Project Scientist in Fisheries Ecology

~ The Institute of Marine Sciences is a unique collaborative effort to increase our knowledge of the world's oceans, the complex processes that affect their behavior, their fascinating inhabitants and to understand their economic importance and also the impact people and changing environmental conditions and climate have on them. ~

Our researchers ask questions that are as old as the ocean basins and as current as today’s weather. What real estate will rising sea levels consume and when? What do deep-sea sediments tell us about ancient climates, and great earthquakes, past and future? What do marine mammals hear and how do they respond to human-generated sound in the ocean? How do elephant seals migrate thousands of miles with absolute precision? What can kelp forests and other marine plants tell us about the health of our coastal ocean? How has terrestrial runoff contributed to what appear to be an increasing frequency of harmful algal blooms? What strategies will work best for protecting endangered species?

Our renowned faculty and researchers conduct investigations as close to home as Monterey Bay and as distant as the ice shelves of Antarctica and the deep-sea floor around the margins of the Pacific Basin. While scientists associated with the Institute have very broad and global interests, there is a focus and concentration in the coastal zone, the areas most impacted by diverse human activities.

Position Overview

The Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC), and the National Marine Fisheries Service, invites applications for the position of Project Scientist in Fisheries Ecology, under the direction of Dr. David Boughton. 

Term of Appointment:

Initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of reappointment through May 31, 2022. Should the hiring unit propose reappointment, a review to assess performance will be conducted. Reappointment is also contingent upon availability of funding.

Rank:

Assistant – Associate Project Scientist

Responsibilities

• During the field season, the Project Scientist will work with technicians to implement field research on steelhead ecology in the Carmel River, California, which is approximately fifty miles south of UCSC’s main campus.
• The Carmel River system is an intensively managed stream system that has become a focal point for process-based river restoration, including dam removal, floodplain restoration, and groundwater restoration. The Project Scientist will implement studies using PIT tags to identify limiting factors for steelhead smolt production; analyze results using mark-recapture models, and summarize results in the form of reports, refereed journal publications and presentations to stakeholders.
• The nature of the position will require the Project Scientist to successfully collaborate with members of the research team and interact constructively with stakeholders.
• Other opportunities include experimental manipulations of key limiting factors to demonstrate effect size and recovery potential, integrating findings into quantitative life cycle models, and participation in a research team working on quantitative ecology in support of salmon and steelhead recovery throughout California.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in Fish Ecology, Quantitative Ecology, Fisheries, or a related field. Must have demonstrated experience with field methods of freshwater fisheries science; implementing and managing field studies; analyzing population data; and statistical methods.

Special Conditions of Employment:

• To comply with security measures at the National Marine Fisheries Service (a federal facility on the UCSC campus) the selected candidate will be required to pass a federal security clearance, be fingerprinted, and wear a photo I.D. badge.
• The position also requires the selected candidate to travel to/from the Carmel River as needed.
• We have a preference for candidates experienced with electrofishing; PIT-tagging; and/or mark-recapture analysis.
• Other preferred qualifications are experience in computer programming (MATLAB, R); database management; population modeling, and/or demonstrated experience designing field studies.

Compensation: Minimum $60,000 annually, commensurate with qualifications and experience.

To Apply

Please click "Apply on Company Website" below. 

Applications are accepted via the UCSC Academic Recruit online system, and must include a letter of application addressing how you meet the position’s qualifications, curriculum vitae, research statement, writing sample, and the three confidential letters of recommendation.* Documents must be submitted as PDF files.

*All letters will be treated as confidential per University of California policy and California state law. For any reference letter provided via a third party (i.e., dossier service, career center), direct the author to UCSC’s confidentiality statement at http://apo.ucsc.edu/confstm.htm.

Closing Date: Review of applications will begin on August 31, 2017. To ensure full consideration, applications should be complete and letters of recommendation received by this date. The position will remain open until filled, but not later than 4/30/2018.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. More information is available here or from the Academic Personnel Office (APO) at (831) 459-4300.

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact the Academic Personnel Office at apo@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4300.

~The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to: Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064; (831) 459-2686. ~