Job DescriptionResearch IVCherokee United Services is seeking a Researcher IV in Gainesville, Florida. This position supports the Benthic Ecology Research Program through food-web research, stable isotope ecology, statistical modeling, data synthesis, laboratory experiments, field sampling, scientific visualization, and publication development.
Compensation & Benefits: Compensation is commensurate with experience. Full-time benefits include Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k), and other possible benefits as provided. Benefits are subject to change with or without notice.
Research Scientist IV Responsibilities Include:- Serve as a technical resource and point of contact for food-web research projects.
- Design, plan, and execute deep-sea food-web studies involving stable isotope ecology, trophic linkages, and ecological modeling.
- Participate in offshore and nearshore fieldwork, including ocean research cruises, to collect biological and environmental samples for stable isotope and related analyses.
- Design and conduct laboratory and field experiments examining the feeding, growth, reproduction, environmental thresholds, and health of deep-sea corals and associated marine organisms.
- Support research focused on deep-sea coral communities, chemosynthetic environments, and other deep benthic habitats.
- Analyze and synthesize stable isotope data and other ecological datasets to characterize food-web structure, energy flow, and trophic relationships.
- Develop and apply statistical modeling approaches to evaluate environmental drivers affecting deep-sea food webs and benthic community ecology.
- Use R, RStudio, and other approved programming tools to manage, analyze, visualize, and interpret research data.
- Develop and maintain organized, quality-controlled datasets using project-specific Microsoft Access databases and other approved data-management systems.
- Perform data quality assurance and quality control activities before analysis, including validation, documentation, error review, and finalization of project data.
- Integrate multiple data formats and scales into efficient analytical and modeling environments.
- Use Geographic Information System tools, including QGIS, to produce maps, spatial metadata, and visualizations that support research findings.
- Develop clear scientific graphics, data visualizations, model-output summaries, and other products for reports, presentations, publications, and decision-makers.
- Prepare intermediate and final research summaries, technical reports, data files, graphics, and supporting documentation according to project schedules.
- Lead and contribute to peer-reviewed journal manuscripts, including serving as lead author when assigned.
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate students in research methods, data management, stable isotope ecology, modeling, scientific writing, and related technical subjects.
- Train and mentor team members on technical processes, analytical approaches, data visualization, and quality-control practices.
- Coordinate data acquisition, management, analysis, and reporting activities with personnel, project partners, and other stakeholders.
- Maintain complete and organized project records, analytical scripts, metadata, data files, quality-control documentation, and research-product files.
- Meet assigned project milestones, including completion of data QA/QC, data visualizations, model-output summaries, reports, and final deliverables.
- Follow all safety procedures, standard operating procedures, information-security requirements, property-protection requirements, and facility-security requirements.
- Work safely in laboratory, office, field, and shipboard environments.
- Travel periodically to support field activities, ocean research cruises, project meetings, workshops, professional conferences, and other authorized program needs.
- Maintain eligibility to operate government vehicles when required for approved work activities, including providing required liability insurance.
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Experience, Education, Skills, and Abilities Requested:- Master's degree in biological sciences, environmental sciences, marine sciences, ecology, or a closely related discipline required.
- At least seven years of direct, relevant professional experience in biological, environmental, marine, or ecological science required.
- Demonstrated experience in stable isotope ecology, stable isotope data analysis, and food-web research required.
- Experience designing, conducting, and synthesizing ecological field studies, laboratory studies, or controlled experiments required.
- Experience conducting research involving deep-sea organisms, cold-water corals, benthic communities, or comparable marine ecosystems preferred.
- Demonstrated experience developing and applying statistical models to ecological datasets required.
- Experience integrating data from multiple formats, sources, scales, and study types into a structured modeling or analytical environment required.
- Proficiency using R and RStudio for data management, statistical analysis, modeling, visualization, and reproducible research workflows preferred.
- Experience using Microsoft Access or comparable research database tools preferred.
- Experience using Geographic Information Systems, including QGIS or comparable platforms, to develop maps, spatial data products, and metadata preferred.
- Ability to produce accurate scientific graphics, visualizations, and model-output summaries for technical and nontechnical audiences.
- Demonstrated ability to manage research data, conduct data quality assurance and quality control, and maintain complete supporting documentation.
- Ability to conduct technical analyses supporting larger food-web investigations involving deep-sea coral, chemosynthetic, and other benthic habitats.
- Experience writing peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, scientific presentations, or other formal research products required.
- Record of peer-reviewed publications focused on food webs, marine ecology, stable isotope ecology, or related research preferred.
- Experience serving as a lead author on scientific manuscripts preferred.
- Knowledge of Bayesian modeling approaches preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to coordinate data acquisition, analysis, and reporting activities across research teams.
- Ability to mentor students and train team members on technical research topics, analytical methods, data-management practices, and scientific communication.
- Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, exercise sound judgment, and meet scheduled deliverable dates.
- Strong commitment to scientific integrity, data quality, reproducible analysis, and timely delivery of research products.
- Ability to meet the physical and safety requirements of laboratory, field, and shipboard research.
- Ability to lift sediment-filled cores and other field equipment, work for extended periods at a microscope or computer workstation, and perform prolonged sitting, standing, stooping, bending, and other physical activities associated with field and laboratory research.
- Ability to participate in ocean research cruises and safely perform shipboard activities during extended periods at sea.
- Ability to successfully complete a federal background investigation and maintain required access credentials.
- Deep-Sea Research Scientist
