Florida International University / South Florida and Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network Post-doctoral Research Scientist application
We are seeking a post-doctoral research scientist to assist the South Florida and Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network (SFCN) in development of long term monitoring of vital sign indicators to evaluate park ecosystem health. The postdoctoral scientist will help develop, write, implement, and modify quantitative assessment methods for evaluating long term changes in vegetative vital signs (indicators). These methods can include: assessing existing monitoring for efficiency, power, and practicality; designing and piloting monitoring protocols and sampling design; and developing analytical methods for data analysis and reporting. The research scientist will be a visiting research scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University but will be housed at SFCN. The term of appointment is 1 year with the possibility of renewal; the starting salary is $42,000 plus fringe benefits. Position description and required qualifications--Candidates must have a Ph.D. and experience in field sampling; vegetation monitoring experience is preferred. Candidates should be able to interact with scientists and resource managers in establishing and field-testing long-term monitoring protocols and to write up and test new protocols. To apply, submit a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and contact information for two references. In addition, please answer the three questions on knowledge, skills and abilities that can be found at http://www.fiu.edu/~richards/SFCIMN/index.htm . Application materials should be e-mailed to Dr. Jennifer Richards (Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199) at [email protected]. To assure consideration, applications should be received by August 31, 2009. Florida International University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action Employer. The Department of Biological Sciences of FIU has 39 faculty members, >900 undergraduate majors, and app. 100 graduate students. Tropical biology and conservation, especially of wetlands, are major research themes in the department. The Florida Coastal Everglades LTER, funded by the National Science Foundation, is based at FIU, providing further opportunities for collaboration. Additional information about the University can be found at http://www.fiu.edu/ ; additional information about the Department can be found at http://www.fiu.edu/~biology/ . The South Florida/Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network (SFCN) of the National Park Service is charged with providing long-term inventory and monitoring of South Florida and Caribbean parks. The SFCN network consists of seven parks: Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, Salt River National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, and Virgin Islands National Park. The network has nearly 2.5 million acres with dominant communities that include coral reefs, seagrass beds, dry tropical forests, mangrove forests, swamps and wetlands. The international significance of these natural resources is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, which designated Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, and Virgin Islands National Park as biosphere reserves. Additionally, Everglades National Park is a RAMSAR wetland of international importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ground-breaking natural resource management activities are being developed at a number of the parks within the network. Three of the parks (Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, and Everglades National Park) are affected by Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) efforts to restore portions of the larger Everglades ecosystem over the next century. For back ground information on the SFCN see: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/ For more information on the SFCN long-term monitoring plan, please see: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/phase3/sfcn_vs_plan.pdf For more information on the Vegetative long-term monitoring vital signs, please see pages 11, 30 at: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/phase3/appendixes/Appendix_Q.pd f Questions for South Florida and Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Post – doctoral Applicants Please answer the following questions: 1. Please describe your knowledge of ecology, biology and scientific methods as it relates to your ability to carry out a vegetation resource monitoring program. Specifically address your experience with traditional vegetation (i.e., habitat) sampling and the use of monitoring protocols to assess populations and or community dynamics. Describe any experience you may have in assessing vegetation change in forest structure and in movement of ecotones at local and landscape scales. 2. Address your ability to plan, organize, coordinate and facilitate the completion of a sampling protocol with the goal of producing a cohesive understanding of the data that balances scientific creditability with real world constraints (i.e., time, money, ability to complete the task) and that results in generating a professional report. 3. The purpose of this position is to develop and field test quantitative assessment methods for evaluating long term changes in forest structure and composition, along with ecotonal movements in Mangroves, Marshes, and Forest (which include Pinelands, Hardwood Hammocks, and Tropical Dry Forest). The overall goal is to produce sampling protocols for long term vegetation monitoring. A sampling protocol is a justification document which describes the metric(s) of interest, sampling population, and any caveats for the results, along with standard operating procedures for the sampling. Hence, the main task is to produce a written document that has a clear train of thought, is readable, and well thought out. In one page please make up a protocol to sample the forest structure and composition for Pinelands (or some other vegetation community you are familiar with). Obviously, this is a one page fictitious protocol, but we are looking for a well written document that has a clear train of thought, is readable, and adheres to the limitations of the metrics of interest. To complete your application, e-mail you answers, along with your curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and contact information for two references to Dr. Jennifer Richards (Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199) at [email protected]. To assure consideration, applications should be received by August 31, 2009.
