NEPTUNE Canada is hiring Research Theme Integrators
NEPTUNE Canada has five openings - one in each of the following broad research themes on the observatory:
1. Plate tectonic processes and earthquake dynamics
2. Dynamic processes of fluid fluxes and gas hydrates in the sea bed
3. Regional ocean/climate dynamics and effects on marine biota
4. Deep-sea ecosystem dynamics
5. Engineering and computational research
Interested applicants should identify on their cover letter which research theme they are applying to.
The experiments and instrumentation selected to address the research themes above span physical, chemical, biological and geological processes and events. In order to ensure that there is truly multidisciplinary use of the instruments and data and that the different experiments at each site are seen as complementary and integrated where possible, NEPTUNE Canada has created a Research Theme Integrator position for each theme. As a team the Research Theme Integrators will coordinate the interactions within each research theme and across the network. They will act as catalysts to drive and integrate advances in interdisciplinary science, IT capability, and multivariate earth-ocean informatics required to analyse the complex data matrices produced from NEPTUNE Canada instruments and sensors.
The Research Theme Integrators will communicate directly with all stakeholders including partners, data users and potential users both scientific and non-scientific; facilitate and promote multidisciplinary use of the instruments and data to individual users and user groups; interpret complexity of experiments and instrumentation to the user community – both individually and in groups; work individually and as a team to coordinate the interaction within each research theme and across the network; provide support and interact with a diverse international user community; develop data products in collaboration with data user clients; guide the development of e-science tools and functionality to better serve NC data users; organize and lead workshops and small working groups to facilitate approaches to data analysis; foster the development of research proposals among the broader community; coordinate and facilitate meetings among existing and potential research groups; make presentations on NC at national and international conferences, universities and institutions; interact and provide ongoing service to scientists.
The successful applicants will have leadership skills and the ability to facilitate the progress of multidisciplinary scientific teams. They will also be flexible team players, able to work with individuals with different backgrounds and levels of expertise within the organization. These individuals will have a high degree of creativity with excellent verbal, written and computational communication skills. Dependability, self-motivation and the ability to work with minimal supervision will also be required. The successful candidates will report to the Associate Director, Science, but will also collaborate with other staff members of NEPTUNE Canada and members of its scientific community. Positions will be based at NEPTUNE Canada offices at the University of Victoria, with some national and international travel to conferences, universities and institutes required, and possibly ship-based participation in maintenance cruises.
The successful candidates will have demonstrated background or qualifications in Ocean Sciences and/or Earth Sciences aligning with at least one of the 5 research themes; experience facilitating and coordinating scientific teams; significant experience using large databases and quantitative data analysis; experience in producing scientific communications, including peer reviewed publications, abstracts, and also summaries for a broader audience; experience in coordinating and writing research grants; strong problem-solving abilities; proven ability to take projects from conception to completion. Moreover, the following characteristics would be desirable: experience with modelling and simulation; supervisory experience of junior staff and students; experience with web-based technologies; experience in programming in high-level data analysis languages such as Matlab, R or IDL; experience handling video, including HDTV and streaming video.
The Research Theme Integrators will have a PhD in Science or equivalent qualifications and related experience. Essential qualifications include excellent problem solving and interpersonal skills as well as a strong scientific and quantitative background.
This posting is open until 4:30 pm, June 07, 2010
