[Coral-List] Living Oceans Foundation Fellowship due June 30th

Brian Beck Beck at livingoceansfoundation.org
Tue Jun 19 12:37:54 EDT 2012


As a reminder, the application deadline for the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Fellowship is June 30th. See the announcement below for details:
The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (Foundation) sponsors graduate fellowships for Doctoral students and Postdoctoral researchers conducting applied research that will contribute to improved management and conservation of coral reef resources and habitats.  In 2012, the Foundation will support one new dedicated and hardworking individual interested in contributing to research activities conducted during a multidisciplinary global coral reef expedition (www.globalreefexpedition.com<http://www.globalreefexpedition.com>). This individual will have research opportunities in a number of locations in the South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Indian Oceans and Red Sea spanning the period of 2012-2015. The primary objectives of the Expedition are to map and characterize remote coral reefs and conduct coral reef ecosystem health assessments across gradients of human and natural disturbance.  In each country a dedicated team will conduct baseline coral reef assessments using a rapid assessment protocol that combines attributes of the Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment protocol and the IUCN Resilience Assessments.  A major focus of the research will involve characterization of reef health with emphasis on 1) determining global and local processes that control the functioning of these ecosystems, 2) assessing impacts from acute disturbances and how patterns of recovery vary across biophysical gradients and 3) identification of strategies that can help mitigate impacts and improve the ability of these systems to withstand future disturbances.
The area of research should focus on using survey methods to identify factors that provide coral reefs with ecological resilience to threats facing these ecosystems (e.g., climate change, overfishing, etc.) and how these factors vary across gradients of human and environmental stressors. The research must also be incorporate statistical analyses examining between-site comparisons at a local scale and inter-regional comparisons at a larger scale.

The Living Oceans Foundation Fellow will receive up to $35,000 fellowship grant to cover legitimate educational and research expenses such as tuition and research field-work expenses. Fellows may receive up to four continuous years of financial support, based upon annual performance reviews, for work conducted during all legs (South Pacific, Indian Ocean and Red Sea) of the Expedition. The candidate must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills, be fluent in English and have the knowledge and expertise needed to develop and implement a research activity related to the mission of the Foundation and its role in marine conservation.

Ph.D. Fellows must engage in a thesis or dissertation that has direct application to the planned Living Oceans Foundation Global Reef Expedition.  The candidate must also meet the requirements of graduate programs at accredited universities.  All applicants must engage in research during the Global Reef Expedition, and be on board the Golden Shadow during each research mission.   Research can also include field sampling during the Expedition, with sample processing undertaken at the Fellow's home institution between legs of the Expedition.

Please see http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org and click on "Education", then "Fellowships" for more information and full application criteria and requirements.  Applications can be submitted by e-mail to Bruckner at livingoceansfoundation.org<mailto:Bruckner at livingoceansfoundation.org> or mailed to: Dr. Andy Bruckner, Living Oceans Foundation, 8181 Professional Place, Suite 215, Landover, MD 20785 USA.

Deadline for application: June 30, 2012

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Brian Beck, Ph.D.
Coral Reef Ecologist
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation
https://www.facebook.com/livingoceansfoundation
Science Without Borders(r)
8181 Professional Pl, Suite 215, Landover, MD 20785
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