The OGFL @ UC Davis is Hiring a Postdoctoral Scholar in Fisheries Science

To apply, visit: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF03607

Job Announcement

The Otolith Geochemistry & Fish Ecology Laboratory (OGFL) at UC Davis (www.ogfishlab.com) has an opening for a full-time 12-month Postdoctoral Scholar beginning around August 1, 2020 (negotiable) with the opportunity to renew given satisfactory performance and the availability of funds. The Postdoctoral Scholar will be funded by an on-going 2-year project on the “Application of cutting-edge tools to retrospectively evaluate habitat suitability and flow effects on Longfin Smelt”, awarded to Dr. Levi Lewis. We are specifically looking for a Postdoctoral Scholar with a strong background in fisheries and/or quantitative ecology, with experience in modeling variation in the abundance, movement, and vital rates of aquatic organisms, preferably in R. Experience in conducting otolith-based analyses, including age/growth and laser-ablation chemistry is preferred, but not necessary.

About the OGFL at UC Davis

The OGFL specializes in using state-of-the-art techniques to examine growth rates, hatch distributions, movement patterns, life-history diversity, and basic ecology of exploited and endangered fishes in the San Francisco Estuary, California. The lab is housed in the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology (under Dr. Nann Fangue, https://wfcb.ucdavis.edu/), where field operations are based and laboratory processing of specimens and otoliths is conducted. The OGFL partners with researchers at the UC Davis Interdisciplinary Center for Inductively-Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (http://icpms.ucdavis.edu/) to analyze otolith chemistry using laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS). We also have on-going collaborations with the UC Davis Center for Aquatic Biology and Aquaculture (CABA), Fish Conservation and Culture Laboratory (FCCL), School of Veterinary Medicine, UC Santa Cruz, and several federal (US Bureau of Reclamation) and state (California Department of Fish and Wildlife and Department of Water Resources) agencies, all working to quantify the essential habitat needs and vital rates of endangered fishes throughout the estuary.

Position Description

At UC Davis, a postdoctoral scholar is one who trains under the direction of a (research) mentor in a substantial full-time program of advanced research and training beyond the doctoral level, in preparation for an independent career. Postdoctoral scholars may expect the opportunity for collaborative and independent research and publication as determined by mutual agreement with their mentor. The Postdoctoral Scholar will be expected to work in collaboration with Dr. Lewis (PI) to draft reports, develop proposals, mentor junior staff, conduct statistical analyses, and draft papers/reports. Analyses will include modeling the abundance and responses of endangered estuarine fishes in the San Francisco Estuary, both in space and time, and in relation to environmental conditions, including otolith-based estimates of growth and migration. The primary worksite location will be in the Otolith Geochemistry and Fish Ecology Laboratory within the Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology, at the West Entry Trailer offices. Additional work sites may include the CABA and FCCL facilities, and field sites in the San Francisco Estuary.

Benefits

 UC Davis Postdoctoral scholars are eligible to participate in the UC Postdoctoral Scholars Benefits Plan (PSBP), which includes medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment, disability insurance, and workers’ compensation, and which satisfies U.S. visa requirements. Families are also eligible to participate in the medical, vision and dental plans. In addition to all holidays observed at UC Davis, an additional 24 days of personal time off (PTO) per year, and up to 12 days of sick leave per year are provided.

University of California postdoctoral scholars are exclusively represented by the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW). Details concerning benefits as a Postdoctoral Scholar are set forth in Article 3 “Benefits” of the UC-UAW Local 5810 Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) (http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/labor/bargaining-units/px/index.html).

All offers are contingent upon evidence of the doctoral degree and documentation of employment eligibility in compliance with the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. The UC Davis Office of Graduate Studies is the administrative home for postdoctoral scholars. Relevant information for postdoctoral scholars can be found at http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/postdocs. In addition, there is a Postdoctoral Scholars Association at UC Davis. Information on this organization can be found at http://postdocs.ucdavis.edu.

For further information, contact:

Levi Steele Lewis, PhD
Otolith Geochemistry & Fish Ecology Laboratory | ogfishlab.com
UC Davis | Dept. of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation Biology
One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA, 95616
cell: 707-338-4145 | email: lslewis@ucdavis.edu

To apply: Please go to the following link: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF03607 and submit a one‐page cover letter, CV and 3 references familiar with your work. The position will remain open until filled with a preferred start date of August 1, 2020 or sooner; the start date is negotiable.

ADDITIONAL DETAILS

Responsibilities

• Manage large datasets of fish and otolith data using Access and R, including QAQC
• Conduct analyses and draft manuscripts for peer review
• Assist with fish dissections and otolith preparation and analysis for age and chemistry
• Assist with otolith image analyses for annual and daily age and growth
• Assist with trace element and stable isotope analysis of otoliths
• Assist with field collections of native and non-native fishes
• Assist in leading teams and mentoring staff in the laboratory and field
• Assist with laboratory experiments using small fishes

Minimum Qualifications

• D. in aquatic ecology, oceanography, environmental chemistry, limnology, or related field
• Demonstrated ability to write and publish papers
• Demonstrated ability to model variation in the abundance, movement, and vital rates of aquatic organisms
• Willingness to collaborate and demonstrated ability to communicate effectively across disciplines
• Demonstrated excellent research capabilities required to carry out innovative and insightful research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with managing large datasets using Access and R, including QAQC
• Experience in fish dissection and otolith preparation and analysis for age and chemistry
• Experience conducting otolith image analyses for annual and daily age and growth
• Experience conducting trace element and stable isotope analysis of calcified structures
• Knowledge of CA native fishes (larval and adult identification)
• MOTC Boating Certification and experience piloting small water craft for research
• Experience with managing teams in the laboratory and field
• Experience in conducting laboratory experiments using small fishes

Salary

Commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Term of Appointment

The position is 100% for 12 months initially, renewable for an additional 12-mo period, contingent on satisfactory progress.