Resident Lecturer in Marine Mammalogy and Coastal Ecology

The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS), founded in 1997 on the shores of Baha Magdalena in the fishing community of Puerto San Carlos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented Resident Lecturer in Marine Mammalogy and Coastal Ecology to help further develop the Center's research on marine mammals.

The Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) is one of seven international field sites of the US-based School for Field Studies (SFS). Founded in 1980, SFS is a university-level study abroad program that focuses on teaching and conducting community-based environmental research.

Institutional Mission: As an international, non-profit academic institution, SFS provides environmental education and conducts research through its field-based programs. SFS is committed to providing hands-on, interdisciplinary education and environmental research in partnership with natural resource dependent communities. Our goals are twofold: to provide students with a unique and challenging educational and life experience that assists them in successfully advancing their careers as skilled professionals and globally aware citizens; and to work with local community stakeholders to develop models for the sustainable management of their natural resources.

Academic and Research Approach: Our academic program is delivered within an interdisciplinary case study format and includes three field-lecture courses: coastal ecology, principles of resource management, and economic & ethical issues in sustainable development. A fourth course introduces students to the planning and conduct of field research. Faculty implement student Directed Research projects specified in the Five-Year Research Plan. Primary Directed Research project emphases are listed below in the Position Summary section.

Duties:

You will work with a team consisting of the Director, another Lecturer, a Student Affairs Manager and two Interns to deliver a high quality, field-based academic/research program to primarily American undergraduate students. Because Center staff and students live on site, our faculty get to know both their fellow staff members and their students on a level not often achieved in a conventional university setting.

The purpose of this fulltime, year-round, residential position is to:

• Teach critical environmental issues using a team-based, interdisciplinary, problem-solving approach. Teaching responsibility includes the course Coastal Ecology. This course examines the ecological processes at the interface between land and sea. It focuses on the coastal environment and how terrestrial and marine systems are intricately connected, and are impacted by human resource use and disturbance. The course includes a special focus on marine mammals (gray whales, sea lions) and their role in the ecology of the bay.
• Lead designated components of the Center's Five-Year Research Plan which includes previously developed student Directed Research projects (as part of the fourth course), and summer projects. Specific research lines/areas this position is responsible for include: gray whales (population status and trends, tourism impacts), sea lion colonies (population trends), black sea turtles (population status and trends, habitat requirements and threats), indicators of ecosystem health and water quality of the bay funded by The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.
• Ensure the expeditious publication of research results.

Terms:

Start Date: January 2004

Reports to: Center Director

Salary & Benefits Package: US$27,500 to US$29,000 depending on experience & qualifications.

Housing and meals on site; excellent benefits package.

Qualifications:

• Ph.D. required in Marine Mammalogy, Marine Biology or Marine Ecology
• Field research experience in marine mammal population trends and habitat requirements, fisheries ecology and management, and water quality sampling.
• University-level, interdisciplinary, team teaching experience in Marine Mammalogy, Marine Biology or Marine Ecology
• Good track record of research publications
• Fluency in both Spanish and English
• Experience living and working in Baja California
• Experience working with other scientists to fulfill research grant requirements
• Residential student group management and risk management experience desirable
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues
• Willingness to work flexible hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US & Mexican undergraduate students and visiting programs

Application Instructions:

Please see the "Jobs" section of our website for further details.

To apply: Send CV and cover letter detailing qualifications and experience to:

Center for Coastal Studies,
c/o SFS Headquarters, Job #1165,
10 Federal Street,
EOE.