Position length: Three year appointment Application deadline: October 11, or until suitable candidate is found Salary: $50,000 per year plus benefits
Annual budget: up to $25,000, with additional dedicated and opportunistic uses of Shedd’s 80-foot research vessel, Coral Reef II Position summary: The John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, Illinois is seeking candidates for a postdoctoral teaching and research position focusing on marine ecology in the Bahamas. The selected candidate will be lead instructor for a Marine and Island Ecology class offered through the Associated Colleges of the Chicago Area (ACCA). ACCA is a consortium of 15 private liberal arts colleges, founded to promote cooperation in education and training in the sciences. The semester-long, 4-credit hour course is capped at 20 students and includes two eight-day practical field experiences in the Bahamas aboard Shedd’s research vessel, Coral Reef II. The course is over the spring semester and the field component is in May. The successful candidate would be responsible for re-developing the existing course and field component, teaching the course, and managing logistics. The candidate is also responsible for developing a research program that focuses on Nassau Grouper. Preference will be given to projects that investigate reproductive biology, movement patterns and population connectivity, and/or larval dispersal. A program that involves local stakeholders in design and implementation is preferred. Research is expected to be multifaceted, inform resource managers, and advance conservation and sustainable practices. The selected associate is expected to use approaches that may include 1) conducting research to determine the biological requirements critical for species and habitats, 2) evaluating the efficacy of current species management efforts and analyzing how management may be adapted to better meet conservation objectives, and 3) partner with Bahamian stakeholders so that they have a greater role in studying, assessing, and managing their resources. The associate is expected to work closely with management agencies such as the Bahamas Department of Marine Resources and the Bahamas National Trust. Research involvement with other Shedd departments (e.g. Animal Health, Fishes) is advantageous. The associate is also expected to participate in relevant workshops, present seminars at various venues, and to publish their data in a timely fashion. The candidate will be co-supervised by Dr. Chuck Knapp, Vice President of Conservation and Research, at Shedd Aquarium and by Dr. Craig Dahlgren, Senior Research Scientist, Perry Institute for Marine Science. Qualifications: Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in ecology, marine science, natural resource management, zoology, or related field. The position requires strong scientific research skills, database management, and ability to communicate at an academic and general-public level. Experience with grant acquisition, and publishing in peer-reviewed and general outlets is expected. Applicants must have a real interest in interdisciplinary applied science and have the ability to work independently and under limited supervision. SCUBA certification is required. To apply: Please send a curriculum vitae, and a letter (maximum length 2000 words) describing your background, experiences and proposed research ideas. Please also provide names and contact information for three references. The letter, CV, and reference information should be sent to Sarah Dietz (j...@sheddaquarium.org). To discuss the specifics of this position contact Dr. Chuck Knapp (ckn...@sheddaquarium.org).