[Coral-List] Postdoctoral Fellowship: Coral Reef Macroecology in the Anthropocene

[Danielle Claar]

*Postdoctoral Fellowship:*

*Coral Reef Macroecology in the Anthropocene*

*National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) and University of
Victoria (UVic)*



The National Socio-Environmental Synthesis Center (SESYNC) invites
applications for two-year postdoctoral fellowships that begin August 2014.



Fellows will undertake collaboratively-developed socio-environmental or
cyberinfrastructure synthesis projects that are consistent with the mission
of SESYNC. One new fellow will develop a project on coral reef macroecology
in collaboration with Dr. Julia Baum (UVic) and Dr. Jana McPherson (Calgary
Zoo), who will serve as postdoctoral mentors during the fellowship. Drs.
Baum and McPherson are developing a gridded, high resolution set of human
disturbance and eco-tuned biophysical data layers for use in large-scale
statistical analyses of the interplay between human and biophysical factors
with coral reef ecosystem services, function and resilience.



*Requirements: *The postdoctoral researcher will first help to develop the
new spatial data product, including compiling geospatial data, quality
control, processing data (converting from various projections and scales to
common grid, running summary computations on time series of remote-sensing
data) and preparing meta-data and visualizations. To address questions
regarding the influence of human and biophysical factors on coral reef
ecosystems, he/she will then construct and validate spatial models (e.g.
species distribution models and community-level distribution models) for
Pacific coral reef fishes, using in-hand, regional-scale, standardized
underwater visual census data.



This position will be based at SESYNC in Annapolis, Maryland, with visits
to work with the postdoctoral mentors in person at the University of
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. There will also be opportunity to visit
with collaborator Dr. Ivor Williams at NOAA's Coral Reef Ecosystem Division
in Honolulu.



*Qualifications:*


   -  A PhD in ecology, spatial modelling/GIS, oceanography, mathematical
   biology, or computer science.
   - Experience managing, manipulating, and modelling large spatial data
   sets, including remotely sensed data. Demonstrated proficiency with R, and
   at least one of Python, Java, Ruby on Rails, GRASS or similar applications.
   Excellent technical, analytical, computer, organizational, and
   problem-solving skills. Strong attention to detail, and meticulous work
   style, as evidenced by previous research.
   - Excellent time management skills, including the ability to meet
   project goals in a timely manner, and follow through on projects.
   - Strong interpersonal and communication skills, the ability to work
   both independently and collaboratively, and to communicate research
   findings both at professional meetings and in high quality peer-reviewed
   journals.



*Desired (not Required) Qualifications:*


   - An interest in marine ecology, conservation and socio-ecological
   dynamics are an obvious asset.
   - The ideal candidate will also be interested in and capable of learning
   and utilizing emerging tools for spatial analysis, and have proficiency in
   ArcGIS and in SQL database construction, management and manipulation, as
   evidenced by previous projects and publications.



*To apply:* Applicants must be successfully pre-screened by SESYNC. To
submit a pre-screening application, please go to
www.sesync.org/forms/prescreen-postdoc-2014. Applicants must include a CV.
Following successful pre-screening, applicants are invited to contact Julia
Baum at baum at uvic.ca to co-develop a full proposal for the postdoctoral
fellowship. Final proposals are due April 15, 2014 at 5pm Eastern Standard
Time. Additional details about the SESYNC post-doc and application can be
found here. http://www.sesync.org/opportunities/postdoc-2014#codev For
additional details about the coral project please email Dr. Baum.