Applied Aquaculture Researcher

Drive Innovation in Sustainable Aquaculture at The Kingfish Company

About The Kingfish Company

The Kingfish Company is a leading producer of high-quality, sustainably farmed Yellowtail Kingfish (Seriola lalandi) using advanced Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS) technology. Operating from our state-of-the-art land-based facility in Kats, the Netherlands, we produce premium seafood with a strong focus on fish welfare, environmental responsibility, and continuous innovation.

As we continue to expand our operations and research capabilities, we are looking for an experienced and driven Applied Aquaculture Researcher to join our team. This role offers a unique opportunity to contribute directly to the future of sustainable aquaculture through applied research, data-driven decision-making, and continuous improvement initiatives. This is a hands-on industrial R&D role where research findings are rapidly translated into commercial production improvements.

You will join a small R&D team consisting of the Innovation Manager, R&D Coordinator, and research interns. You will take ownership of assigned projects while contributing directly to trial execution, data collection, fish assessments, and reporting.

• Kats
• On-site

The Role

As an Applied Aquaculture Researcher, you will contribute to a wide range of research and innovation activities across The Kingfish Company’s production cycle. You will independently coordinate assigned projects while also carrying out experimental work. You will work closely with Operations, Quality, Fish Health, Hatchery, and Management teams to translate scientific insights into practical improvements within commercial production.

A key aspect of the role is investigating skeletal deformities and fish quality issues throughout the production cycleand developing strategies to minimize their occurrence. The successful candidate will also contribute to feed trials, breeding programme activities, production optimisation initiatives, and collaborative research projects with external partners.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, manage, and execute applied research projects.
• Develop experimental protocols, sampling plans, and data collection methodologies.
• Analyse biological and production data and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Prepare technical reports, scientific summaries, and management presentations.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external research partners, universities, and suppliers.
• Evaluate new technologies, feeds, additives, and production processes that can improve performance and sustainability.
• Monitor fish growth, health, welfare, and production KPIs to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Investigate production challenges through structured root cause analysis.
• Investigate the causes of skeletal deformities and fish quality issues, including potential nutritional, genetic, environmental, husbandry, and developmental factors.
• Develop, test, and validate mitigation strategies aimed at reducing deformity rates and improving fish quality and production performance.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives across the production cycle, from hatchery to harvest.
• Ensure research activities comply with animal welfare, biosecurity, and company standards.
• Coordinate and conduct practical trial work, sampling activities, fish assessments, and data collection throughout the production cycle.
• Support nutrition and feed trials, breeding programme activities, and production optimisation projects.
• Contribute to the day-to-day execution of experimental work, including fish handling, measurements, sampling, and data recording.
• Support supervision and guidance of interns and students involved in research activities.
• Support collaborative projects with universities, research institutes, suppliers, and industry partners.

Working Environment

Due to the nature of working with live animals and ongoing research trials, occasional weekend work or flexible working hours may be required to support experimental activities and ensure animal welfare.

What We Are Looking For

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Aquaculture, Fisheries Science, Animal Science, Biology, Marine Biology, Veterinary Sciences, or a related field.
• Demonstrable experience conducting scientific or applied research.
• Strong understanding of experimental design, statistical analysis, and interpretation of research results.
• Experience with biological data analysis and reporting.
• Excellent organizational and project management skills.
• Strong communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Ability to work independently while effectively collaborating with cross-functional teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in aquaculture, fish biology, fish nutrition, fish health, breeding, or RAS technology.
• Experience investigating production problems and biological performance issues.
• Familiarity with statistical software and data analysis tools such as R, Python, SAS, or similar platforms.
• Experience coordinating practical research trials in commercial production environments is an advantage.
• Knowledge of skeletal deformities, developmental biology, genetics, or fish welfare assessment is considered a strong advantage.

What We Offer

Impact

Play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable seafood production and contribute directly to innovations within one of the world's most advanced land-based aquaculture operations.

Growth

Work in a highly innovative environment where research findings are rapidly translated into operational improvements.

Collaboration

Join an international team of experts passionate about aquaculture, sustainability, and scientific excellence.

Development

Opportunities for professional growth, training, and collaboration with leading industry and academic partners.

Compensation

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package aligned with your experience and qualifications.

Join Us

If you are passionate about applied research, enjoy solving complex biological challenges, and want to make a meaningful impact on the future of aquaculture, we would love to hear from you.

Join The Kingfish Company and help us drive the next generation of sustainable seafood production.