We're Hiring!

Position Function:

The principal function of the postdoc is to provide scientific data synthesis and management support for deep sea coral research with NOAA and its partners, focusing primarily on the analysis and archival of data and other information products coming from NOAA-funded research cruises and projects affiliated with NOAA’s Deep Sea Coral Research and Technology Program (DSCRTP). A marine scientist with data management and analysis expertise is required to complete this work. The position will be located at the Mississippi State University Science and Technology Center at the Stennis Space Centers, MS

Salary Grade:  UC

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Department Profile:

The Northern Gulf Institute (NGI) is a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Cooperative Institute comprised of six academic institutions that are geographically distributed across the U.S. Gulf Coast states. The six NGI member institutions are Mississippi State University (lead), the University of Southern Mississippi, Florida State University, Louisiana State University, the University of Alabama in Huntsville, and the Dauphin Island Sea Laboratory. Together with NOAA and in support of their strategic plan, NGI conducts research on interconnections among Gulf of Mexico environments, habitats, resources, and people and engages in outreach to help others learn about and make decisions based on these interconnections.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

● Work with a team of ocean scientists, data scientists, programmers, NOAA data stewards, stakeholders, and program partners to generate novel research and tools to accommodate NOAA DSCRTP goals and mission objectives.
● Identify, coordinate, and correspond with data contributors to define data acquisitions and to determine suitability for contribution to the long term environmental data record within NCEI.
● Literature Synthesis: Construct comprehensive literature reviews integrating deep-sea benthic ecology, seascape characterization methodologies, and marine conservation priorities.
● Find, extract, and analyze data from governmental and international databases.
● Create models linking environmental and biological components of marine ecosystems. Preference will be given to candidates interested in questions of biogeography and/or biodiversity at the species, population, community, or ecosystem level.
● Publish and present research results at conferences and in peer-reviewed journals.
● Collaboration & Communication: Participate in regular multidisciplinary team meetings to coordinate research goals across federal and academic partners.

Minimum Qualifications:

● PhD in marine ecology, oceanography, or related field completed within the last 5 years.
● Formal training and at least 2 years experience in using GIS platforms (ArcGIS, QGIS)
● Strong programming and data science skills (e.g., R, Python, SQL) tailored for manipulating and querying large-scale ecological and geospatial databases.

Preferred Qualifications:

● Existing Department of Commerce moderate risk clearance.
● Experience and knowledge of deep-sea coral and sponge ecology.
● Experience integrating field data with quantitative modeling or decision-support frameworks.
● Record of peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
● Interest in applied, mission-driven research.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

● Demonstrated real-world understanding and experience in creating standards-compliant metadata and archiving scientific data.
● Demonstrated understanding and experience working with common data streams arising from cruises and scientific projects.
● Demonstrated commitment to open-source code and FAIR data management principles.
● Formal training and at least 2 years experience in using ESRI ArcGIS (or other GIS Platforms) for cartographic analysis, transformation, and spatial analysis.
● Experience in multivariate analysis and/or modeling methods that include but not limited to occupancy modeling, species distribution modeling, distance sampling, and geospatial modeling.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
● Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently or as part of a collaborative team across the organization.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Occasional and/or light lifting required. Limited exposure to elements such as heat, cold, noise, dust, dirt, chemicals, etc., but none to the point of being disagreeable. May involve minor safety hazards where likely result would be cuts, bruises, etc.

Routine deadlines, usually sufficient lead time; variance in work volume predictable; priorities can be anticipated; some interruptions are present; involves occasional exposure to demands and pressure from persons other than immediate supervisor.

Job frequently requires standing, walking, climbing or balancing, stooping/kneeling/crouching/crawling and lifting up to 50 pounds.

Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically, ability to distinguish colors.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Apply online by submitting a cover letter, resume, and a copy of your transcript(s). Any social security numbers included on requested transcripts should be redacted prior to submitting online.

Restricted Clause:

Position is contingent upon continued availability of funding.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.