Postdoctoral Researcher Everglades Coastal Fisheries

Salary/Compensation: $61,000 – $64,000 per year, plus benefits package.

Application Deadline: Open until filled

Starting Date: Open until filled / Flexible

Ending Date: Approx. 2.5-year appointment

Hours per Week: 40 (Full-time)

Education Required: Ph.D. in ecology, fisheries, quantitative ecology, biology, or related field.

Experience Required: Ph.D. required. Demonstrated publication record in peer-reviewed journals and excellent coding skills (R) essential. Experience with fisheries-dependent data, causal analysis, stock assessment tools, and stakeholder engagement desired.

Position Overview:

Florida International University (FIU) and the National Park Service’s South Florida Natural Resources Center (SFNRC) seek a talented and enthusiastic postdoctoral researcher with excellent quantitative skills to lead research aimed at gaining a comprehensive understanding of the resilience of Everglades recreational fisheries to hydroclimatic variation and extreme events. Recreational fishing is a core socioeconomic activity in the region, yet our understanding of the patterns of recreational catch and effort and their dependency on hydrology, including ongoing restoration efforts, and climate remains limited.

Coastal fisheries are hypothesized to respond to both press and pulse disturbances. Thus, the goals of the study, using fisheries dependent and environmental data, are threefold: 1) To examine spatiotemporal patterns in angler catch and effort in the Everglades recreational fishery, 2) To link these spatiotemporal trends to hydroclimatic drivers and restoration actions, and 3) To evaluate the utility of fisheries-dependent data and provide recommendations for future monitoring. Available data sets include a dockside angler survey that spans over 40 years, along with hydrological and climate data streams.

The position provides a unique opportunity to work collaboratively in an academic institution-government agency partnership with the goal of increasing our understanding of coastal processes and restoration effects and of improving recreational fisheries management. We are part of a highly collaborative South Florida research community, composed of scientists, federal, state, private partners, and stakeholders (see http://fcelter.fiu.edu/ and https://crestcache.fiu.edu/), and thus opportunities for collaborative team science, participation in other projects, engagement with resource managers and anglers, and mentoring graduate and undergraduate students are available.

Requirements:

• A Ph.D. in ecology, fisheries, quantitative ecology, biology, or related field is required.
• Applicants must have a demonstrated record of publication in peer-reviewed journals, and excellent coding skills in R.
• The selected candidate must pass a U.S. government tier 1 (non-sensitive) background check and complete NPS cybersecurity training.
• This position requires frequent in-person work at both FIU and NPS offices in Miami, FL (even if primary work location is flexible/remote).

Preferred qualifications:

• The ideal candidate has excellent quantitative skills and a passion for fisheries.
• Experience and interest working with fisheries-dependent data, robust causation analytical approaches, stock assessment tools, using collaborative team science approaches, and engagement with anglers and resource managers are desired.

How To Apply:

Please email Dr. Jenn Rehage at rehagej@fiu.edu and Dr. Rolando Santos rsantosc@fiu.edu with the subject line ‘Postdoc 2025 + your name.’ In your email, please include (as a single PDF):

• Cover letter describing experience, interests & expertise relevant to position & career goals
• CV with list of 3 references
• Examples of products (peer-reviewed publications, data & code packages, GitHub repositories, popular articles, outreach products, etc.)

About FIU & SFNRC:

Florida International University is Miami’s public research university and Florida’s youngest preeminent universities, and one of the youngest R1 research universities (highest research activity) in the US. FIU is also the largest majority-minority serving institution in the country, and ranked the second most impactful university in the nation, the No. 3 best public university in the US, and among the top 20 public universities contributing to the public good. The Coastal Fisheries & Seascape Labs focus on how fishes and recreational fisheries track anthropogenic disturbance and seascape change, and conducts research to inform management, conservation, and restoration efforts in partnership with stakeholders to coproduce science that is both fundamental and actionable.

The National Park Service’s South Florida Natural Resources Center has a unique science mission to address the impacts and progress of Everglades restoration, the largest and most expensive ecosystem restoration project in history. The Center serves four park units including Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and Big Cypress National Preserve. There are 50 staff across 4 offices organized by four main groups: Restoration Sciences, Biological Sciences, Data Sciences, and Resiliency and Sustainability.