Associate Research Scientist
State of Florida
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Marathon • Florida • United States
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Salary
💰 $64,000 per year
About the role
- Serve as the team lead for Fish and Wildlife Research Institute coral restoration science operations based out of the South Florida Regional Lab in Marathon, Florida.
- The role combines hands-on scientific research, data analysis, reporting, and technical leadership with stakeholder outreach and support of managers to ensure coral restoration efforts follow best management practices and advance FWRI’s research and conservation objectives.
- Lead the implementation of coral restoration science along Florida’s Coral Reef in collaboration closely with FWRI Principal Investigators in the Coral Program and the Restoration Ecology Program.
- Develop, implement, and oversee scientific protocols to ensure accurate, consistent collection and entry of project data.
- Oversee and participate in field and laboratory data collection, ensuring activities align with each project’s experimental design.
- Lead and participate in training exercises to carry out field surveys and data collection.
- Identify coral, octocoral, sponge and other selected taxa in the field or from photographic images of underwater transects.
- Assist with the mobilization and demobilization of field operations.
- Complete statistical analyses of project data and creation of summary tables and graphics used for annual reports, manuscripts, and presentations.
- Write and co-author proposals, progress and comprehensive reports, and publications of peer-reviewed manuscripts.
- Prepare and make oral presentations at scientific meetings, stakeholder workshops, and professional conferences.
- Serve as a coral subject matter expert on review panels and provide technical guidance to other governmental, academic, and private groups for emerging coral reef issues and policies.
- Continue or create new cooperative working relationships within FWRI, with other divisions of FWC, and with external organizations, agencies, and partners to expand the research objectives of the agency and to ensure coral restoration efforts adhere to best management practices.
- Safely operate agency vehicles and vessels to complete research activities and maintain proficiency as FWRI/AAUS scientific diver.
- Assist with other coral projects as directed which may include responding to vessel groundings, oil spills, coral mortality events, in-water and land-based coral nursery maintenance/monitoring assistance, and coral spawning.
- Promote and participate in South Florida Regional Lab and FWRI public efforts.
- Supervise FTE and/or OPS coral staff responsible for assisting with coral research and monitoring projects. Duties include but are not limited to: recruitment, training, planning and directing work, mentoring and reviewing performance with employee, approving timesheets, and ensuring compliance with Commission and FWRI rules, policies, and procedures.
Requirements
- 8 years professional experience in a closely-related biological field or laboratory program is required.
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and four years of professional experience in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and three years of professional experience as described above; or a doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and one year of professional experience as described above can substitute for the required experience.
- Preference may be given to candidates with the following qualifications: A master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the marine biological sciences and four years of professional experience related to the position responsibilities and duties.
- A doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the biological sciences and two years of professional experience.
- Preference may also be given to candidates that have demonstrated experience developing, leading and implementing coral research and/or monitoring projects and a publication record of peer-reviewed manuscripts.
- A cover letter and CV/Resume must be submitted with your People First application. Applications missing a cover letter and/or CV/Resume will not be considered.
- Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory Level 1 background check at no cost to the candidate.
Benefits
- Health Premiums $25.00- Single / $90.00- Family Biweekly
- No Cost $25,000 Life Insurance
- Nine Paid State Holidays, One Personal Holiday per year
- 4 hours Annual Leave and 4 hours Sick Leave accrued Biweekly
- Retirement Plan Options
- State University and College Tuition Waiver Program
- On the Job Trainings
- Support for family planning, including paid maternity leave, adoption benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Family Supportive Work Program (FSWP), and paid leave for family and medical responsibilities for eligible employees.
- Paid administrative leave for mentoring, volunteering, voting, and other reasons because we understand the importance of giving back to the community.
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
data analysisstatistical analysisscientific researchcoral identificationfield surveyslaboratory data collectionexperimental designproposal writingpeer-reviewed publicationscoral restoration
Soft Skills
technical leadershipstakeholder outreachtrainingmentoringcommunicationcollaborationsupervisionplanningreportingrelationship building
Certifications
Level 1 background checkFWRI/AAUS scientific diver certification