The Arellano lab is looking for a postdoctoral research associate to work on an NSF-funded collaborative project investigating “The Predictive Nature of Microbial Biofilms for Cuing Larval Settlement at Deep-Sea Hydrothermal Vents.” The postdoc will work with PI Dr. Shawn Arellano and collaborators at Rutgers and Woods Hole Oceanographic using manipulative field experiments at the East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vents to model the habitat and biofilm cues that predict variations in larval settlement. Field experiments will be followed by shipboard tests of hypotheses using field collected larvae, lab developed biofilms, and pressure vessels. Because WWU is a primarily undergraduate institution, there are also opportunities to work with undergrads and MS students, and potentially to teach and participate in pedagogical workshops.
The successful candidate will be a marine ecologist with strong experimental design and quantitative skills, as well as interest or knowledge in larval settlement and hydrothermal vents. Prior seagoing experience is not required but is a plus. The position is a two-year appointment and our first research cruise is winter 2022. Someone who could start by Fall 2021 is preferred.
Position Duties and Responsibilities:
- Conducting experiments at sea, managing data, and conducting statistical analyses (50%)
- Writing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals; presenting data at scientific conferences. (25%)
- Broader impact activities: mentorship of undergraduates and graduate students and participation in a science-in-action film (15%)
- Preparing for research cruises, including ordering, preparing equipment, packing, and shipping (10%)
The successful candidate must be willing and able to conduct research at sea for long periods of time (1-2 months at a time, on at least two research cruises).