Laboratory Assistant at BalticWaters Fish Laboratory

Do you have practical experience in aquaculture, enjoy working with young fish and have an interest in applied research? Would you like to contribute to projects developing new methods to strengthen the Baltic Sea cod population? Then you may be the person we are looking for!
About BalticWaters Fish Laboratory
BalticWaters Fish Laboratory in Studsvik Tech Park outside Nyköping is a research-focused facility where we develop knowledge about fish in the Baltic Sea, from eggs and fry to adults. The laboratory uses recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and has facilities for quarantine, broodstock, incubation and rearing, as well as wet, dry and feed laboratories.
You will be part of the team working on two research projects: ReCod, which is developing a method for releasing 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.
Your duties
As a laboratory assistant, you will contribute to the daily work in the hatchery and to the practical implementation of research trials. The work covers the entire rearing cycle, from looking after broodstock and incubating eggs to larval rearing and raising juvenile fish.
Daily duties include looking after fish, sampling, monitoring water quality, tracking mortality, and careful documentation and data management. You will follow procedures and protocols for biosecurity, animal welfare and experimental work, and report any changes or deviations.
You will also take part in feeding trials and physiological trials or performance studies, and contribute to quality assessments of juvenile fish. This may involve tracking food intake, growth and survival, examining gastrointestinal fullness and contents, and assessing condition, deformities and skeletal quality. Depending on the trial, methods may include microscopy, staining, radiography and image-based phenotyping.
Who are you?
We are looking for someone with practical experience in fish rearing at a hatchery, research facility or small-scale pilot production facility. You have taken part in structured fish trials and are used to working carefully with larvae, fry and juvenile fish.
You are observant, systematic and solution-oriented. You can follow detailed protocols while also noticing when the fish or systems require special measures. You take responsibility for your work, document carefully and communicate clearly with your colleagues.
Experience in rearing marine fish larvae, live feed production, operating RAS systems, physiological trials or quality assessment of juvenile fish is particularly advantageous. You have a university qualification or equivalent in aquaculture, marine biology, biology or a related field. Basic knowledge of data management and analysis is also required. Experience with R, Excel, XLSTAT or similar is an advantage. You need to be able to speak and write English fluently.
About the position
This is a full-time, two-year project position starting on 1 January 2027. The workload follows the fish’s biology and the different phases of the research projects. The main season runs from January to September and involves daily care of the offspring.
Spring and summer are intensive periods and may involve evening and weekend work, particularly during spawning, first feeding and fish transfers. During the low season, the focus is more on data analysis, trial planning, image analysis and system improvements. Introduction and training in the laboratory’s systems and research protocols are included.
Application
Send your CV and cover letter to jobb@balticwaters.org. If you have any questions, please contact Project Manager vincent.neron@balticwaters.org. Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis, and the position may be filled before the closing date.
About BalticWaters
BalticWaters is an independent foundation working for the long term towards a healthier Baltic Sea. We carry out environmental projects and conduct applied research to show which measures can help create a healthy and thriving sea. We also work to share knowledge about the state of the Baltic Sea with the public, authorities and decision-makers. The aim is to increase knowledge of the challenges facing the sea and build public support so that decisions are made and measures implemented.