Research Associate I - 992654

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Primary Purpose:

Contributes to ongoing research activities. Oversees day to day operations of project. Leads report writing to funders. Assists in managing budget and logistical efforts. Uses computers to record and analyze project data. Monitors experiments, makes observations, and calculates and records results.

Job Category: Non-Exempt

Hiring Range:  $50,100.00

Pay Basis:  Hourly

Subject to Grant Funding? Yes  

Essential Job Functions: 

1. Contributes and leads in the development, design, and conducting research projects to meet funded objectives.
2. Participates in formulating research methods and suggesting options for improving quality and recommending solutions.
3. Organizes and leads report writing for funding body, including conducting reviews of literature, preparing figures, analyzing data and maintaining databases
4. Manages and is responsible for fieldwork budget, including appropriate reporting of expenditures.
5. Participates in computer database design and utilization and research/data analysis
6. Evaluates experiment results appropriate statistical techniques
7. Keeps detailed logs of all work-related activities and maintains data in format required for funders.
8. May participate in publication of significant results.
9. May assist in writing extramural proposals.
10. Understands and interprets research protocols and procedures.
11. Advances expertise through education, training, and/or research experience.
12. Performs other duties as assigned or required.

Job Requirements: 

Required Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge:
1. Marine Biology/Ecology - Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment, specifically on Florida’s Coral Reef
2. English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
3. Statistics & Analysis - Knowledge of statistical analysis and figure design including using the R programming language, mixed-effect models and multivariate statistics, capacity to learn and use other analytical software and skills as required.

Skills:
4. Reading Comprehension - Proficient understanding of written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
5. Active Listening - Proficient skills in giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to under the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
6. Critical Thinking - Proficient skills in using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
7. Science - Proficient skills using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
8. Complex Problem Solving - Proficient skills in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
9. Active Learning - Proficient skills in understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
10. Judgment and Decision Making - Proficient skills in considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the appropriate one.
11. Speaking - Proficient skills in talking to others to convey information effectively.
12. Systems Analysis – Proficient skills in determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

Abilities:
13. Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (including finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
14. Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
15. Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
16. Written Comprehension - The ability to read and understand information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
17. Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
18. Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
19. Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Physical Requirements:
20. Near Vision - Must be able to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
21. Speech Clarity - Must be able to speak clearly so others can understand you.
22. Speech Recognition - Must be able to identify and understand the speech of another person.
23. May be exposed to short, intermittent, and/or prolonged periods of sitting and/or standing in performance of job duties.
24. May be required to accomplish job duties using various types of equipment/supplies, to include but not limited to pens, pencils, and computer keyboards/mouses.
25. Must be physically capable of handling dive and field equipment weighing up to 30 lbs
26. Must be physically able to spend significant time working underwater and with dive kit on

Required Certifications/Licensures: 1. Must obtain a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued Florida Boating Safety Education Identification Card
2. SCUBA certification (Rescue Diver, minimum 50 dives).
3. Must already have or obtain AAUS certification within three (3) months of hire.

Required Education: Master’s degree in Marine Biology/Ecology

Major (if required: Marine Biology/Ecology

Required Experience: Up to two (2) years of experience in an academic or research environment.

Preferred Qualifications: 

1. Proficient in geographical information systems MS Office
2. Proficient in R, Python and/or Matlab
3. Experience on coral reef assemblages/communities
4. Demonstrated experience of managing disparate data to meet organizational requirements
5. Demonstrated ability to understand and conduct synthesis and analysis of peer-reviewed literature

Is this a safety sensitive position? No  

Background Screening Required?  No  

Pre-Employment Conditions: 

Sensitivity Disclaimer: Nova Southeastern University is in full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and does not discriminate with regard to applicants or employees with disabilities and will make reasonable accommodation when necessary.

NSU considers applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status or any other legally protected status.