Science Integration Fellowship: California Ocean Science Trust & Humboldt State University

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Lambert McBride
6 years ago
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1 Science Integration Fellowship: California Ocean Science Trust & Humboldt State University SYNOPSIS California Ocean Science Trust ( and Humboldt State University (HSU) are pleased to announce an 18-month Science Integration Fellowship, to be filled by a creative, skilled, outgoing individual with a commitment to developing innovative approaches for science integration into ocean resource policy and management. This Fellowship is being offered as a partnership with HSU s Marine and Coastal Science Institute, and represents an exciting opportunity to advance assessments of the nation s first statewide marine protected area (MPA) network and foster new scientific approaches to integrate MPAs into ocean and coastal resource management in California. With the statewide network of MPAs in place, California has invested significantly in establishing baseline ecological and socioeconomic conditions - benchmarks of ocean ecosystem condition against which future changes can be measured. Data from regional MPA baseline programs add up to create the most detailed picture yet created of California s current ocean conditions, and can inform fisheries management, climate change adaptation, and other ocean policies. The Science Integration Fellow will engage a diverse portfolio of agency, academic and citizen-science programs that are collecting information on California s marine ecosystems, with a focus on the North Coast region (from Point Arena to the California/Oregon border). S/he will identify and pursue opportunities for integrative analyses that link ecosystems and disciplines to deepen understanding of ocean ecosystem conditions; develop collaborative approaches to identify and answer management-relevant MPA, fisheries, and climate questions; and develop creative and innovative ways to communicate science. We are looking for an interdisciplinary marine scientist with a strong foundation of ecological knowledge, and the skills and attributes to bring together teams of researchers to advance approaches for assessing marine ecosystem condition and synthesizing monitoring data into useful products that inform ocean resource management. The position is an 18-month, fixedterm appointment based at Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA). Salary will be commensurate with experience. Benefits including medical, dental and vision insurance are included.

2 BACKGROUND California Ocean Science Trust ( is a non-profit organization that provides scientific guidance to the state on ocean policy issues. We advance a constructive role for science in decision-making by promoting collaboration and mutual understanding among scientists, citizens, managers and policymakers working toward sustained, healthy and productive coastal and ocean ecosystems. By developing new tools and processes and synthesizing and translating scientific knowledge, we help decision-makers realize the full value of public investments in science, and help scientists increase their relevance and impact on society. Ocean Science Trust leads the design and implementation of a scientific monitoring program for California s MPA network. Following the implementation of the North Coast region MPA s in 2012, the California Ocean Protection Council allocated $4-million to fund baseline monitoring inside and outside of MPAs in the North Coast region. The goal of baseline monitoring is to build a snapshot of ecological and socioeconomic conditions in the region at the time the MPAs were implemented, to establish a benchmark from which we can measure changes in the future. Currently there are 11 projects as part of the baseline program that are collecting data across a range of important ecosystems, as well as collecting socioeconomic and oceanographic data in the region, to generate a comprehensive data set of conditions. HSU s Marine and Coastal Science Institute (MCSI) develops and promotes interdisciplinary marine and coastal research, education, and outreach at the university. The vision of MCSI is to develop a robust community of HSU students and faculty actively engaged in interdisciplinary research on marine and coastal systems. This research occurs at the interface of the sciences, policy, and economics, and supports vibrant partnerships with local, national, and international organizations. Since it s establishment in 2013, the institute has grown to include 22 faculty from eight departments across HSU s campus, as well as an external advisory board. The MCSI serves as a forum for coordinated development, funding, and execution of marine science research, education, and outreach efforts on campus, and serves as a contact point for community members (such as individuals, non-profits, schools, and tribes), and for state and national agencies involved in marine science and policy work.

3 FELLOWSHIP DESCRIPTION Ocean Science Trust Fellowships represent a unique opportunity to launch a career in science integration. Fellows experience the inner workings of policy and management and build valuable facilitation, communication, and strategic thinking skills, while drawing on and advancing their formal academic training. They engage a diverse landscape of potential partners including local, state, federal, and tribal governments NGOs representing a wide variety of interests; and an interdisciplinary array of social and natural scientists. Based at Humboldt State University, the North Coast Science Integration Fellow will join a multi-disciplinary team of researchers engaged in the North Coast MPA Baseline Program (Baseline Program), as well as relevant partners, to facilitate the development of projects connecting across multiple ecosystems and data types, to deepen our understanding of ecological and socioeconomic conditions in the North Coast region. Duties may include: Analyzing and integrating data across multiple Baseline Program projects, and developing academic publications. Potential integration topics could include: exploring ecosystem connectivity, and integrating oceanographic data, socioeconomic, traditional ecological knowledge, and citizen science data across projects; Developing and facilitating workshops with Baseline Program collaborators to explore potential science integration topics and future collaborations; Developing communication and outreach materials to communicate results and findings from this integration work, with a wide variety of audiences; Sharing results with the North Coast community through presentations at community gatherings, MPA Collaborative meetings, and other potential venues; and Working to connect and support scientists, managers, and policy-makers to provide useful science for ocean management decisions. QUALIFICATIONS Skills and attributes Flexible thinker. Able to help build on existing tools and methods to develop and evaluate new ideas and approaches as needed to attain objectives. Strategic, analytic, and synthetic abilities. Able to set clear objectives and timelines, establish and follow priorities, analyze and synthesize complex and disparate data, and distill critical information from diverse and detailed sources. Ability to lead collaborative processes and technical working groups to generate timely products, and to work effectively with diverse public and private partners.

4 Familiarity with quantitative statistical analyses and physical and ecological models/modeling. Outcome-driven with sound project management skills. Strong communication skills. Able to translate scientific and technical concepts and ideas across disciplines and between technical experts and more general audiences. Strong interpersonal skills to professionally and effectively represent the collaborating organizations to all partners, funders, vendors, contractors, and other external constituents. Authorized to work in the U.S. Knowledge and experience M.S. in marine ecology, natural resource management, or another relevant field required, Ph.D. preferred. Understanding of ecosystem science and ecosystem-based approaches to resource conservation and management required. Familiarity with California s marine and coastal ecosystems preferred. Familiarity with approaches and techniques for monitoring ecosystem and resource conditions and implementing adaptive management required, ideally including in a temperate marine context. Experience with sampling designs and statistical power analyses strongly preferred. Familiarity with resource management policy an asset. Familiarity with social science, human dimensions research, and its application to ecosystem management and/or resource conservation strongly preferred. Prior experience working with diverse groups of stakeholders including fishermen, Native American tribes, and local businesses with marine interests strongly preferred. LOCATION The position will be based at Humboldt State University (Arcata, CA) with regular travel to Ocean Science Trust offices in Oakland and elsewhere in California. Applicants must possess a valid driver s license permitting driving within the U.S. and may be required to use their own vehicle for travel, reimbursable at the state rate. START DATE The preferred start date is as soon as possible and review of applications is ongoing.

5 SALARY The position is an 18-month, fixed-term appointment. The position is funded by Ocean Science Trust with in-kind support from Humboldt State University. The competitive salary will be commensurate with experience. Benefits including medical, dental, and vision insurance are included. APPLICATION INFORMATION Qualified applicants should apply via to using a subject line of Science Integration Fellow HSU. Please send a current resume and cover letter, including contact information for three references. The application review process will begin September 6, 2016.

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