Laboratory Assistant for BalticWaters fish laboratory

About the company

About BalticWaters fish laboratory BalticWaters fish laboratory in Studsvik Tech Park outside Nyköping is a research-oriented operation where we develop knowledge about the fish of the Baltic Sea, from eggs and larvae to adult individuals. The laboratory uses recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and has facilities for quarantine, broodstock, incubation and rearing, as well as wet, dry, and feed laboratories.

About BalticWaters BalticWaters is an independent foundation that works long-term for a healthier Baltic Sea. We implement environmental projects and conduct applied research to show which measures can contribute to a healthy and thriving sea. We also work to spread knowledge about the state of the Baltic Sea to the public, authorities, and decision-makers. The goal is to increase knowledge about the challenges the sea faces and build public opinion so that decisions are made and measures are implemented.

Your tasks

You will become part of the team working on two research projects: ReCod, which develops a method for the release of cod from the eastern stock, and Sejerø Seascape, which focuses on cod from the western stock. The projects aim to produce practical knowledge that can contribute to viable fish populations in the Baltic Sea.

As a laboratory assistant, you will contribute to the daily work in the hatchery and to the practical implementation of research experiments. The work covers the entire rearing cycle, from the care of broodstock and incubation of eggs to larval rearing and the rearing of juvenile fish.

Daily tasks include fish care, sampling, water quality monitoring, mortality follow-up, as well as meticulous documentation and data management. You will follow routines and protocols for biosecurity, animal welfare, and experimental activities and report changes or deviations.

You will also participate in feeding trials and physiological trials or performance studies, as well as contribute to the quality assessment of juvenile fish. This may involve monitoring food intake, growth, and survival, examining gastrointestinal fullness and content, and assessing condition, deformities, and skeletal quality. Depending on the experiment, methods may include microscopy, staining, radiography, and image-based phenotyping.

Requirements

Do you have practical experience in aquaculture, enjoy working with young fish, and are interested in applied research? Do you want to contribute to projects that develop new methods to strengthen the Baltic Sea cod stock? Then you might be the one we are looking for!

We are looking for someone with practical experience in fish rearing in a hatchery, research facility, or small-scale pilot production. You have participated in structured fish experiments and are accustomed to working carefully with larvae, fry, and juvenile fish.

You are observant, systematic, and solution-oriented. You can follow detailed protocols while simultaneously noticing when the fish or the systems require special measures. You take responsibility for your work, document thoroughly, and communicate clearly with your colleagues.

Experience in larval rearing of marine fish species, live feed production, operation of RAS systems, physiological trials, or quality assessment of juvenile fish is particularly meritorious. You have a university degree or equivalent in aquaculture, marine biology, biology, or a related field. Basic knowledge of data management and analysis is also a requirement. Experience with R, Excel, XLSTAT, or similar is meritorious. You need to be able to speak and write English fluently.

How to apply

CV with a cover letter should be sent to jobb@balticwaters.org. If you have any questions, you are welcome to contact Project Manager vincent.neron@balticwaters.org. Selection is ongoing, and the position may be filled before the application deadline.

Other

About the employment The position is a full-time project employment for two years starting January 1, 2027. The workload follows the biology of the fish and the different phases of the research projects. The high season runs from January to September and involves daily care of the offspring.

Spring and summer are intensive periods and may involve work in the evenings and on weekends, especially during spawning, first feeding, and fish movement. During the low season, there is a greater focus on data analysis, experimental planning, image analysis, and system improvement. Introduction and training in the laboratory's systems and research protocols are included.