Asst. Assoc. and or Specialist – Coastal Ecosystems, Seagrass Ecology and Restoration

The Center for Watershed Sciences at the University of California, Davis seeks to fill a non-tenured, academic term appointment as an Assistant Specialist.

This research is focused on advancing the restoration, resilience, and long-term stewardship of seagrass ecosystems in Guam. The project seeks to apply the best available science and management practices to support ecosystem recovery, enhance habitat quality, and provide benefits to coastal communities and marine resources. Specifically, the goal for this project is to establish and implement a seagrass restoration project on Naval Base Guam.

This position of Assistant Specialist provides technical or specialized expertise (e.g., with instrumentation and research equipment methods) in the planning and execution of a research project in seagrass ecology on the island of Guam. Candidates must be apprised of emerging issues and maintain technical competence in the designated area(s) of specialization (restoration, aquatic ecosystems, seagrass or other nearshore ecosystems). Within this defined area and when appropriate, the Assistant Specialist is expected to provide leadership, facilitate teamwork, and develop collaborative relationships with colleagues and to participate in the planning and implementation of the research.

The objective of this research position is to improve understanding of seagrass ecology and restoration techniques in Guam and other nearby areas. Specialized field, laboratory and data analysis techniques will be utilized to ensure that data are properly collected and analyzed. The researcher will be expected to work with limited supervision and to make substantial contributions toward the research project.

Field work will involve extensive time at seagrass beds and restoration sites in Guam, including Naval Base Guam. This will include but is not limited to conducting surveys to assess the aquatic plant community and their distribution. The candidate will also be responsible for sampling water quality (water level, clarity, light availability, turbidity, nutrient levels, salinity, and temperature), identifying habitat complexity, and sedimentary properties or any other additional methods based on the best available science.

Maintenance of equipment, sample management, and leadership with field technicians will be done daily. The candidate will be responsible for seagrass survey methods utilized by previous field efforts and continuing data collection using the same methods for reproducibility.

Field sampling will be done around the island to assess seagrass bed habitat characteristics and quality. Including but not limited to collecting sediment samples, water quality parameters, genetics material, plant community composition and diversity, nutrient content, and invertebrate communities.

Candidate will be familiar with managing project databases, quality assurance, and supervision of field help. Candidate is expected to analyze laboratory and field data using MS Excel, plotting software and other R statistical programming language.

Will serve as a research coordinator for seagrass ecology research projects conducted by PIs in the Center for Watershed Sciences. Candidate will is using specialized expertise, ensuring uninterrupted communication between field staff in Guam, PIs, and project partners including construction companies. Candidate will assist in the management of project timelines and deliverables.

Responsibilities include preparation and participation in the development of reports, posters, and manuscripts. Creative activities include assisting in project design, implementation of experiments, and data analysis by providing to these endeavors the specialized expertise in seagrass environments.

Mentoring skills to support their role as a mentor and trainer to students and junior specialists in Guam.

Develop relationships with partners through attendance and participation in construction meetings, academic professional meetings, workshops or conferences. Where opportunities are allowed, the candidate will review proposals or publications related to their areas of scientific expertise and practical experience. Will act as technical liaison on issues of seagrass ecosystems and restoration practices and respond to the inquires of local agencies, state agencies, NGOs,…