Research Specialist II

Biology, UCF Marine Turtle Research Group:

The UCF Marine Turtle Research Group (MTRG) operates out of a field station in Melbourne Beach, Florida and conducts scientific advisory service for county, state, and federal agencies related to sea turtle management and monitoring. The work and research conducted by the MTRG requires a small fleet of trucks (4-6), All Terrain Vehicles (8-12), and boats (4 plus respective trailers). The MTRG equipment assets require regular, year-round maintenance due to the salt air and corrosion and heavy vehicle use during sea turtle nesting season. The MTRG field station is located on US Fish and Wildlife Service refuge property. The MTRG currently rents the field station; however, the MTRG conducts basic maintenance and upkeep of the building, or interfaces with the US Fish and Wildlife Service for large repairs and maintenance.

The Opportunity: 

We are hiring a dedicated year-round Research Specialist II who will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a lab equipment maintenance schedule, as well as participate in in-water and beach-related research and monitoring activities. The UCF MTRG also interfaces with county, state, and federal agencies on a regular basis and there is need for a person to interface with these entities in order to successfully meet grant/contract deliverables.

Provides specialized technical and scientific support directly to research projects of the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group (MTRG). Oversees research-related activities, may include research/program staff management, compliance monitoring, and writing/reviewing research protocols. Daily management and organization of research activities by overseeing field logistics, overseeing expenditures and purchases, securing research data, coordinating with partners, and meeting timeline goals.

This is a Contract and Grant (C&G) funded position. Employment is subject to availability of funding and may cease at the time funding for this employment is depleted.

Responsibilities:

• Daily management and organization of research activities at the UCF Marine Turtle Research Group's field station located in Melbourne Beach, FL. Specifically:

• Assists Principle Investigators in research including: recording sea turtle nesting activity by species and half-kilometer, marking subset of nests and conducting sea turtle nest inventories, conducting beach escarpment surveys, documenting sea turtle disorientation events/lighting ordinance violations, and relocating sea turtle nests (as required) along MTRG survey beaches in Brevard County, FL. Conducting Brevard County beach compaction measurements, as required. Participate in semi-monthly and semi-annual in-water sampling (using dip nets, hand-capture, and tangle nets) for sea turtles in Brevard and Indian River Counties, FL.

• Maintains and upkeeps research field supplies including, but not limited to, nest stakes, buoys, netting. Maintains and updates research equipment including trucks, ATVs, boats, trailers, storage conex.

• Provides expertise and collaborates with departmental and outside entities to conduct field‐related research. Maintain compliance with state/federal protected species permitting requirements/guidelines (e.g., bi-annual required state permit training for Index Nesting Beach and State Nesting Beach Survey protocols and bi-annual state training on sea turtle stranding response), as well as UCF IACUC (e.g., CITI trainings) and ES&H training as needed. Interface with contracting and protected species management agencies as needed, including to provide county and federal agencies real-time guidance on locations of sea turtle nesting events along Brevard County, FL beaches during construction activities.

• Develop field safety protocols and training for safe use of all field equipment.

• As needed, train undergraduate and graduate student assistants as well as new staff members on all MTRG major equipment and research field equipment.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 2+ years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219. Click here for more information

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in the following:

• Working with, using, and maintaining field research equipment including All-Terrain Vehicles, trucks, small (<25 feet) boats, and boat trailers.

• Sea turtle nesting beach surveys in compliance with state and federal protected species guidelines.

• Sea turtle in-water capture (dip net, tangle net) and handling in compliance with state and federal protected species guidelines.

Additional Application Materials Required: 

Please provide a current CV or resume.

Special Instructions to the Applicants: 

This is a Contract and Grant (C&G) funded position. Employment is subject to availability of funding and may cease at the time funding for this employment is depleted.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?  

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you’ll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You’ll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 13 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you’ll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills and you’ll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck. 

Working at UCF has its perks! UCF offers: 

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program   

• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays  

• Retirement savings options   

• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions   

• Education assistance   

• Flexible work environment 

• And more…For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide click here . 

  

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF’s expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Additional Requirements related to Research Positions: 

Pursuant to Florida State Statute 1010.35, prior to offering employment to certain individuals in research-related positions, UCF is required to conduct additional screening. Applicants subject to additional screening include any citizen of a foreign country who is not a permanent resident of the U.S., or who is a citizen or permanent resident but is affiliated with or has had at least 1 year of education, employment, or training in China, Cuba, Iran, Russia, North Korea, Syria, or Venezuela. 

The additional screening requirements only apply to research-related positions, including, but not limited to faculty, graduate positions, individuals compensated by research grants or contract funds, post-doctoral positions, undergraduate positions, visiting assistant professors, and visiting research associates.

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Department

College of Sciences (COS) - Biological Sciences

Work Schedule

Flexible days (Monday - Sunday) and flexible hours based on field season need (6am - 6 pm).

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

$48,722.00 to Negotiable

Job Posting End Date

06-01-2024-12-00-AM

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Central Florida is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer including Disabled/Vets.  Click on UCF's Equal Opportunity Statement to view the President’s Statement.

The UCF affirmative action plans for qualified individuals with disabilities and protected Veterans are available for inspection in the Office of Institutional Equity, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., upon request.

As a Florida public university, UCF makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request. 

The University of Central Florida is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.