Position Announcements
Postdoctoral Researcher Estuarine Ecology
Estuarine ecology: climate change and freshwater inflow effects on key species
A position is available for a post-doctoral scientist to carry out research projects related to the effects of freshwater inflows on key species within the Mission-Aransas Estuary. This position is funded by the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Science Collaborative, whose goal is to incorporate collaboration with local stakeholders into applied science to address coastal management problems related to climate change within National Estuarine Research Reserves. Estuaries in south Texas currently experience extended droughts punctuated by periods of intense rainfall, and this historical pattern of variable and extreme climate is expected to intensify with climate change. State agencies are trying to determine freshwater inflow requirements for estuaries that will maintain ecosystem function and productivity. For the Mission-Aransas and San Antonio-Guadalupe Estuaries in south Texas, a Bay and Basin Expert Science Team (BBEST) and a Bay and Basin Area Stakeholder Committee (BBASC) have made recommendations on freshwater inflow requirements based on best available science. These groups have also prepared an adaptive management plan which includes a list of research projects needed to guide environmental flow decisions in the future. In this project we will work with the BBEST, BBASC and other concerned stakeholders to prioritize research needs, and the post-doc for this project will help carry out research projects related to freshwater inflow and climate change issues.
Appointment: The position is available for up to 30 months, beginning as soon as January 1, 2012. The position will be located at the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve located on the campus of the University of Texas Marine Science Institute in Port Aransas, Texas, and utilizing space in the new Estuarine Research Center building. A competitive salary and benefits package is available. http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu.
Qualifications: Candidates should have a PhD in aquatic sciences or a related field, with interests and background that would facilitate field studies in estuarine ecology including studies of benthic and planktonic estuarine organisms and measurements of currents in coastal bays using tilt current meters. An interest in working with stakeholder groups on coastal environmental management issues would also be beneficial. Desirable skills include the ability to conceive, design, conduct and analyze the results of field studies that relate freshwater inflows to the ecology of estuarine species, and good written and oral communication skills.
To Apply: Submit (1) curriculum vitae (2) names and addresses of three references willing to write confidential letters of recommendation and (3) a short statement of career goals and interests (1-2 pages). All materials should be emailed as a single pdf document to: ed.buskey@mail.utexas.edu with “NERR PostDoc Application” in the subject line.
The University of Texas at Austin is an equal opportunity employer.