Dear all:
We will bring to review applications tomorrow for the position outlined below.
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).
