Great Hollow Nature Preserve & Ecological Research Center is pleased to announce a 12-month fellowship to support a Visiting Scientist in residence at our nature preserve in New Fairfield, Connecticut. The visiting scientist will (1) conduct independent, biological research at Great Hollow Nature Preserve and/or other potential study sites in the area, (2) assist with other research projects being led by Great Hollow, including data collection and statistical analyses, (3) coordinate Great Hollow’s summer internship program, and (4) contribute to the general day-to-day operation of Great Hollow, including occasional assistance with education programs, community outreach events, and preserve stewardship. The ideal candidate will be an ecologist or organismal biologist whose research is integrative, has a conservation application, and will diversify Great Hollow’s current lines of research.
Major Responsibilities: The Visiting Scientist will be responsible for designing and conducting a publishable, independent research project at Great Hollow Nature Preserve and/or other sites in the general area that can be completed and preferably submitted for publication within the 12-month fellowship period. Projects that have a conservation application are preferred. The Visiting Scientist will be expected to apply for grants or other funding to help support their research (e.g., equipment/supplies, lab analyses, field assistant wages), but their proposed project should be possible to conduct with a modest budget provided by Great Hollow (up to $2k for direct expenses) in the event that efforts to procure external funding are unsuccessful. The other major responsibility of the Visiting Scientist will be to help the Executive Director coordinate Great Hollow’s 10-week summer internship program. This includes managing the internship application and selection process, and directly mentoring 2-4 interns (who are usually undergraduates but may sometimes include high school students, post-bac students, or graduate students) as they assist with Great Hollow’s research projects and/or conduct independent projects of their own. Interns can also assist the Visiting Scientist with his/her research. For interns who are interested in conducting an independent study, the Visiting Scientist will help interns to identify research projects that are within their areas of interest and are feasible to conduct, mentor interns in study design, field methods, data analysis, and scientific writing, and coordinate all daily activities. Timeline: The term of the position is 12 months, with minimal potential for extension and no potential for transition into a permanent position. The start date can be somewhat flexible to accommodate the Visiting Scientist’s research schedule and appropriate season for his/her field work, but his/her 12- month term must fully overlap with the period of approximately March 1st - August 15th. This is because summer intern selections and offers are made by early April and the internships typically run from mid-May until early August. Qualifications: • Completion of a Ph.D. in biology, ecology and evolution, wildlife management, conservation biology, or a related field in the past 5 years. • Independent research experience on the ecology of plants, invertebrates, freshwater fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, or mammals that includes study design, field work, data analysis, and writing. • Strong quantitative skills and proficiency in biological statistics; proficiency in R is a plus. • A minimum of two relevant, first-author publications in peer- reviewed journals. • Demonstrated success securing grants or other extramural funding. • Experience mentoring students, preferably with independent research projects. • Familiarity with New England flora, fauna, ecosystems, and principles of habitat management. • Familiarity with a broad range of field biology methods and equipment that will enable the Visiting Scientist to mentor interns on projects outside of his/her immediate area of expertise. • English fluency and an ability to communicate with other staff, interns, and members of the public effectively. • Ability to work well with others as part of a team. • Ability to live in shared on-site housing with respect for others. • Maintenance of health insurance coverage. • U.S. citizenship or authorization to work in the U.S. • Valid driver’s license. Compensation: The Visiting Scientist will receive: (1) a monthly stipend of $2,000, (2) free on-site, shared housing and free utilities, (3) monthly reimbursement for personal enrollment in the ConnectiCare state health insurance program if he or she does not possess alternate coverage of his/her own, and (4) a total budget of up to $2,000 for research expenses (if outside funding cannot be obtained). No other benefits are provided. Housing includes a private bedroom with a queen bed in one of two shared houses at Great Hollow Nature Preserve. Both houses are newly renovated and furnished, and include a fully equipped kitchen, cable television, telephone land-line, and wireless internet. A washer and dryer are also available on-site. About Great Hollow: Great Hollow Nature Preserve & Ecological Research Center is a newly established non-profit organization in New Fairfield, Connecticut that is dedicated to biodiversity conservation, applied ecological research, and experiential environmental education. Great Hollow also operates as a biological field station and welcomes external researchers from around the region, including both professionals and students, to use its 825-acre preserve for their work. On-site facilities include newly renovated and furnished housing, office space, an education program room, a conference room, a lecture room, and a wet lab. Our staff and collaborators conduct integrative, conservation-driven studies of wildlife and plants within and beyond our preserve. Great Hollow runs numerous education programs and other learning activities for both children and adults throughout the year, including school programs and a nature-based summer day camp. The preserve is predominantly second-growth mature deciduous forest, with some shrubland and old fields, a beaver impoundment, and freshwater stream, and is contiguous or nearly contiguous with thousands of additional acres of protected land in Connecticut and neighboring New York. Some notable fish and wildlife species that are known to occur at the preserve include wild brook trout, New England cottontail, bobcat, fisher, black bear, wood turtle, little brown bat, and a variety of forest birds. Visit www.greathollow.org to learn more. TO APPLY: Please email (as a single PDF) an application package that includes: • Curriculum vitae. • Cover letter. • Statement of mentoring/teaching experience and philosophy (no more than 2 pages single-spaced). • Research interest statement of up to 3 pages single-spaced that includes a description of how your research program fits the position and one or more ideas for a potential project that you would conduct as a Visiting Scientist at Great Hollow. • Contact information for, and relationships to, at least two professional references. Please also provide PDFs of up to three selected publications. Applications will be reviewed in the order in which they are received. Applications should be addressed to Great Hollow’s Executive Director, Chad Seewagen, and emailed to cseewa...@greathollow.org. Please put “VISITING SCIENTIST APPLICATION [Last name_First name]” in the subject line.
