[Coral-List] Postdoctoral and Post-masters Quantitative Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling Positions - NOAA Fisheries Seattle

[Jameal Samhouri]

Please distribute widely. Apologies for cross-postings.

*Postdoctoral and Post-masters Quantitative Ecology and Ecosystem Modeling
Positions*

*NOAA-Fisheries*

*Northwest** Fisheries Science Center (Seattle)*

*Conservation Biology Division*

*Integrated Marine Ecology Team*



*            *

The Integrated Marine Ecology Team of the Northwest Fisheries Science Center
(http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/) is seeking three QUANTITATIVE  ECOLOGISTS OR
ECOSYSTEM MODELERS to contribute to NOAA's Integrated Ecosystem Assessment
(IEA) work in the California Current Large Marine Ecosystem.  As part of the
IEAs, we will perform single-species and community-level risk assessments,
identify ecosystem indicators, test monitoring schemes, and evaluate
management strategies. Appointment will be made at the post-doc or post-M.S..
level with salary commensurate with experience.  U. S. citizenship is
required. We seek two postdoctoral researchers and one masters-level
scientist, with strong backgrounds in quantitative ecology, who wish to
develop and contribute to cutting-edge statistical and simulation models for
marine systems.


*Candidates should be interested and qualified in one or more of the
following: *

* *

*Ecosystem modeling: *

* *

We have developed Atlantis ecosystem simulation models (
http://atlantis.cmar.csiro.au/) for the California Current and the Central
California Coast. We are using the models for simulation testing of
alternative ecosystem-based management strategies for this region. Our
research includes identifying and testing ecological indicators and
monitoring strategies for the California Current, considering potential
fishery management options and effects on ecosystem services, and considering
tradeoffs or benefits of the interrelated policies of multiple state and
federal agencies, in terms of economic, ecological, and social metrics.



The new position will largely involve using the Atlantis ecosystem modeling
code to support NOAA's Integrated Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) work on the
west coast and Puget Sound. The new team member’s primary responsibility
will be applying two existing Atlantis ecosystem models, published as Brand
et al. (
http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/publications/displayallinfo.cfm?docmetadataid=6677)
and Horne et al. (in press).  This will involve identifying and testing
ecosystem indicators, and use of the models as decision support tools to
evaluate potential management strategies.



*Quantitative ecology:*

* *

We are seeking team members with strong backgrounds in statistics to
contribute to a series of single species and community-level analyses within
the IEA framework. These analyses will help define the status,
susceptibility, and vulnerability of species, communities, and ecosystem
function.  The work will make use of existing data sets and expand beyond
classic single-species conservation approaches such as population viability
analysis.

* *

*Population and community modeling:*

* *

We are seeking team members who are interested in building population or
simple community models in the context of Management Strategy Evaluation or
Closed Loop Analysis.  We envision the development of  “minimum realistic
models” that could be used to simulate various management strategies.  Such
models will complement the whole-ecosystem models described above because
their relative simplicity will allow for careful consideration of
uncertainty.   As resource managers develop specific ecosystem-based
management schemes, these models will provide a key tool for evaluating
specific strategies.  *
*

*
*

*Expectations*



For postdoctoral associates, deliverables will include both peer-reviewed
publications and white papers for use in management. On a daily basis, the
positions will involve computer programming, statistical analyses and
parameter estimation, data and output visualization, and writing
manuscripts.



For masters-level technicians, deliverables will include contributing to
joint publications. On a daily basis, the position will involve computer
programming, statistical analyses and parameter estimation, data entry and
output visualization, and contributing to the writing of manuscripts.



*About our Integrated Marine Ecology Team (*http://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov)**

We are part of NOAA’s Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Conservation
Biology Division, Ecosystem Science Program in Seattle. Our team’s goal is
to research the ecological interactions and processes necessary to sustain
ecosystem composition, structure and function in marine environments.  We
draw upon expertise from within and outside the NWFSC to address the
following five research foci:

·         Interactions of target fish stocks with predators, competitors and
prey

·         The effects of weather and climate on target species and their
ecological communities

·         The effects of fishing on marine ecosystems and fish habitat

·         Interactions between fishes and their habitat

·         Marine Protected Areas as a fisheries conservation and management
tool



 *Term  *Funding is currently for 1 year.



*Location *Seattle, Washington, USA



*Qualifications: *Ph.D. or M.S. in ecology, fisheries science, or similar
discipline. All candidates should also have a proven track record of
collaborative research, and a quantitative background in statistics and
computing (languages such as R, Matlab, or Visual Basic).  Postdoctoral
applicants should have a strong publication record.  For the ecosystem
modeling position, experience with food web modeling and C/C++ is preferred..
Quantitative ecologist and population dynamics applicants should have
relevant experience such as multivariate statistics, time series analysis,
parameter estimation, likelihood methods, stock assessment, or differential
equation modeling.



*Salary *Commensurate with experience and position.



*We will begin reviewing applications March 1, 2010.*



*Contact  *Please email a cover letter, curriculum vitae, all university
transcripts (unofficial is OK), and 3 letters of recommendation to Dr.
Phillip Levin Phil.Levin at noaa.gov