The Coastal Fisheries Lab at Florida International University (Miami, FL) is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow (http://myweb.fiu.edu/rehagej/).
Position available: January 2022
Duration: 2 years
Annual Salary: $55,000
About the position: We seek a talented and enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher with quantitative and human dimensions skills to join our team of fisheries ecologists at the FIU Coastal Fisheries Lab. The postdoc will lead a team of researchers developing an alternative, expert-based fisheries assessment technique for data-limited recreational fisheries. The goal is to assess the quality of catch-and-release flats fisheries using a standardized protocol that is quantitative and relies on local ecological knowledge (LEK) from anglers and fishing guides. The assessment will focus on bonefish but will be broadly applicable to other difficult-to-assess recreational. Primary duties of the postdoc will be to: 1) lead a literature review on expert knowledge, 2) conduct simulations of LEK data (angler surveys and fishing guide interviews), and 3) design, implement, and evaluate candidate LEK assessment protocols. The project will be developed in partnership with Bonefish and Tarpon Trust (BTT) – a science-based non-profit organization whose mission is to conserve and restore bonefish, tarpon and permit fisheries and habitats through research, stewardship, education and advocacy. Opportunities for synthesis of previously collected datasets, for collaboration with research partners, and for mentoring graduate and undergraduate students are part of the position.
About the qualifications: The ideal candidate has excellent quantitative, human dimensions and communication skills, and a career interest in applying research findings to conservation and management. Experience working with fisheries-dependent data, stock assessment tools and/or survey techniques, and experience and/or interest in interfacing with anglers and working on collaborative research projects are all strongly desired. Applicants must have a demonstrated record of publication in peer-reviewed journals, and excellent coding skills in R. A Ph.D. in fisheries science, quantitative ecology, human dimensions, or related field is required.
To apply: Please email Dr. Jenn Rehage and Dr. Rolando Santos at rehagej@fiu.edu & rsantosc@fiu.edu with the subject line ‘Postdoc 2022 + your name.’ In your email, please include (as a single PDF):
- Your CV with list of references
- Cover letter describing experience, expertise relevant to position & career goals
- Example of peer-reviewed publications
- Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will be open until filled.
About our lab: We are an energetic team of ecologists interested in understanding how fishes and recreational fisheries respond to human and natural disturbance. Our work expands across multiple aquatic and coastal ecosystems in South Florida and the Caribbean. Our lab is led by Dr. Jenn Rehage, fish ecologist, and Dr. Rolando Santos, seascape ecologist. Our approach to tackling fish research focuses on both understanding process and pattern, and we thrive in conducting studies that blend these to inform management, conservation, and restoration efforts in partnership with stakeholders to coproduce science that is both fundamental and actionable. We are part of a highly collaborative South Florida research community, composed of scientists, and federal, state and private partners, all with the shared goal of understanding and forecasting coastal ecosystem responses to the interaction of hydrological, climatic and urban stressors (please see https://fcelter.fiu.edu/, https://environment.fiu.edu, https://crestcache.fiu.edu/.
About FIU: FIU is a R1 public research university (Doctoral universities – highest research activity), and member of the State University System of Florida located in Miami. FIU programs are ranked in the top 50 among U.S public universities, including our Environment and Ecology Program. Enrollment is over 54,000 students, making FIU among the top 10 largest universities in the nation, and the largest majority-minority serving institution in the US – ranked No. 1 for awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students. The Institute of Environment (https://environment.fiu.edu) is an FIU preeminent program, whose mission is to, in collaboration with local and international partners, provide data-driven solutions to society’s greatest and most urgent challenges.
