Postdoctoral Scholar - NPRB

Position Overview

School / Campus / College: College of the Environment

Organization: Aquatic and Fishery Sciences

Title: Postdoctoral Scholar - NPRB

Position Details

Position Description

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences is looking for a Postdoctoral Scholar to work with a team of UW and AFSC NOAA-NMFS scientists on the project: ‘Spatio-temporal dynamics of groundfish availability to eastern Bering Sea bottom trawl surveys and abundance estimate uncertainties’. This is a full-time, 12-month position located at the University of Washington. 

This project will entail: 1) estimating spatial availability and the variation of availability among species and years for groundfish and crab species from multiple fishery-independent bottom trawl surveys conducted in the Bering Sea; 2) improving the accuracy and precision of abundance estimates and their variances for Bering Sea species, and applying this new information in the stock assessment and in the management of the groundfish stocks in the Bering Sea fisheries.

A major part of the work will involve analyzing data from multiple surveys using a spatio-temporal approach to a delta-generalized linear mixed model, implemented using the R package VAST, which uses Template Model Builder and R-INLA for computation. The candidate will also contribute to progress reports and the final report of the project, and will be expected to travel to meetings to present results..

The School of Aquatic and Fisher Sciences (SAFS) is dedicated to sustaining healthy marine and freshwater environments. Our school comprises one of the largest and most diverse academic aquatic and fisheries sciences program in the United States. Our faculty conduct innovative research from the organism to the ecosystem scale, and are recognized leaders in aquatic biology, sustainable fisheries management, and aquatic resource conservation.

The School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences values the strengths and professional experience that students, faculty, and staff bring to our community. We are committed to providing excellent education to all of our students, regardless of their race, gender, class, nationality, physical ability, religion, age, or sexual orientation. We are proud of the different roles that our students, staff, and faculty play in the community of the School and in the College of the Environment. We recognize that science is richer and the SAFS community is more vibrant when a diverse group of people participate the SAFS community. 

The University of Washington (UW) is located in the greater Seattle metropolitan area, and offers one of the most exceptional research and teaching environments in the United States. Seattle is a region of explosive growth, global trade, technological advancement, a thriving nonprofit community, and a long history of progressive government. It is also a cultural metropolis surrounded by the unparalleled natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. Seattle offers a quality of life that is among the highest in the country, with beautiful lakes and parks, superior walkability, bike lanes, and a lively music and cultural scene. The UW serves a diverse population of 80,000 students, faculty and staff, including 25% first-generation college students, over 25% Pell Grant students, and faculty from over 70 countries. The UW is a recipient of a National Science Foundation ADVANCE Institutional Transformation Award to increase the advancement of women faculty in science, engineering, and math (see www.engr.washington.edu/advance).

Postdoctoral scholars are represented by UAW 4121 and are subject to the collective bargaining agreement, unless agreed exclusion criteria apply. For more information, please visit the University of Washington Labor Relations website.

Qualifications

Required: 

• PhD or foreign equivalent in fisheries or relevant quantitative science
• Expertise in mathematical and statistical modeling for estimating animal abundance using for example: design-based approaches, spatio-temporal modelling, or generalized additive modeling.
• Superior written and oral communications skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a research group with diverse skills and interest.
• Proficiency in the use of R.

Desired: 

• Familiarity with deriving design-based and model-based abundance estimates from fishery-independent surveys.
• Experience in statistical modeling of spatial dynamics and distributions of fish populations in relation to environmental conditions, and in conducting research that focuses on improvements to survey design and methodology.
• Familiarity with fishery stock assessment processes using integrated analysis techniques, maximum likelihood estimation, Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques, and Bayesian statistics.
• Familiarity with the concepts of survey catchability, detectability, or availability.

Instructions

To apply please submit your application through Interfolio with the following:  (1) A letter of interest detailing your skills and experience. (2) A curriculum-vitae including publications. (3) Three letters of recommendation.

For questions about this position, including potential disability accommodations, please contact Katie Effert, at keffert@uw.edu or 206-685-6083.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

University of Washington is an affirmative action and equal opportunity employer. All
qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, creed,
religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information,
gender identity or expression, age, disability, or protected veteran status.