Florida International University / South Florida and Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network Post-doctoral Research Scientist application
We are seeking a post-doctoral research scientist to assist the South Florida and Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network (SFCN) in development of long term monitoring of vital sign indicators to evaluate park ecosystem health. The postdoctoral scientist will help develop, write, implement, and modify quantitative assessment methods for evaluating long term changes in vegetative vital signs (indicators). These methods can include: assessing existing monitoring for efficiency, power, and practicality; designing and piloting monitoring protocols and sampling design; and developing analytical methods for data analysis and reporting. The research scientist will be a visiting research scientist in the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University but will be housed at SFCN. The term of appointment is 1 year with the possibility of renewal; the starting salary is $42,000 plus fringe benefits. Position description and required qualifications--Candidates must have a Ph.D. and experience in field sampling; vegetation monitoring experience is preferred. Candidates should be able to interact with scientists and resource managers in establishing and field-testing long-term monitoring protocols and to write up and test new protocols. To apply, submit a curriculum vitae, statement of research interests, and contact information for two references. In addition, please answer the three questions on knowledge, skills and abilities that can be found at http://www.fiu.edu/~richards/SFCIMN/index.htm . Application materials should be e-mailed to Dr. Jennifer Richards (Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, University Park, Miami, FL 33199) at [email protected]. To assure consideration, applications should be received by July 22, 2009. Florida International University is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access/Affirmative Action Employer. The Department of Biological Sciences of FIU has 39 faculty members, >900 undergraduate majors, and app. 100 graduate students. Tropical biology and conservation, especially of wetlands, are major research themes in the department. The Florida Coastal Everglades LTER, funded by the National Science Foundation, is based at FIU, providing further opportunities for collaboration. Additional information about the University can be found at http://www.fiu.edu/ ; additional information about the Department can be found at http://www.fiu.edu/~biology/ . The South Florida/Caribbean Inventory and Monitoring Network (SFCN) of the National Park Service is charged with providing long-term inventory and monitoring of South Florida and Caribbean parks. The SFCN network consists of seven parks: Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, Buck Island Reef National Monument, Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, Salt River National Historical Park and Ecological Preserve, and Virgin Islands National Park. The network has nearly 2.5 million acres with dominant communities that include coral reefs, seagrass beds, dry tropical forests, mangrove forests, swamps and wetlands. The international significance of these natural resources is recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) through its Man and the Biosphere (MAB) program, which designated Dry Tortugas National Park, Everglades National Park, and Virgin Islands National Park as biosphere reserves. Additionally, Everglades National Park is a RAMSAR wetland of international importance and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ground-breaking natural resource management activities are being developed at a number of the parks within the network. Three of the parks (Big Cypress National Preserve, Biscayne National Park, and Everglades National Park) are affected by Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) efforts to restore portions of the larger Everglades ecosystem over the next century. For back ground information on the SFCN see: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/ For more information on the SFCN long-term monitoring plan, please see: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/phase3/sfcn_vs_plan.pdf For more information on the Vegetative long-term monitoring vital signs, please see pages 11, 30 at: http://science.nature.nps.gov/im/units/sfcn/phase3/appendixes/Appendix_Q.pd f
