[Coral-List] JOB Opening: two postdoctoral positions in developing and testing new tools for assessing coral thermal tolerance in restoration efforts

[Mark Warner]

Dear Coral-List,

We wish to announce two postdoctoral positions available as part of a highly collaborative international project focused on providing new tools to aid with reef coral restoration. The aim of this project is to use advanced chlorophyll-a fluorescence techniques to capture physiological information from reef coral photo-symbionts (along with additional host coral metrics) to predict coral bleaching tolerance. This project will work with local NGO initiatives in Fiji, along with restoration efforts led by colleagues at the University of Guam and additional US-based researchers. One postdoctoral position will be through the University of Alabama (in the lab of Dr. Kenneth Hoadley) and the other through the University of Delaware (in the lab of Dr. Mark Warner). The candidates would ideally start in the spring (January–March) of 2024.

*Project Overview: Many restoration efforts hope to identify heat tolerant corals for prioritizing nursery grow-out and transplant strategies. Rapidly identifying stress tolerant corals represents a major bottleneck in reef restoration and our aim is to develop a non-destructive and highly scalable tool that can be used by practitioners to quickly assess reef corals across the globe. Recently developed open-source bio-optical tools will be used to collect ‘high-content’ data for generating predictive thermal tolerance metrics for a range of Pacific coral species. Our approach includes coupling large-scale field and lab-based experiments and in situ manipulations with machine learning techniques to train predictive models that can then be applied towards assessing novel coral colonies for thermal tolerance.

*Position 1: ‘Big-data’ and Predictive Modeling (University of Alabama): The ideal candidate will have a strong background in machine learning techniques, artificial intelligence, or predictive modeling. The candidate will help conduct thermal bleaching assays in the field (in both Fiji and Guam) and use subsequent data to develop and train predictive models to be tested via transplant experiments at multiple sites. This position can be considered a cross between symbiont photo-physiology and data science to provide a useful product for coral reef restoration.

Preferred candidates will have a strong background in ‘big-data’ analyses, predictive modeling or use of machine learning techniques (broad applications will be considered: climate predictions, image recognition etc.,), and experimental research. Additional background or skillsets of interest include coding languages (C++/Arduino IDE, Python, R, html) and familiarity with electronics and open-source hardware platforms (Arduino, Raspberry Pi, Teensy, etc.,). An interest or background in molecular techniques (PCR, qPCR) would also be valuable, as would a history of prior research in marine environments (Scuba certifications and/or current scientific diving certification via AAUS or other international governing body).

The position is offered for an initial one-year period (with two additional years of funding available) and will be housed at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab on the Gulf Coast of Alabama. The candidate will play a critical role in project coordination and management, working closely with collaborators at the University of Delaware, University of Guam, and Fijian NGO partner (Reef Explorer Fiji). For more information about the lab, please visit: (https://www.disl.edu, https://bsc.ua.edu, www.hoadleylab.com). Interested applicants should send an email to (kdhoadley at ua.edu) with a cover letter, CV, and list of three references The University of Alabama is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access Employer.

*Position 2: Algal and coral ecophysiology and genetics: Ideal candidates will have a strong background and publication record in reef coral physiology, using molecular methods to characterize populations of symbiotic dinoflagellates, and a good working knowledge in algal photobiology and photosynthesis research. Additional preferred experience includes identifying, handling, and manipulating reef corals in situ and investigating the thermal responses of these organisms in controlled laboratory and field-based experiments. Candidates with other experience in microalgal population genetics and ecological physiology are also encouraged to consider this position.

Additional desirable skillsets include experience in data analyses in R and some familiarity in troubleshooting electronics and open-source Arduino systems. Along with international and U.S. colleagues mentioned above, the candidate will help organize and lead several field campaigns in Fiji and Guam (with possible opportunities in other locations) and help to test and implement predictive models for coral thermal tolerance in several coral restoration settings. Previous experience in leading and mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate student investigators is also desirable. It is expected that candidates will either hold or can obtain a valid U.S. driver’s license, and will be scuba certified, to advanced certification or higher, and ideally certified with a recognized governing body for scientific diving (e.g., AAUS).

The position is offered for an initial one-year term (with 1.9 years of additional funding available), and will be based at the University of Delaware, School of Marine Science and Policy marine campus in Lewes, DE (https://www.udel.edu/academics/colleges/ceoe/departments/smsp/). Interested applicants should contact Mark Warner at (mwarner at udel.edu), and send a cover letter, CV, and a list of three references. The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person based on race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.


Kind regards,
Mark Warner & Kenneth Hoadley

Mark E. Warner, Ph.D.
Professor
School of Marine Science and Policy
University of Delaware


Ph: 302-645-4365
(he/him/his)