Title: Associate Research Scientist Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Location: St. Petersburg, Florida or Gainesville, Florida Application Deadline: 11/24/2023 To apply: https://jobs.myflorida.com/job/SAINT-PETERSBURG-ASSOCIATE-RESEARCH-SCIENTIST... Job Description: This position designs and conducts research on the ecology, habitat, and population biology of the Florida manatee. Primary responsibilities include developing and parameterizing quantitative ecological models to provide decision-support for wildlife managers. The successful candidate will act as a project manager for characterizing manatee habitat networks, conducting risk assessments, and forecasting threats to manatee populations and their habitat. The employee will oversee data collection, management, and analysis; consult with resource managers, research partners, and other stakeholders to identify information needs, assess available data, and develop decision-support tools; actively collaborate on research teams and working groups; and present research findings through peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and meeting presentations. Additional duties may include field work, supervision of staff, and public outreach. Qualifications: Applicants must possess a Bachelor's degree in the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and 4 years of professional experience in a related field; or a Master's degree in the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and 3 years of professional experience in a related field; or a Doctorate degree in the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and 1 year of professional experience in a related field. 4 years of professional experience in a directly related biological field or laboratory program can substitute for the required Bachelor's degree; additional years of experience as described above are also required. Preference may be given to applicants with the following qualifications: knowledge of the principles of experimental design, data collection and management, and ecological modeling; demonstrated experience designing and conducting field research in aquatic/marine ecology, conducting statistical analyses, and developing agent-based models; experience with scientific programming, geographic information systems (GIS), and relational database management; and demonstrated experience in technical writing and consulting with natural resource stakeholders. Knowledge, skills, and abilities required to conduct this work include: Knowledge of terminology, principles, and techniques used in wildlife research; quantitative and statistical data analysis including simulation methods, ecological models, and risk assessments; GIS concepts, technology, and databases; designing studies to estimate ecological parameters and elicit stakeholder input. Ability to collect, organize, and maintain scientific data related to population ecology research and monitoring; perform quantitative analysis and modeling of scientific data; plan, organize, and coordinate work assignments; publish manuscripts in refereed scientific journals; work independently; communicate effectively verbally and in writing; establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; establish and meet work-related goals; effectively supervise others. Skill in use of software for statistical analysis, word processing, relational database management, scientific programming, and geographic information systems.