This is an exciting opportunity for a data engineer/scientist to work with GWCT’s Fisheries, GIS/data science, and IT departments to assist with the development of a data warehouse to support the work of our Salmon and Trout Research Centre.
Here, a team of fisheries scientists undertake world-class research on ecologically and economically important species – Atlantic salmon, brown trout, and their habitats. The team have produced over 40 peer-reviewed publications in the last five years. The Fisheries team work in close collaboration with relevant government regulators, international salmonid conservations groups, universities and NGOs, both in the UK and abroad. As part of the work of the Fisheries department, we collect large amounts of data annually, with some data sets going back to the 1970s.
More specifically we collect data on:
- The numbers of adult salmon entering the River Frome, in Dorset, on a daily basis since the 1970s using a resistivity fish counter.
- We insert individually coded Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags into approximately 10,000 juvenile salmon and 3,000 juvenile brown trout annually and have done so since 2003 and 2017, respectively. From each fish we also collect data on its length, weight, date and location of tagging and a proportion have been sexed using molecular genetics – circa 300,000 individuals.
- Data on the movements of these tagged individuals is collected through an array of automated PIT tag readers in the river at four key sites including tag number, time, and date.
- We collect data on which PIT-tagged adult salmon and sea trout return to the river, including tag number time and date.
- Each spring we operate a fish trap in the lower Frome to capture juvenile salmon and trout migrating to the sea; this life cycle stage is called “smolts”. We have data on approximately 40,000 smolts over 20 years, including species, length, weight, PIT tag number, time, date and a proportion have been sexed using molecular genetics.
- We collect data on river discharge, water temperatures and physical habitats of our annual juvenile salmon survey sites.
Skills required
Experience of Python, R, Excel, SQL and good communication skills.
The benefits of a placement
We are looking for a Master’s student to assist GWCT’s Fisheries department in creating and organising databases for the above data and to create data pipelines for the analysis. The student would learn skills in applying Python, R, Excel and SQL while working with experienced scientists.
The length of the placement is flexible, but a minimum of 12 weeks in 2023 would be required and a stipend of £1,000 a calendar month would be provided to support living costs. The student could live within reasonable travelling distance to the Salmon and Trout Research Centre or work on the project remotely but with several days spent at the Research Centre. GWCT IT equipment would be provided. Supervision would be by Dr Sophie Elliott, Senior Fisheries Ecologist, and Dr Sabeeth Shoeb, Data Scientist.
How to apply
To apply, please send a CV and cover letter to Dylan Roberts, Head of Fisheries, at droberts@gwct.org.uk.