Sr. Research Associate - Coral Reproduction

Key Responsibilities

• Lead coral spawning and reproduction efforts at the lab’s land-based facility, including coordination of spawning events, fertilization, larval rearing, settlement, and post‑settlement survival.
• Coordinate spawning and reproduction activities with multiple institutional partners and collaborators.
• Directly manage at least two Research Associates, including day‑to‑day oversight, training, and performance support.
• Work closely with graduate students, postdocs, and other team members on experimental design, data collection, and analysis related to coral reproduction, larval biology, and early life history.
• Advance and refine methods for larval propagation, recruitment, and juvenile propagation to support scalable coral restoration outcomes.
• Mentor undergraduate and Master of Professional Science (MPS) students conducting independent research projects within the lab.
• Contribute to, and for senior hires potentially lead, manuscript preparation, grant writing, and collaborative proposals that support the lab’s research and restoration portfolio.
• Help maintain and optimize the lab’s facilities and infrastructure, including indoor and outdoor propagation tanks, controlled spawning systems, and associated experimental setups.
• Support safe and effective field and facility operations, including participation in nighttime spawning events and work in outdoor environments that can be seasonally hot and humid.

Required

• Master’s degree in marine biology, marine ecology, coral biology, or a closely related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in coral biology or closely related research, with significant hands‑on experience in coral reproduction or larval propagation.
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing experimental studies, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation.
• Prior experience managing personnel or supervising research staff, with strong organizational and team management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work effectively with staff, students, and external partners.
• Documented record of scientific productivity (peer‑reviewed publications, technical reports, or equivalent).

Preferred

• AAUS scientific diving certification.
• Ph.D. degree in coral biology or a related field.
• Experience working in or collaborating with land‑based coral nurseries or restoration facilities.
• Experience mentoring undergraduate and/or graduate students.

• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple projects and priorities.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team of scientists, students, and restoration practitioners.
• Comfort working in outdoor facilities and at non‑traditional hours, including nighttime spawning events when required.
• Commitment to training and supporting emerging scientists and early‑career team members.
• Interest in translating reproductive biology and early life history research into applied restoration solutions at scale.

The Senior Research Associate 1, MAS provides laboratory-based support for the University’s research activities by tackling the more specialized and complex projects and experiments. Additionally, the incumbent leverages his/her expertise in training and mentoring department staff, students, and less experienced research associates.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive…