Postdoctoral Research Position Studying Postdoctoral Research Position Studying Interactions Among Commercial Fisheries and Offshore Wind

Seeking a postdoctoral research associate to join a dynamic research team on a project that will involve field-based and laboratory-based experiments. Increasing use of the offshore coastal ocean is creating novel challenges for managing trade-offs among traditional users such as fisheries and new users such as renewable energy and aquaculture. At the same time, climate change and rapidly shifting marine habitats present additional stressors that affect the stability and productivity of marine fisheries. The areas leased for wind energy on the continental shelf occupy a vast geographic region within which substantial overlap exists among wind energy areas and historical commercial fisheries. We encourage qualified applicants who are motivated to support realistic and just solutions to these challenges facing ocean use to apply.

The position is based at the Haskin Shellfish Research Lab (located in Port Norris, NJ) at Rutgers University, and will include travel to meet with project collaborators and advisors from management and fishing communities. Funding is in place for 12 months, with possible extension subject to funding. The postdoc will be motivated to contribute to practical solutions to the challenges presented by overlap among fisheries and offshore wind development. The postdoc will help us assess the potential for fishery enhancement or aquaculture to mitigate the impacts of displacement from fishing grounds due to offshore wind farms on shellfish fisheries. Both approaches - stock enhancement and aquaculture - present exciting potential mechanisms to support future coexistence of offshore wind and sustainable domestic food production in federally managed waters. The program will be highly collaborative with several fishery and management sectors, and the postdoc will be responsible for coordinating meetings with industry and management collaborators, collecting and analyzing relevant data, and writing reports and manuscripts about results. Opportunities for grant writing, undergraduate student mentoring, and presentations at science conferences will be encouraged.

We are looking for applications from candidates with experience or interest in shellfish aquaculture, with a strong background in data analysis, and interest or experience in marine policy. This research could involve time at sea on commercial vessels. The project is highly collaborative and interdisciplinary, and we invite applications from candidates who excel in team work environments and are interested in building a strong network of collaborators.

PhD in ecology, aquaculture, fisheries, biological oceanography, marine policy, or related fields

Preference will be given to applicants with 1) expertise in shellfish aquaculture, ecology, marine policy, or resource management; 2) strong communication, team building, and organization skills; 3) quantitative statistical and data analytical skills; and 4) strong publication records and proven written and oral communication skills.

Submit a single PDF with cover letter, CV, and names/contact information of three references to Dr. Daphne Munroe at dmunroe "at" hsrl.rutgers.edu. Review of applications will continue until a suitable candidate is found.

Haskin Shellfish Research Laboratory in Port Norris, NJ 08349