The University of British Columbia’s Fisheries Centre seeks a postdoctoral fellow to develop tools for assessing and managing data-limited fisheries, in collaboration with fisheries management agencies and institutions in the U.S. and internationally.
The Data-Limited Fisheries Project, a partnership between the University of British Columbia and the Natural Resources Defense Council, was launched in 2011 to advance the science of data-limited fisheries and to develop tools and best practices for sustainably managing data-limited stocks. Working in collaboration with fisheries scientists at the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and other leading governmental and academic fisheries institutions, we have developed software to support management decision making in data-limited fisheries. The software, called the Data-Limited Fisheries Toolkit (an R-package ‘DLMtool’) uses simulation to test and apply management procedures and prioritize data collection.
Since its release last fall, the Toolkit has garnered significant interest by fishery management bodies and scientists in the U.S. and internationally. Most relevant to this position, we are initiating a project with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CA DFW) to test the Toolkit for use in applying management procedures for state-managed fisheries and evaluating data-collection practices. A significant amount of the postdoctoral fellow’s time will be dedicated to working with CA DFW on this project.
The position is for one-year beginning July 1, 2015, with a possible extension for a second year.The position is located in Vancouver, British Columbia
Job Description:
The postdoctoral fellow will work toward developing, refining, and applying the Data-Limited Fisheries Toolkit in various real-world fisheries management regimes. This will involve gaining technical expertise in the software, management procedures and providing technical assistance to scientists and managers at CA DFW and other fishery management bodies.
Key tasks will involve customizing simulations for specified fisheries applying management procedures and developing recommendations for data collection prioritization, and other related tasks. The job requires the ability to present quantitative scientific results and their implications for fisheries management bodies in clear narrative terms, both written and oral. The ideal candidate will have superior quantitative programming skills, excellent writing capacity, and the ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
Skills
- Advanced R programming (object-oriented programming, numerical optimization, population dynamics modelling);
- Sound understanding of fisheries management concepts;
- Demonstrated ability to publish scientific findings in peer-review journal;
- Organizational planning skills, including an ability to organize and coordinate workshops and seminars;
- Proposal writing skills;
- Positive work attitude and ability to work on an interdisciplinary research team, as well as independently.
Qualifications
- A minimum of a PhD degree in fisheries science, oceanography and marine ecology or related field;
- Excellent written and spoken English.
Annual Salary
~$55,000 CAD (commensurate with experience)
UBC hires on the basis of merit and is strongly committed to equity and diversity within its community. We especially welcome applications from visible minority group members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, persons of minority sexual orientations and gender identities, and others with the skills and knowledge to productively engage with diverse communities.
All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.
Applications are due by June 15, 2015 and should include the following: A cover letter, CV and a sample publication. Please send applications to Tom Carruthers – t.carruthers@fisheries.ubc.ca