GMRI is seeking qualified candidates to establish a new research group that investigates climate-zooplankton-upper trophic interactions across spatial and temporal scales in the Gulf of Maine and adjacent Large Marine Ecosystems.
The successful candidate will have experience with: (a) field-based experimental design and data collection, (b) in-lab analytical approaches, and (c) zooplankton modeling and forecasting to examine temporal and spatial variability in distribution, community structure, and ecology, with a focus on how these are affected by climate change, ecosystem conditions, and anthropogenic stressors. A strong quantitative background in, and technical knowledge of, zooplankton biology and ecology is preferred.
Responsibilities/Tasks:
- Conduct high-impact, independent scientific research in the fields of biological oceanography, zooplankton ecology, lower trophic dynamics, and/or lower trophic energy flow to understand food web dynamics, fisheries ecology, ecosystem functioning, and/or climate-related changes to these interactions
- Develop scientific priorities in lower trophic ecology in response to emerging marine resource and environmental challenges and opportunities, and in alignment with the mission and strategic plan of GMRI
- Develop innovative methodologies (field, laboratory, modeling) for examining, quantifying, and predicting zooplankton dynamics in coastal and marine systems
- Contribute lower trophic understanding to the modeling of fisheries and ecosystems
- Support, guide, and lead large-scale, successful research proposals in biological oceanography, marine ecology, fisheries, and marine ecosystems science that foster interdisciplinary collaboration across GMRI and with external collaborators (Federal, State, Academic, non-profit)
- Communicate research results to scientific, management, stakeholder, and general public audiences through peer-reviewed papers, presentations, and other media
- Serve in leadership capacities on local, state, regional, national, and international scientific councils in the ocean/climate/biological oceanography domains
- Interact with internal groups and external partners to identify ways of improving, advancing, and better integrating work on climate change impacts, adaptation, and resilience to enhance and extend impact
- Occasional domestic or international travel to meetings, workshops, and scientific conferences
- Participate in GMRI Communications and Development activities, as appropriate
Required Qualifications:
- Doctoral degree in biological oceanography, zooplankton ecology, lower trophic dynamics, or a related field
- Research expertise in climate-ecosystem dynamics and effects of lower trophic forcing on marine fisheries
- Knowledge of climate-zooplankton effects on lower trophic community risk, vulnerability, adaptation, mitigation, and resilience
- Prior experience working in collaborative settings with scientists, natural resource-based industry or business stakeholders, natural resource managers, and/or community members
- Strong written and oral communication skills, including a robust record of publication in the peer-reviewed literature
- Demonstrated ability to work independently, lead a group of junior and early career scientists, and contribute as part of a larger, cross-organizational, collaborative team
- Excellent time management and organizational skills to manage multiple tasks and timelines
- Fluent in English
- Eligible to work in the United States
Other Preferred Qualifications:
- Prior experience working on cross-disciplinary projects as part of multi-institutional collaboration teams
- Prior experience in successfully securing competitively-awarded research funding
- Experience with a range of scientific approaches—field-based data collection, laboratory analyses, and computational modeling
- Experience in time series analyses and the development of indicators and metrics
- Experience integrating lower trophic data with data from other sources, including satellites, moored arrays, and shipboard, oceanographic sampling
- Experience developing and communicating scientific results through novel, compelling approaches to data visualization
Salary and Benefits:
- Gulf of Maine Research Institute offers a competitive salary and benefits package.
- Salary: $88,900 - $159,900
