Description

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) and invites applications for a Post-doctoral Associate to support the development of national coral reef monitoring network for the Emirates and to develop research on processes driving changes in reef communities and potential intervention measures to enhance their conservation. NYUAD is located on the shores of the Persian/Arabian Gulf, where marine fauna experience extreme annual sea temperatures (summer >35 °C, winter <20 °C), high salinity (44 PSU) and moderately high turbidity, making it an interesting natural laboratory for exploring questions around organismal responses to extreme and variable environmental conditions. In addition, NYUAD is only a 3-hour drive from the biogeographically connected Sea of Oman (northern Indian Ocean) where more benign environmental conditions offer an unparalleled opportunity for comparative studies, particularly those related to climate change.

The position will be under the supervision of Prof. John Burt, head of the NYUAD Marine Biology Lab. The candidate will be hired within the newly established Arabian Center for Climate and Environmental Sciences (ACCESS), an interdisciplinary research center focused on regional environmental change, where Burt is co-PI. The candidate will work closely with other NYUAD researchers under Burt’s supervision within ACCESS, the Marine Biology Laboratory, the Center for Genomics and Systems Biology (CGSB) and the Water Research Center (WRC). A basal component of the role will be to establish a cohesive national coral reef monitoring network (benthic, with fishes ideally incorporated) which builds on existing and historic monitoring programs across the UAE, including incorporation of environmental data. However, the candidate is expected to use this basal monitoring to develop focused research on the patterns/processes underpinning reef community change and means by which we can enhance reef conservation going forward.

The position will begin on 1 Sept. 2022 and will extend for two to three years (depending on the candidate’s preference), with renewal possible depending on performance and budgets. Candidates must have a PhD in biology, marine biology or a related field completed by June 2022 and must be certified SCUBA divers with at least 50 dives experience. Experience in establishing coral reef survey and/or monitoring programs is considered crucial experience, ideally where divergent organisms have been included (corals, fishes, etc) [note: diversity in the UAE is low relative to many regions, permitting rapid training to genus/species]. Experience with multiple survey methods is an advantage. The candidate must be proficient with univariate and multivariate analyses of biological/environmental data, ideally in R. Experience with first-author publishing is required, particularly where monitoring data have been used to address impactful ecological questions. Experience with reef mapping, photogrammy/photomosaics, GIS, hyperspectral analyses, and related skills would be considered advantageous but is not required. The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate the capacity to build beyond simple monitoring to using well-designed field, aquarium and/or lab-based studies to explore processes shaping trajectories (e.g. diseases, demographics, nutrients, etc) that result in impactful publications.

Salary will be contingent on experience and the position comes with a very attractive salary and benefits package including a housing allowance, annual flights, and tuition for children (if relevant), and medical insurance. Salary and benefits are entirely tax free in the UAE.

About NYUAD:

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.

EOE/AA/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disabled/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity Employer

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply.

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