Research Assistant - Department of Biology, Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences

Georgetown University comprises two unique campuses in the nation’s capital. With the Hilltop Campus located in the heart of the historic Georgetown neighborhood, and the Capitol Campus, just minutes from the U.S. Capitol and U.S. Supreme Court, Georgetown University offers rigorous academic programs, a global perspective, and unparalleled opportunities to engage with Washington, D.C. Our community is a close-knit group of remarkable individuals driven by intellectual inquiry, a commitment to social justice, and a shared dedication to making a difference in the world.

Requirements

Research Assistant/ Department of Biology in the College of Arts and Sciences/ Georgetown University

Job Overview

The research assistant is needed to help manage, update, and clean an 11-year long-term database on wild bottlenose dolphins in the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. This is an ongoing research project and in addition to cleaning and coding and updating archival data, the research assistant cleans and codes recent data (2023, 2024), such as our extensive digital film records.  The research assistant also helps with Shark Bay Dolphin Research Project tasks such as organizing meetings with the research group, updating the website and both creating and managing social media outreach (Twitter/X, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.). The research assistant works closely with Professor Mann, but also helps graduate students and undergraduate students in lab tasks.

 

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Coding and cleaning archival data, including surveys, focal follows, and film.

• Insuring archival data are correctly entered into the database.

• Coding and cleaning recent data (including film) in preparation for the database

• Photo identification and use of FinFindR (a program for photo-ID).

• Developing social media material for outreach

• Help organize lab meetings and other project meetings.

• Handles some media queries.

Work Interactions

The research assistant’s role is vital to the Potomac-Chesapeake Dolphin Project (PCDP) as we have volumes of data and a never-ending set of tasks to keep up with new data. This work helps all members of the PCDP (currently 5 undergraduates, one graduate student, two post-doctoral scholars and the PI) in the U.S. and dolphin researchers all along the western Atlantic seaboard. In addition the PCDP is becoming well-known with half a dozen publications and extensive media coverage (including a recent WaPo story in August 2025).  The research assistant also helps insure that data are accessible to a much broader group of scientists. As the research assistant works in the lab on the 5th floor of Regents Hall, s/he assists both graduate and undergraduate students on their daily tasks. The research assistant reports directly to Professor Janet Mann but will get some training from graduate students. We also encourage the research assistant to become directly involved in research projects which might lead to scientific presentations and publications. This is vital for their professional development.

 

Requirements and Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science, preferably in Biology, Marine Biology, or Ecology

• Experience with Excel and with Photo-ID with dolphins and use of FinFindR.

• Familiarity with our field research, database experience, data science, and with R Studio is also preferred.

 

Work Mode Designation

It is expected that the research assistant works On Campus for the first six months but could do some work hybrid after that.  The research assistant may work part-time in the beginning to facilitate this transition. The research assistant can work part-time during other periods if personal obligations warrant this, but must discuss with his/her supervisor in advance.

Pay Range:

The projected salary or hourly pay range for this position which represents the full range of anticipated compensation is:

$17.95 - $26.84

Compensation is determined by a number of factors including, but not limited to, the candidate’s individual qualifications, experience, education, skills, and certifications, as well as the University’s business needs and external factors.

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