POSITION OVERVIEW
Position title: Specialists in Marine Ecology (Junior Specialist- Assistant Specialist, determined by qualifications and experience).
Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.
Percent time: Variable, 50%-100% time.
Anticipated start: As soon as possible after initial review of the applications. This recruitment is valid for initial appointments effective March 2022 through March 2023. Initial appointments with effective dates outside of this recruitment period will require an alternative open recruitment.
Position duration: Initial appointment will be for two-months to one year, contingent upon the work and availability of funding. Should the hiring unit propose reappointment; a review to assess performance will be conducted. Reappointment is also contingent upon the availability of funding and work.
APPLICATION WINDOW
Open January 14, 2022 through Friday, Jan 13, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
If you apply to this recruitment by January 13, 2023, you will have until January 27, 2023 to complete your application.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Kroeker Lab at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for an ongoing pool of specialists in marine ecology. Under the direction of Associate Professor Kristy Kroeker, specialists will participate in research of kelp forest ecology, estuarine and intertidal ecology, and global change biology. Research will be conducted in Santa Cruz, California and in Sitka, Alaska.
Responsibilities include organizing logistics for local and remote field missions; performing SCUBA based sampling; deploying and maintaining oceanographic equipment and sensors; maintaining small boats and vehicles; analyzing chemical and biological samples using standard operating procedures, including wet chemistry methods for carbonate chemistry; maintaining flow-through seawater mesocosm systems that allow for control of temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen; and database management.
Given the nature of the position, the specialists must successfully work independently and as part of a team, and they must consistently demonstrate strong interpersonal, communication, and decision-making skills. SCUBA diving is an essential function of this job.
Applicants with experience in the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply: ocean acidification and chemical oceanographic field research; carbonate chemistry lab work; cold water diving and/or dry suit diving; certification and experience operating small vessels in coastal waters.
The campus is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through their assigned duties.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT
- Specialists must be able to travel to the island of Sitka, Alaska and comply with all travel requirements that are in place at that time. The Kroeker Lab conducts field research in Sitka, Alaska for one to two months during the winter and two months during the summer.
- Selected candidates must comply with the University of California SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Vaccination Program Policy (details are provided at the end of this posting) as well as the COVID-19 vaccination requirements of our partner organization, the Sitka Sound Science Center (see the center’s policy at https://drive.google.com/file/d/13Jk17zSrfZUh74VUbEaXteZ9B-RNR8YP/view?usp=sharing).
- Selected candidates must travel and work in remote locations (field sites) for prolonged periods of time (anywhere from one to two weeks or one to six months) and must be able to adapt to a flexible and demanding field schedule (including some evenings and weekends). Fieldwork may require camping as well as working in the early morning hours and in cold and adverse weather conditions.
- Selected candidates must be physically capable of carrying 50 pounds of field equipment to and from field sites, hike in rocky and uneven terrain, and be able to bend and kneel for long periods of time in the field.
- AAUS Scientific Diving Certification: Selected candidates must provide a letter of reciprocity (LOR) from a participating AAUS institution certifying qualification as a Scientific Research Diver prior to employment.
- Selected candidates must be able to work in small teams on small and/or large vessels.
- Selected candidates must be able to use microscopes and computers for extended periods of time.
The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.
Kroeker Lab: http://kristy-kroeker.squarespace.com/
Sitka Sound Science Center: https://sitkascience.org/
QUALIFICATIONS
Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
- A minimum of one year of experience conducting field research (experience can be obtained while completing bachelor’s degree).
- Experience conducting subtidal research in kelp forest ecosystems.
- Experience using Windows, Microsoft Office Suite, and data-analysis programs, such as R.
Additional qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent foreign degree) in ecology or related field.
APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
Document requirements
- Curriculum Vitae – Your most recently updated C.V., which must include the names and contact information for a minimum of three professional references. The search committee will contact the references of those applicants who are under serious consideration
- Cover Letter – Briefly summarize (in 500 words or less), your interest in the position and how you meet the advertised qualifications. Additionally, your letter must include a statement confirming that you agree to all of the special conditions of employment.
- Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Statement addressing your understanding of the barriers facing traditionally underrepresented groups and your past and/or future contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion through professional or public service. Candidates are urged to review guidelines on statements (see https://apo.ucsc.edu/diversity.html) before preparing their application.
Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01199
Help contact: szak@ucsc.edu
UC Santa Cruz, 4 January 2023. More information.
