[Coral-List] Florida International University / National Park Service South Florida/Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network Post-doctoral Research Scientist

[Matt_Patterson at nps.gov]

We are seeking a post-doctoral research scientist to assist the South
Florida/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 relationships
between water quality and benthic marine communities in national parks in
South Florida and the Caribbean region.  These methods can include:
assessing existing monitoring for efficiency, power, and practicality; and
developing analytical methods for data analysis and reporting.  The
research scientist will be a visiting research scientist under the
direction of Drs. James Fourqurean and Joseph Boyer in the Southeast
Environmental Research Center at Florida International University but will
be housed at SFCN in Palmetto Bay, Florida.  The term of appointment is 1
year with the possibility of renewal; the starting salary is $41,000 plus
fringe benefits.

   Position description and required qualifications--Candidates must have a
Ph.D. and experience in field sampling and statistical analysis of data;
marine ecological monitoring experience is preferred. Candidates should be
able to interact with scientists and resource managers, to design and
implement statistical analysis approaches, and to write up results for
publication. 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/~seagrass/SFCNpostdoc.html.  Application
materials should be e-mailed to Dr. James Fourqurean at
Jim.Fourqurean at fiu.edu. To assure consideration, applications should be
received by September 15, 2010.  Florida International University is an
Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action Employer.

The Southeast Environmental Research Center at Florida International
University, operated through and located on the main campus of Florida
International University, is composed of faculty, research associates,
students and technicians from a variety of disciplines who work together on
environmental research efforts in the Southeastern United States and the
neotropics. Research programs developed in Biscayne National Park, Big
Cypress National Preserve, Everglades National Park, Florida Bay, the
Florida Keys and the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have been
instrumental in providing a basis for management decisions for sustaining
these fragile resources. For more information about SERC see
http://serc.fiu.edu/.


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 Water Quality Vital Signs (Nutrient Dynamics
and Water Chemistry and Estuarine Salinity Pattern long-term monitoring
vital signs, please see page 78 and 27 at:
http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/phase3/appendixes/Appendix_P.pdf

For more information on the Marine Benthic long-term monitoring vital
signs, please see page 34 at:
http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/phase3/appendixes/Appendix_Q.pdf






Matt Patterson
South Florida / Caribbean Network Coordinator
National Park Service
18001 Old Cutler Road, Suite 419
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
(305) 252-0347
(305) 253-0463 - fax
matt_patterson at nps.gov
http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/