Job Information
MyFlorida ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FWC - 77072848 in ST PETERSBURG, Florida
ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FWC - 77072848
Date: Jun 21, 2024
Location:
ST PETERSBURG, FL, US, 33701
The State Personnel System is an E-Verify employer. For more information click on our E-Verify Website (http://www.dms.myflorida.com/workforce_operations/human_resource_management/for_job_applicants/e_verify) .
Requisition No: 831901
Agency: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Working Title: ASSISTANT RESEARCH SCIENTIST-FWC - 77072848
Pay Plan: Career Service
Position Number: 77072848
Salary: $55,000, annually
Posting Closing Date: 07/02/2024
Total Compensation Estimator Tool (https://compcalculator.myflorida.com/)
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI)
Section: Information Science and Management - Center for Spatial Analysis
100 8th Ave SE
St. Petersburg, FL
Fish and Wildlife Research Institute - Center for Spatial Analysis
Assistant Research Scientist - CS 77072848
St. Petersburg, FL - $55,000 Annually
Our organization:
The FWC envisions a Florida where fish and wildlife are abundant and thriving in healthy and connected natural landscapes with vital working lands and waterways; where natural resources are valued and safely enjoyed by all; and wherein natural systems support vibrant human communities and a strong economy.
Our Mission: Managing fish and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the benefit of people.
Every organization has an identity that is forged not only by what it does, but by how it conducts itself. The values embedded in our mission and expressed in the vision of the FWC are to make quality decisions by being dynamic, science-informed, efficient, ethical, collaborative and committed to the vitality of the state and its environment.
Job Description:
The Center for Spatial Analysis (CSA) within FWRI leads the development and review of geospatial science and technology that supports FWC’s core mission. CSA is the central group responsible for the management of foundational datasets, geographic information systems (GIS), and the overall geospatial capacity for FWC. We view geographic information, which includes cartographic, statistical, ecological, and emergency response domains, as a mission-critical need that promotes strong inference and sound management decisions. Visit our website for more information: MyFWC.com
The Center for Spatial Analysis anticipates an increased demand for dynamic GIS pipelines that leverage open-source tools, ESRI products, autonomous technologies, and cloud environments to seamlessly integrate data processing tasks. Mastering these pipelines requires a unique skillset in GIS, scripting, ecological modeling, and first principles in computer science, ecology and geography.
To meet this demand, the Center for Spatial Analysis is hiring an Assistant Research Scientist that specializes in developing novel ways of autonomously updating, summarizing, visualizing, and drawing inference from spatially explicit data to support technical GIS teams and marine ecology research teams. The specialist serves as an institute-wide expert in GIS pipelines that link data collection, analytics, visualization, and distribution via collaborative ESRI tools and open-source tools to optimize cartographic products, geographic models, and interactive data summaries.
The specialist serves as a co-investigator on a wide range of grant-funded marine ecology research projects by participating in all aspects of study design, field collection, data analysis, manuscript production, and project management. Research projects include ecosystem scale projects that support fisheries management, emergency response, and marine spatial planning initiatives.
Specific duties and responsibilities include:
Supports technical GIS teams within CSA by developing, updating, and maintaining legacy GIS scripts in Python and R; managing Google Analytics for web-based cartographic products; programming and troubleshooting Raspberry Pi systems on in situ instruments; and managing Azure cloud computing services for analytical processes.
Supports GIS research teams within CSA by developing pipelines that automatically update cartographic products and ecological models with new data; migrate existing geographic data to global biodiversity repositories while maintaining data quality and provenance; and visualize project results in compelling and interactive ways via Shiny apps and other applications.
Support CSA’s hub-and-spoke model of GIS governance by promoting ESRI tools and open-source solutions; hosting training workshops across FWC; presenting results to stakeholders; participating in scientific conferences and workshops; and managing end-user support requests.
Represent FWC as an expert in open-source GIS pipelines and ESRI products; maintain a professional network of geospatial colleagues; serve on regional teams, communities of practice, and advisory panels as a geospatial expert; pursue cross-disciplinary research projects to support fish and wildlife management.
Requirements:
Employment in this position is contingent upon a satisfactory of a level 1 background check. The criminal history check must be completed prior to the first day of employment and continued employment is subject to annual grant renewals.
Minimum Qualifications:
Seven years professional experience in a closely-related biological field; or a bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and three years of professional experience in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics; or a master's degree from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics and two years of professional experience as described above; or a doctorate from an accredited college or university with major course of study in one of the physical or natural sciences or mathematics can substitute for the required experience.
Preferred Qualifications:
Preference will be given to candidates with compelling examples of digital geographic products and/or code referenced in their application package; authors of peer reviewed publications; and candidates with a track record of obtaining and managing relevant grant funding.
Knowledge, Skills And Abilities:
The terminology, principles, and techniques used in scientific research, analysis, and testing.
Knowledge of methods of marine data collection, validation, presentation, and distribution.
Windows Operating Systems and Office applications.
Cloud environments such as Azure, AWS, or GCP.
Open-source languages, tools, and repositories such as R, Python, Julia, Raspberry Pi, Linux, GitHub, Jupyter, ERDDAP, Google Analytics, QGIS, SQL, Shiny, and Posit Connect.
ESRI products such as ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, Hub, and Survey123.
Species distribution models; Atlantis, Ecopath, Ecosim, Ecospace, and similar ecosystem models; and remote sensing and fisheries data processing tasks that support related models.
Remote sensing platforms, sensors, and products.
Current environmental issues, organizations, and initiatives in Florida, the southeastern US, and Caribbean.
Foundations of ecology, relational databases, computer science, geography, and marine spatial planning.
Ability to:
Independently plan, organize, and coordinate multiple competing work assignments.
Design research studies.
Plan and adhere to research budgets.
Prepare manuscripts and reports.
Supervise and mentor staff.
Communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
Establish and maintain professional working relationships with others.
Participate in professional workgroups and panels.
Travel nationally and internationally.
Participate in strenuous field work.
Participate in emergency response activities.
Learn computer languages.
Speak publicly on technical subjects with authority and confidence.
Understand and apply applicable rules, regulations, and policies.
Maintain a valid Florida driver’s license.
Why should I apply?
The Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:
State of Florida employees enjoy top-tier benefits offerings including comprehensive health coverage to meet the needs of you and your family while maintaining low deductibles and low monthly out-of-pocket contributions. State employees also enjoy the option of selecting between the FRS Pension Plan and the FRS Investment Plan for retirement. As an additional benefit, state employment affords you the opportunity to take part in the tuition waiver program within the state university and community college systems.
Health Premiums $25.00- Single / $90.00- Family Biweekly
No Cost $25,000 Life Insurance
Nine Paid State Holidays, One Personal Holiday per year
4 hours Annual Leave and 4 hours Sick Leave accrued Biweekly
Retirement Plan Options
State University and College Tuition Waiver Program
On the Job Trainings
Support for family planning, including paid maternity leave, adoption benefits, Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), Family Supportive Work Program (FSWP), and paid leave for family and medical responsibilities for eligible employees.
Paid administrative leave for mentoring, volunteering, voting, and other reasons because we understand the importance of giving back to the community.
For a more complete list of benefits, visit https://www.mybenefits.myflorida.com/ .
The State of Florida is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action Employer, and does not tolerate discrimination or violence in the workplace.
Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.
The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.
VETERANS’ PREFERENCE. Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans’ Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply. Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements. Candidates claiming Veterans’ Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code. Veterans’ Preference documentation requirements are available by clickinghere (http://www.dms.myflorida.com/content/download/97612/566545) . All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.
Nearest Major Market:Tampa