Assistant Research Scientist in Marine Ecosystem Modeling
About The Position
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) at the University of Florida is seeking a highly motivated Assistant Research Scientist to develop ecosystem models and analyses to support fisheries management decisions. This is a 9-month, non-tenure-accruing position that will be 100% research, available at the Nature Coast Biological Station. The role involves updating and maintaining existing ecosystem models, analyzing large datasets on fish, habitat, and water quality, developing new models and statistical analyses, creating web applications (rShiny), maintaining code via Github, presenting results, mentoring graduate students, data management, and preparing scientific publications, grant reports, and outreach materials. The successful candidate will actively seek contract and grant funding and participate in graduate education by chairing and serving on committees, supervising research, and publishing with students. Faculty are encouraged to participate in professional development and may teach courses and seminars.
Requirements
- Doctorate degree (PhD, foreign equivalent acceptable) in an environmental science such as marine science, fisheries, ecology, oceanography, or related fields
- Interest in fisheries ecology, marine ecosystem modeling, species distribution modeling, and mathematical modeling with applications to natural resource management
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively to meet project deliverables
- Must be proficient in R
- Written and oral communication skills, demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at professional conferences
- A commitment to foster community and working relationships with colleagues from a variety of backgrounds
- Demonstrated skills in verbal and written communication, interpersonal relationships, and procurement of extramural funding
- Supportive of the mission of the Land-Grant system
- Commitment to UF core values
Nice To Haves
- Knowledge and experience with ecosystem and food web models, fish population dynamic models and stock assessment, species distribution models, and geospatial analysis of large fisheries and environmental datasets
- Experience with the Ecopath and Ecosim software is strongly preferred
- Experience working in collaborative, multidisciplinary projects and interacting with resource managers
- Experience developing R shiny apps and open science tools (GitHub)
- Experience in linear and non-linear modeling (GLMs, GAMs), spatial-temporal data analysis, and analysis of spatial data
- Familiarity with the Gulf of Mexico marine ecosystem
- Experience in project management and leading interdisciplinary research teams
Responsibilities
- Updating and maintaining existing ecosystem models
- Analyzing large datasets on fish, habitat, and water quality
- Developing new models and statistical analyses
- Developing web applications (rShiny)
- Maintaining code through Github
- Presenting results at management meetings and professional conferences
- Mentoring graduate students
- Data management
- Preparing scientific publications, grant reports, and outreach materials
- Actively seek contract and grant funding to support their program
- Participate actively in graduate education by chairing and serving on graduate committees
- Supervising thesis and dissertation research
- Publishing research results with students
- Participate in professional development activities related to teaching and advising
- May teach courses and seminars
Benefits
- Funding is available for 2-3 years depending on salary.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
Education Level
Ph.D. or professional degree
