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Fisheries Collaborative Program Project Scientist Pool

Position overview

Position title: Fisheries Collaborative Program Assistant Project Scientist, Associate Project Scientist, and Project Scientist
Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. The posted UCSC Salary Scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the scales titled, Represented Project_(E.G., Scientist) Series Fiscal Year and Non-represented Project (E.g., Scientist). A reasonable estimate for represented positions is $74,100 - $195,000 and for non-represented, supervisor positions a reasonable estimate is $74,700 - $198,300.
Percent time: Full-time (100%)
Anticipated start: Appointments are contingent on the hiring unit’s need and the availability of funding. This recruitment is valid for initial appointments to the Project Scientist title series made from January 2025 through January 2026. Initial appointments made outside this period must be made through other recruitments.
Position duration: Initial appointment will be for a minimum of one year. Reappointment may be considered contingent upon the availability of work and appropriate funding.

Application Window

Open date: November 30, 2024

Next review date: Thursday, Jan 2, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Friday, Nov 28, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP) in the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for an ongoing pool of project scientists who may be appointed to support research on the conservation and management of California’s living marine resources in one or more of the following areas:

  • Salmon ecology (including biophysical ecology, modeling, acoustic telemetry, and landscape and seascape ecology)
  • Fisheries assessment (including habitat and groundfish ecology and assessment modeling)
  • Molecular ecology and genetic analysis
  • Ecosystem forecasting
  • Salmon life history
  • Climate and ecosystems
  • CoastWatch /PolarWatch
  • Fisheries resources (including advanced survey technologies, oceanography, and coastal pelagic and highly migratory marine species).

The FCP fosters research collaborations between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists, UCSC faculty, IMS researchers, and students. The research activities of the FCP include field studies and laboratory experiments, modeling, and computational studies, involving marine and freshwater species and habitats. Comprehensive studies are being conducted on the ecology and life history of Pacific salmonids and other fishes. FCP research supports the conservation of coastal biodiversity and the sustainable management of fisheries resources.

Under the direction of an assigned UCSC IMS academic supervisor and NOAA Science Advisor(s), the FCP project scientists will contribute high-level skills to make significant and creative contributions to various research projects by designing and implementing field or laboratory based studies; managing and analyzing large and complex datasets; and, contributing to presentations, agency reports, and peer-reviewed publications (as a co-author or in some cases lead author). Some senior FCP project scientists supervise research personnel and/or serve as grant/contract Principal Investigators (PIs) with the permission of the divisional dean and Office of Research.

Applicants with expertise in any of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply: population modeling, analysis of animal movement, tagging and tracking of aquatic species, species interactions, habitat analysis, predator-prey relationships, impacts of climate on marine organisms, computer programming (e.g., MATLAB, R, etc.), database management, and/or statistical analysis.

The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.

The Fisheries Collaborative Program: https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/

Institute of Marine Sciences: https://ims.ucsc.edu/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at the time the application is submitted)
  • Ph.D.; or a M.A./M.S. degree, plus four years’ research experience (achieved post award of M.A./M.S. ). Degrees must be in fisheries sciences and management, marine biology and biological oceanography, ocean/marine sciences, oceanography, ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field. Equivalent foreign degrees will be considered.
  • Experience contributing to field or laboratory studies (may have been obtained while completing your degree) in the areas of fisheries biology, marine science, oceanography, climate variability, natural resources management, or related field.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Cover Letter - Letter of application that briefly summarizes your qualifications and interest in the position.

Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF01839

Help contact: innes@ucsc.edu

About UC Santa Cruz

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees. Inquiries regarding the University’s equal employment opportunity policies may be directed to the Equity and Equal Protection Office at the University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064 or by email at equity@ucsc.edu.

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

Notice of Availability: In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the Clery Act), UCSC publishes an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report. This report is published by October 1st of each year and includes current institutional policies and procedures concerning campus safety and security; fire safety and evacuation policies; sexual misconduct and relationship violence reporting and response protocols; and crime and fire statistics for the three previous calendar years. A paper copy of the ASFSR is available upon request by contacting the UCSC Police Department at 114 Carriage House Rd., Santa Cruz, CA 95064, or by calling 831-459-2231 Ext. 1.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UCSC positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check. The university sponsors employment-based visas for nonresidents who are offered academic appointments at UC Santa Cruz, as outlined in campus policy CAPM 102.530.

UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at roberts@ucsc.edu (831) 459-4602.

UCSC is committed to addressing the spousal and partner employment needs of our candidates and employees. As part of this commitment, our institution is a member of the Northern California Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (NorCal HERC). Visit the NorCal HERC website to search for open positions within a commutable distance of our institution.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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Job location

Santa Cruz, California