Graduate Research Assistant: Role of Community and Citizen Science in Marine Protected Areas

POSITION FILLED.

The Center for Community and Citizen Science seeks a graduate student researcher (GSR) to help kickstart a new grant-funded project focused on the role that community and citizen science (CCS) has played in the management of marine protected areas (MPAs) in California. 

NOTE: At this time we do not have final confirmation of funding, but hope to within the coming days. So at this time we are looking for expressions of interest.

The position would involve a 25-50% time commitment, for spring and summer quarters in 2021. The GSR will work with the Executive Director and Faculty Director, engaging with a diverse group of projects and programs through which volunteers have been participating in coastal and ocean monitoring over the last decade. We’ll be developing a framework for gathering and analyzing preliminary data about these programs, and helping to scope a longer-term project that (pending further funding), would continue through 2022 (ongoing support for a GSR during that timeframe is possible but uncertain).

 Essential Experience/Qualifications

• Highly organized, with well-developed project management abilities and experience
• Strong verbal and writing skills, with experience communicating across disciplines and other audiences
• Experience engaging with, and managing relationships with external partners/stakeholders.
• Familiarity and experience with issues related to diversity, equity and inclusion, especially in the realm of natural resource management and/or public policy.

Preferred Experience/Qualifications

• Familiarity and experience with community and citizen science
• Experience with qualitative and/or quantitative social science research, including data analysis.
• Familiarity with marine protected areas and related ocean conservation issues
• Knowledge of ocean resource management issues specific to California, including the science and public policy aspects.

To express interest in this position (as funding is still pending and we cannot officially offer it yet), please send a CV to Ryan Meyer (rmmeyer@ucdavis.edu), and a brief statement (1-2 paragraphs) that addresses the criteria listed above.