders to align research outputs with management needs.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and communicate results through technical reports, policy briefs, and presentations.
• Contribute to competitive research proposals and support fundraising in collaboration with GMRI leadership and Development staff.
• Mentor 3 to 4 team members, graduate students, and undergraduate interns.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in fisheries science, quantitative ecology, marine science, statistics, or a related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in stock assessment modelling and quantitative fisheries science, including Bayesian methods, population dynamics models, and multivariate statistics.
• Proficiency in programming languages commonly used in fisheries science, particularly R.
• Experience translating scientific analyses into management-relevant advice or decision-support tools.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including a record of peer-reviewed publications.
• Eligible to work in the United States.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience contributing to stock assessments and fisheries decision science used in state, federal, or international fisheries management processes.
• Familiarity with fishery management council processes, Maine fisheries management, ASMFC, or NOAA Fisheries processes.
• Experience with Management Strategy Evaluation or other simulation-based management approaches.
• Experience incorporating climate and ecosystem information into fisheries assessments or forecasting frameworks.
• Experience working directly with fisheries stakeholders, including industry, managers, and coastal communities.
• Experience securing research funding and contributing to proposal development.
• Familiarity with open science practices and reproducible workflows on platforms such as GitHub.

How to Apply

Apply through the GMRI careers portal. Review of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled.

Required application materials:

• Cover letter describing research interests and fit for the position.
• Curriculum vitae.
• Statement of research vision (1 to 2 pages).
• Names and contact information for three professional references.