Overview The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON, Inc.) is a nonprofit science corporation dedicated to understanding how changes in climate, land use and invasive species impact ecology. For the next three decades NEON will collect a comprehensive range of ecological data on a continental scale across 20 eco-climatic domains representing US ecosystems. NEON will use cutting edge technology including an airborne observation that will capture images of regional landscapes and vegetation; mobile, relocatable, and fixed data collection sites with automated ground sensors to monitor soil and atmosphere; and trained field crews who will observe and sample populations of diverse organisms and collect soil and water data. A leading edge cyberinfrastructure will calibrate, store and publish this information. The Observatory will be the first of its kind designed to detect and enable forecasting of ecological change at continental scales.
The Observatory will also operate a long-term experiment - STREON: a chronic nutrient enrichment and predator exclusion experiment that will be operated at ten of the NEON Aquatic sites. Summary: The STREON Scientist will be part of an Aquatic/STREON Team that is responsible for developing a national program to assess physical, chemical, and biological changes in streams and lakes over 30 years. The Team will define measurements, document field and lab methods, train personnel, and perform QA/QC in order to produce high quality data products for the research, education, and decision making community. Specifically, the STREON Scientist is responsible for development, documentation and implementation of detailed sampling designs and analytical protocols of the STREON experiment. This position will require collaboration with the NEON Engineering Team for development and engineering-level documentation of the experiment components (nutrient addition station, in-situ baskets, recirculation chambers, flumes, predator-exclusion system). The position will co-develop and documents sampling designs and audit procedures for aquatic flora and fauna and freshwater chemistry, in conjunction with the Aquatic Team. As STREON is the first Observatory experiment, the STREON Scientist will play a key role in communications with the STREON Technical Working Group and the larger stream community. The STREON Scientist will work with an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, engineers, and other scientists to design, develop, test, and implement statistically valid protocols to produce data products that will enable researchers to investigate the impact of climate change, land-use change, invasive species, and unsustainable water use on freshwater ecosystems of North America. The STREON Scientist is expected to produce reports and publications of NEON procedures and protocols and is encouraged to collaborate with the research community to investigate continental scale ecology. This position requires a broad experience base in freshwater ecology, including experience and knowledge of biogeochemical cycles of streams, isotopic chemistry, biodiversity, foodweb response to nutrient enrichment, the role of microbes in detrital-based foodwebs, and regime and state shift theory in aquatic systems. The ideal candidate will have at least ten years of research and leadership experience beyond the PhD. Essential Duties and Responsibilities: • Develop and document experiment components of the STREON experiment • Develop a data collection and audit program for the STREON experiment, including experiment sampling protocols for algae, macrophytes, invertebrates, and fish. • Development and implementation of data QA/QC plan. • Develop training program for field crews. • Document the scientific rationale for STREON-related measurements and methods. • Co-develop detailed sampling designs for microbial communities and stream morphology. • Co-coordinate activities of the STREON Technical Working Group. • Collaborate with NEON engineers and scientists to define audit sampling procedures. • Participate in the larger NEON science community, including participating in independent research and collaborations and attending meetings/conferences. Education: • PhD in stream ecology or related field. Specialization in stream food-web structure and function, stream community ecology, or related ecology with emphasis on biological-chemical-physical linkages of stream ecosystems. • 10+ years experience beyond post-doctoral level in stream ecology or closely related field. Required Experience: • 15+ years research experience in freshwater stream ecology, with emphasis in the role of food-web structure and function, biogeochemistry, and microbial ecology. • Significant field experience working in streams of North America. • Significant experience communicating to the research community and federal agencies and in a high-profile, professional environment. • Demonstrated experience working in a collaborative scientific and engineering enterprise. • Demonstrated ability to write technical and scientific documents. Preferred Experience: • Working knowledge of stream morphological dynamics preferred. • Knowledge of the role of microbial communities in freshwater ecosystem structure and function preferred, but not required. • Knowledge of isotope chemistry of stream systems. • Experience working with federal and state agencies and NGO’s. Skills and Abilities: • Scientific writing and review • Proficiency in analyses that correlate biological data with abiotic variables • Proficiency in statistical design and analyses related to BACI designs • Ability to work independently, but as part of an active science team • Strong communication and interpersonal skills • Undertake responsibilities beyond those associated with individual research projects • Travel to domains at least 5x/year Physical Abilities: • The candidate may be exposed to conditions in the field, and therefore must be able to traverse uneven ground such as dirt banks, stream beds, and shallow ponds carrying equipment and materials up to 40 lbs. Apply to www.neoninc.org Review of applications will begin 1 December 2010. NEON Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women, Minorities, Veterans and Disabled Persons are encouraged to apply.
