Shellfish Positions AvailableSubmit a post by clicking here. Include job details in the body of the email or as an attachment in paragraph form (.doc or .pdf).Announcements will be removed after 3 months unless otherwise indicated in the post. PhD Assistantship in Aquaculture - University of Florida (USA): We are seeking a motivated PhD student to work on the development and application of genomic tools for hard clam aquaculture and evolutionary applications. A major component of the project will focus on transcriptome analysis of heat tolerance. Aquaculture of hard clams is a $65 million industry in the U.S. and our project will provide fundamental tools to address the high summer mortality of market-sized clams in the southeastern area. The overall project has three objectives, including 1) evaluation of the effects of heat shock on physiology responses and survival of the hard clams (the northern hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria and southern hard clam M. campechiensis; 2) development of a high-coverage annotated transcriptome alignment for hard clams to characterize heat shock gene expression profiles and reveal the genes susceptible to heat-related mortality and survival, and 3) establishment of hard clam families for further evaluation and breeding targeting on heat tolerance. The successful applicant will have opportunities to work in the field with local industry farms, in the research hatchery with the team member for clam breeding, and in the molecular lab and UF core facility for genetic analysis. The University of Florida is located in the north-central Florida and is the state’s flagship university. This position will be based at the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Program (FAS) in Gainesville and will include periodic travel to Cedar Key, Florida (1-hr driving from Gainesville) for hatchery, nursery, and grow-out experiments. Qualifications (minimum): Completed M.S. degree in aquaculture and genetics-related disciplines, GRE scores of >150 Verbal and >150 Quantitative; and valid driver’s license Mussel Hatchery Construction Project Manager, Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, (USA): The Mussel Hatchery Construction Project Manager is the point person in the planning, designing and construction of PDE’s Fresh Water Mussel Hatchery. RESPONSIBILITIES: 1) Manages the design and construction of a full-scale Fresh Water Mussel Hatchery; Proposes the contracting method (design/build, design/bid/build); Manages the contractor selection process (pre-qualifying contractors, preparing bid documents, completing bid evaluations and making contractor recommendations); Oversees the day-to-day management of the design and construction contractors; Works with the selected design contractor to scale-up the pilot-scale mussel hatchery currently in operation; Reviews the design contractor’s work to ensure it meets functional requirements; Oversees construction to ensure it meets the design requirements and is delivered on schedule and within budget; Oversees the testing of Hatchery equipment to ensure it meets design requirements. 2) Manages the Project Budget and Schedule; Establishes the detailed project schedule, manages all schedule changes throughout the project and ensures that the targeted in-service date is met; Establishes the overall project budget and manages the budget to meet funding constraints; Establishes and maintains the cash flow model of the project; Prepares and submits funding applications to the funder(s); Manages the change order process with contractors and funders; Reports regularly the status of the budget, cash flow and schedule; Immediately notifies management of any project changes that might cause the project to exceed the funding amount or that might cause the project completion to extend beyond the planned in-service date. 3) Manages the permitting process; Researches the Federal, State and City permit requirements; Is responsible for obtaining the required permits; Ensures that permit fees are paid timely; Ensures that permit requirements are clearly defined; Ensures that the responsible parties comply with the permit requirements. REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in engineering or construction management disciplines; 10 years of experience working in the engineering and construction industry; Demonstrated experience managing projects of similar size and complexity; Strong organizational and skills, attention to detail and meeting planning; Proven project management skills, including time management, budget/schedule management, and reporting; Leadership and supervisory skills including a demonstrated ability to manage contractors; General computer skills, including good working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and project management software; Excellent written and oral communication skills; experience presenting to group; Ability to speak, read and write English; Valid United States driver’s license. WORKING CONDITIONS - Time spent in this position will be divided between PDEs offices in Wilmington, DE and the construction location along the Schuylkill River in the Philadelphia city limits. There may be occasional evening or weekend work hours. PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS - The incumbent should be able to lift and carry light loads (up to 30 pounds) and be able to sit and stand for at least 2 to 3 hours at a time, provide their own correctable vision and hearing equipment and have no physical restrictions that would prevent performance of the duties in this job description. This is a two-year temporary, full-time exempt salaried position that pays $78,000 per year. This position will be open until filled. