Position Announcement
Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce
Research Biologist/Invertebrate Ecology
This position is assigned to the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort
Pierce, Florida. The Research Biologist is responsible for planning
and conducting research focused on benthic ecology and marine
invertebrates in an environmental assessment and monitoring program
in the Indian River Lagoon and nearshore oceanic waters. The purpose
of the research is to monitor diversity, reproduction and recruitment
in intertidal and subtidal communities of the Indian River Lagoon and
nearshore waters to determine biological response to naturally and
anthropogenically-induced environmental conditions at the individual,
population, community and ecosystem levels. The employee
independently performs all research activities, including problem
definition, planning, execution, analysis and interpretation of findings.
Opportunities exist for the successful candidate to contribute to the
new Tennenbaum Marine Observatories (TMO), an initiative which was
recently launched by the Smithsonian Institution. The TMO is
envisioned as a long-term, global-scale network of ecological
observatories that will be dedicated to understanding changes in the
structure and function of marine ecosystems. Initial sites for the
TMO will be in Florida, Maryland, Panama and Belize. This network is committed
to innovative measurements and experiments that will span traditional
disciplinary boundaries and be executed in a standardized fashion
over exceptional spatial and temporal scales.
Applicants should have a doctoral degree in biological sciences,
preferably with an emphasis on marine benthic ecology, invertebrate
ecology, molecular ecology and/or larval ecology, or equivalent
specialized experience. Postdoctoral research experience is
desirable. The desirable applicant will have strong organization,
management and collaborative skills and the ability to integrate
ideas and concepts across traditional disciplinary boundaries. This
is a fixed term, renewable position open to all applicants. Salary
range $63,148- $75,689 annually depending on experience. Applications
must contain a letter of interest providing a summary of
qualifications for the position, curriculum vitae, and names and
addresses for three references. Please submit these electronically
by January 25, 2013 to Valerie J. Paul, Head Scientist, Smithsonian
Marine Station, HYPERLINK mailto:[email protected] [email protected]
DUTIES
Designs and develops scientific research projects involving
experimental and observational
research in a long-term monitoring program of selected biota from
stations along the north-south axis of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL),
located near and between inlets. Such research will answer questions
regarding the relation of recruitment to hydrodynamics of IRL as well
as the climatic and biotal transitions along its axis. Sampling
stations will be developed in phases, the first phase and major focus
of the program will be located in and around the Fort Pierce Inlet.
Such research involves evaluating complex interactions of physical
and biological factors. The employee independently performs all
phases of the research process, including problem definition,
planning, execution, analysis and interpretation of findings.
Prepares scholarly publications of a descriptive, experimental and
theoretical nature, which will answer important questions in the
scientific field, and represent an important contribution to
scientific theory or methodology in the topic area.
Seeks external funding in support of research.
Collaborates with scientific researchers regionally, from other
Smithsonian units, and from
around the world to encourage and promote studies of interest to the
Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort
Pierce (SMSFP), particularly in the fields of benthic ecology, larval
ecology, and ecosystem assessment. Participates in scientific
meetings and symposia, develops scientific papers for presentation.
Coordinates with Florida Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)
in ecosystem assessment and monitoring programs and consults with
FWRI on methodologies of data collection and analysis.
Provides ecological, distributional, and systematic data for
incorporation into the Indian
River Lagoon Species Inventory and the Smithsonian Marine Ecosystems
Exhibit, both of which are maintained and managed by SMSFP.
