[Coral-List] Research Assistant/Associate Position

[aj.martignette at comcast.net]

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Please direct any questions to Dr Loren Coen lcoen at sccf.org or Dr Eric Milbrandt emilbran at sccf.org
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New Position at SCCF Marine Laboratory, Sanibel, FL 

(Please post or share, April 13, 2009) 

Job Title:   Full Time Research Assistant/Associate 

Starting date is mid May. Applications will be accepted starting immediately and continue until the position is filled. 

Annual Salary:   Commensurate with experience, includes full benefits and other support. 

Preferred Skills and Abilities: The Marine Laboratory at the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF) has an immediate opening for a candidate in estuarine ecology with experience enumerating marine and estuarine organisms (preferably macroalgae and invertebrates), monitoring seagrass (SAV) habitats, including faunal and algal associates.   Strong preference will be given to candidates with an M.S. in environmental, marine or ecological sciences with scientific diving experience (AAUS or similar with a minimum of 10 scientific dives).   The individual will work closely with senior lab research staff and its collaborators planning, executing and performing related analyses/reporting.   Prior field work experience, including the operation, trailering and maintenance of small (<23’) boats, and SCUBA are required.   The successful candidate should have excellent written and oral skills (e.g., publications and presentations at scientific meetings), be able to work independently, be proficient in the use of PC software including MS Windows, MS Office suite, and graphical (e.g., SigmaPlot, Surfer) and statistical (e.g., SAS, SPSS) software packages.   Ability to use ESRI (GIS) products and perform GPS surveying/mapping a plus, as is prior experience supervising others.   Ability to create and follow QA/QC protocols and attention to detail   invaluable, experience with phycological keys and terminology is highly desirable.   

Background:   The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Inc. ( http://www.sccf.org ) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of natural resources and wildlife habitat on and around Southwest Florida’s Sanibel and Captiva Islands.   SCCF has also had a long-time involvement in water quality issues and, in 2002, established a Marine Laboratory, currently a member of the Southern Association of Marine Laboratories (SAML).   The laboratory currently has 9 full-time staff members, four of which are at the Ph.D. level.   Research conducted at the lab currently focuses on water quality monitoring and habitat ecology, along with associated restoration, microbial ecology, nutrient recycling, remote sensing, GIS, and spatio-temporal modeling (see http://www.sccf.org/content/84/Research.aspx ).   A major new initiative of the lab is River, Estuary and Coastal Observation Network (‘RECON’), composed of seven near real-time sensor arrays (see http://recon.sccf.org ) spanning over 90 miles. 

Objectives and Duties: The individual will coordinate the second year of a multi-institution research project to study the distribution of macroalgae, possible causes of growth (e.g. nutrients, grazers), and reasons for accumulation on area beaches.   Job duties include: collection and identification of macroalgae from offshore and inshore sites, tracking species IDs, key characteristics, and biomass in an existing Access database, coordination of field logistics, including operation and maintenance of underwater video camera, analysis of related underwater video surveys, and assistance with related generation of plots, tables, statistics and related written reports.   

Education and Experience Requirements :   The position is at B.S. or M..S. level, and we are looking for a candidate to plan, manage and execute one or more grants related to macroalgae, surveying marine habitats, including their assessment and restoration.   M.S. degree preferred, with additional practical experience.   Applications will be accepted starting immediately and continue until the position is filled with an appropriate candidate.   Please send a detailed CV detailing your educational background and experience, as well contact information for two references (required) ASAP to: 

Dr. Loren D. Coen, Marine Laboratory Director and Dr. Eric Milbrandt, Co-PI, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation , 900A Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel, Florida 33957; lcoen at sccf.org; Lab Office 239-395-4617.