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit a resume to: HR Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, 110 South Poplar Street, Suite 202, Wilmington, DE 19801; by fax to (302) 655-4991; or by e-mail to [email protected]. (posted 9/10/18) Assistant Professor of Shellfish Pathology, North Carolina State University (USA): The Department of Clinical Sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine at North Carolina State University is seeking applications from qualified candidates for an Assistant Professor of Shellfish Pathology position. Qualifications: DVM or equivalent with board certification in the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP), or PhD with extensive shellfish disease diagnostic and research experience. Responsibilities: This position will develop a research and extension program on emerging diseases and pathogens related to Food Security and Ocean Health, and serve as the Director of the NC State University Shellfish Disease and Pathology Program based at NC State’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology (CMAST) in Morehead City, North Carolina. The position will have a primary appointment within the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Clinical Sciences, and will be expected to foster development of integrated programs within NCSU and to build strong community partnerships with other state, federal and private nonprofit organizations. The applicant will be expected to work directly with and support the needs of stakeholders within the state, region, and nationally by establishing and heading the NC State University Shellfish Disease and Pathology Program. In addition to providing disease diagnostic services including health certification, the applicant is expected to strengthen research capacity in the field of shellfish disease and to provide leadership at the national and international level regarding shellfish health in commercial aquaculture, habitat restoration, and in response to environmental changes and perturbations. The position will be expected to mentor graduate and undergraduate students in research with limited teaching responsibilities. The position is expected to actively seek external funding through grants from state and national programs as well as contracts with trade associations and industry partnerships. This role will require routine travel for meeting with industry stakeholders, consultation with colleagues at the NCSU Raleigh campus or other locations, and to conduct research. The successful applicant must independently be able to travel from location to location. Inclusiveness and diversity are academic imperatives and university goals. The successful candidate will be expected to foster an environment that is welcoming of all groups. The Department, as well as NC State University, are especially interested in qualified candidates who can contribute, through their experience, research, teaching and/or service, to the diversity and excellence of the academic community. Appointment Date: On or after January 1, 2019. Link to Apply: To apply or for more information please go to http://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/105909. NC State University is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process, please call 919-515-3148. Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. If highest degree is from an institution outside of the U.S., final candidates are required to have their degree verified at www.wes.org. Degree must be obtained prior to start date. NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States. (posted 8/29/18)
Postdoctoral Position, Shellfish Genomics at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center (Seattle and Manchester, WA, USA): In the Pacific Northwest, shellfish are being aquacultured for commercial and restoration purposes. In both cases, issues have evolved that could be addressed using genomic approaches including restriction associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) and whole transcriptome RNA sequencing (WTSS or RNAseq) in combination with cellular and organismal physiology. A two year postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Frederick (Rick) Goetz (https://www.nwfsc.noaa.gov/contact/display_staffprofile.cfm?staffid=2943) at the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center (Manchester and Seattle, WA) to work on a project involving shellfish genomics. Projects could include the analysis of hatchery reared progeny relative to wild stocks; recognition of pathogens by shellfish and the role of hemocytes in the response of shellfish to pathogens; role of environmental cues (e.g., temperature) in transitioning shellfish from somatic growth to reproduction or; characterization of transcriptomic and protein markers for determining the timing and extent of gonadal maturation in individuals. This position is being offered through the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine Fellowship Program (http://sites.nationalacademies.org/pga/rap/) and the NRC link to this opportunity can be found at: http://nrc58.nas.edu/RAPLab10/Opportunity/Opportunity.aspx?LabCode=26&ROPCD=260339&RONum=C0141&ROBaseMode=R102 For consideration or questions, please send a resume, statement of research interests and background relative to one of the project areas listed above to [email protected]. (posted 8/4/18) Post-doctoral Researcher in Assessment of Marine Habitats in Support of Fisheries Management and Habitat Conversation, Monmouth University, New Jersey (USA): The post-doctoral associate will conduct research with the Urban Coastal Institute (UCI) and scientists at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J. and the NOAA Fisheries Habitat Ecology Branch of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Sandy Hook, N.J. The research will support the development of a Northeast Regional Marine Habitat Assessment (NRHA). The NRHA is a collaboration of the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council and multiple fisheries management organizations, federal and academic researchers. The purpose of the NRHA is to describe and characterize estuarine, coastal, and offshore fish habitat distribution, abundance and quantity using a partnership driven approach. UCI Director Tony MacDonald is a member of the NRHA Steering Committee. It is expected that the post-doctoral associate will engage with the NRHA project teams and conduct investigations to assess habitat suitability for key marine fish and shellfish species in the changing environment of the Northeast Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem. Similar work is currently being performed by the NOAA staff in Sandy Hook, using GAM and MaxEnt modeling approaches. The post-doctoral associate will continue to use these models, refine them to meet management and research priorities, and may introduce new modeling approaches. The research will support the NRHA, as well as provide information to designate essential fish habitat (EFH) for Fishery Councils, and support federal EFH assessments and EFH consultations (i.e., better data, better synthesis, more specific habitat information, finer scale information). The work will also aim to identify what habitat areas are rare, sensitive, vulnerable, or are uniquely important to ecosystem function. This will help NOAA and other federal agencies to prioritize consultations and conservation actions, and develop programs to incorporate ecosystem principles into fisheries management, habitat conservation and ensure sustainable fisheries. It is expected that the incumbent will play a key role to facilitate communications between the model developers and users, as well the North East and Mid-Atlantic Ocean Data Portal representatives. The incumbent serve as liaison between the modelers at Sandy Hook and the NRHA, as well as the Regional Fishery Councils, Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission., and the state Regional Ocean Partnerships The researcher will participate as a member of the NRHA Project Teams and support outreach to NRHA collaborators, fishery management organizations in the Northeast by presenting results from the modeling simulations, discussing broader implications with fisheries management and by assisting the Monmouth University and NOAA Fisheries scientists to focus investigations to best meet sustainable management and habitat conservation needs. The outreach may also extend to non-fisheries management organizations particularly in relation to protected species, habitat restoration, aquaculture and renewable energy. Anticipated products from the research include, but are not limited to, maps of species-suitable benthic and pelagic habitats, seasonally important areas or seascapes (e.g., spawning, upwelling areas, etc.), and ‘hotspot’ areas important to multiple species/guilds. Also of importance will be information and data tables linking species use of these habitats for all life stages, groups and guilds of species associated with specific habitats, and other important characteristics. Characterization and mapping should also be coordinated with and inform management and decision-making with respect to multiple ocean uses, including efforts of regional ocean partnerships and ocean data portals. Relevant professional presentations, publications and development of grant proposals to support continued research are expected as well. The research associate will be based at Monmouth University and have access to and use of facilities at the NOAA Sandy Hook research lab as needed to support collaborative research. The incumbent will work with Monmouth University faculty to identify opportunities to engage undergraduates in research or outreach efforts, and present lectures and other classroom-based presentations. Monmouth University and the NOAA Fisheries Habitat Ecology Branch of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center in Sandy Hook, N.J currently have a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement. There may also be teaching opportunities subject to agreement between the research associate and the relevant University Department. For more information, https://jobs.monmouth.edu/postings/9368 or contact Tony MacDonald, Director of the Monmouth University Urban Coast Institute, [email protected] and Dr. Thomas Noji, [email protected]. (posted 7/3/18) |