[Coral-List] Postdoctoral Researcher in Herbivorous Reef Fish Stress Responses

[Lisa McManus]

Dear coral-listers,

The Johansen Fish Resilience Laboratory at the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology has a fully funded 3-year postdoctoral position open (closing Nov 7). As detailed below, the project is on the effect of sediment runoff on the delivery of herbivorous fish functions, with a view to clarify stress responses from both an ecological, behavioral and physiological / mechanistic angle. The project is part of a newly funded grant from NSF.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Postdoctoral Researcher in “Herbivorous Reef Fish Stress Responses”
Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii at Manoa
 
Fellowship description: 
The Johansen Fish Resilience laboratory (www.FishResilience.com <http://www.fishresilience.com/>) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (https://www.hawaii.edu/himb/ <https://www.hawaii.edu/himb/>) is seeking to recruit a quantitative postdoctoral researcher to conduct laboratory and field work in tropical coral reef ecosystems. The successful candidate will be funded by a recent NSF award <https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2210070&HistoricalAwards=false> focused on understanding the consequences of sediment runoff for the retention and delivery of herbivorous fish functions in Hawaii and globally. 
Research context and specific focus: 
Coral reefs are in global decline, largely due to a combination of broad (i.e., climate change) and localized (i.e., terrestrial sediment run-off, turbidity, pollution, dredging) pressures from human activity. To effectively conserve and mitigate impacts, there is a need to quantify the responses of key species, particularly those important to ecosystem functions and productivity. The postdoctoral researcher will be part of a large interdisciplinary team tasked with investigating the responses of herbivorous coral reef fishes to sediment runoff. Working alongside ecologists and modelers in the Fish Resilience Lab and the McManus Marine Ecological Theory Lab (https://lmcmanus47.github.io/ <https://lmcmanus47.github.io/>), the postdoctoral researcher will use a combination of field intensive techniques, as well as laboratory-based assessments of behavioral and physiological stress responses within an ecologically relevant context. The postdoctoral researcher is required to develop novel research focused in part on increasing our understanding of sediment impacts on herbivorous fish distribution and abundance, feeding patterns, as well as behavioral and physiological tolerance limits. These findings will be integrated into broadly applicable modeling approaches by other members of our team, dedicated to enhance projections, decision making and management. The postdoctoral researcher will also be given plenty of freedom to develop their own research questions, not necessarily related to the broader project. They will write manuscripts and present research at scientific conferences and meetings. Importantly, they will act as a senior laboratory member in overseeing and mentoring senior undergraduate and graduate students. They will be required to coordinate and lead marine experiments and field research. The postdoctoral researcher need not have prior experience with coral reef fishes, but will need to have a broad perspective and be able to compare findings across ecologically relevant scales.
 
Required qualifications:
·        A Ph.D. in ecology, physiology, ichthyology, toxicology, or an associated quantitative field;
·        Excellent publication record that illustrates an ability to conduct novel, independent research;
·        Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills;
·        Experience working with animals and instruments in laboratory and field settings;
·        Considerable experience working in field locations on scuba.
·        Strong attention to detail, and meticulous work style, as evidenced by previous research;
·        Excellent time management skills, including demonstrated project management skills and timely completion;
·        Demonstrated ability to mentor, or an interest in mentoring, junior laboratory members;
·        Strong communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work both independently and collaboratively, and to communicate research findings at professional meetings and in high-quality peer-reviewed journals.
 
Desirable qualifications:
·        Demonstrated aptitude for applying advanced computational tools in a research setting (e.g. tracking software);
·        Experience participating in or leading marine field expeditions in remote locations;
·        Experience as a small boat operator;
·        Experience conducting visual surveys and collecting live fishes on scuba;
·        Experience maintaining aquaria, fish husbandry, and monitoring water quality parameters;
·        Experience using intermittent respirometry (resting, swimming) for assessments of metabolic performance;
·        Experience using behavioral (tracking) assays in laboratory and field conditions.
·        Experienced programming in LabView/Python/Matlab/R or similar.
 
Research environment: 
The postdoctoral researcher will be based in the laboratory of Dr. Jacob Johansen at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB). HIMB is within the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST; http://www.soest.hawaii.edu <http://www.soest.hawaii.edu/>) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. HIMB provides unparalleled research opportunities, and is located in a unique location on Moku o Lo‘e Island (Coconut Island) surrounded by coral reefs in Kane‘ohe Bay of O‘ahu (~ 24 km from the main university campus in Manoa).
 
The Johansen Fish Resilience Lab is dedicated to understanding how critical species react and adapt to environmental stressors and determining threshold tolerance levels beyond which deleterious consequences arise. We work throughout the Hawaiian archipelago and globally, drawing on examples from naturally extreme systems. We use a combination of field and state-of-the-art laboratory techniques. 
 
We offer a supportive and stimulating research environments with highly collegial scientists who are committed to scientific exploration, open science, and enhancing equality and diversity in STEM. We encourage applications from underrepresented minorities and international applicants. We offer a unique work environment providing access to diving/boating as well as flow-through aquarium facilities with capacity to hold a range of species and manipulate multiple environmental parameters including temperature, oxygen, salinity, suspended sediment loads/turbidity. We also offer access to a range of specialized equipment, including swimming and resting respirometry, video, flumes, surgery, tagging/tracking, and ocean water quality data logging and monitoring. 
 
Appointment and application: 
The postdoctoral researcher position is initially offered for one year, renewable for up to three years based on performance. Salary is commensurate with experience within guidelines set by the university. The start date is flexible but ideally the position will begin in spring 2023.
 
To apply: 
To apply, go to www.rcuh.com <http://www.rcuh.com/>, click on “Job Postings”, and search for position ID#222682. For questions, please contact Dr. Johansen at jacob.johansen at hawaii.edu <mailto:jacob.johansen at hawaii.edu>. Screening of applicants will begin immediately. Interviews will be conducted among applications received no later than Nov 7, 2022 (Hawaii–Aleutian Standard Time):
 
All applications require:
A cover letter explaining your motivation for applying for this position, how your prior research experience qualifies you for the position, how you satisfy the required and desirable qualifications, and your career goals.
Your CV (including publication list, which may include publications in advanced stages of preparation that will be likely in the review process by the above deadline date).
The names and contact details for three references.
A short 1-2 page research proposal describing independent research you would like to undertake.
Transcripts/certificates as required. Proof of PhD will eventually be required for the successful applicant.
Quality and originality of the research proposal, individual qualifications and background, academic excellence, and collegiality will be the primary criteria in selecting the successful candidate.
 
APPLICATION CLOSING DATE: Nov 07, 2022

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you!
Lisa 

***
Lisa C. McManus, Ph.D. (she/her)
Assistant Research Professor
Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa
https://lmcmanus47.github.io <https://lmcmanus47.github.io/>