Research Scientist II - Catalog Lead
New England Aquarium
- Boston, MA
- $68,000-76,000 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Lead the Catalog team and ensure that they are meeting contractual obligations on time- especially data processed adequately to establish annual population number. Oversee data checking and quality control of the data.
- Manage an existing large grant which funds portions of a department of about 10 people, coordinate time budgeting with other grants, and apply for new contracts when existing contracts expire.
- Raise additional funds for additional, self-directed projects relating to the Right Whale Catalog.
- Oversee the DIGITS software used to process and manage our images and related data. This includes working with programmers to modify software as needed and managing contracts for server maintenance and backup.
- Supervise a staff of three to five researchers.
- Write and manage contracts for one to three external companies that perform photo-analysis, software modifications, and server maintenance and backup.
- Develop and strengthen relationships between NEAq departments to enhance our scientific goals. This includes actively collaborating with the Anderson Cabot Center and broader NEAq community.
- Serve as a member of internal and external working groups.
- Produce five peer-reviewed publications as lead author or coauthor and serve as a reviewer for at least four manuscripts each three-year period.
- Represent NEAq at public events and in the media.
- Give presentations at scientific conferences.
- Attend frequent Zoom or MS Teams video conferencing meetings. Right whale research team communication and coordination is primarily conducted remotely through these avenues.
- Requires a Masters degree in Marine Sciences, Biology, Fisheries or related field; PhD preferred.
- Five years of experience with large whale identification required.
- Experience fund raising and publishing required.
- Ability to manage large projects with multiple staff and large budgets.
- Self-motivated and self-directed.
- Collaborative with excellent organizational and communication skills.
- Programming skills (R and Shiny preferred) for data quality control preferred.
- Strong scientific writer (demonstrated publication record).
- Excellent data management skills.
- Strong analytical and statistical skills.
- Proven record of successful fund raising.
- Valid driver's license and passport preferred.
- A genuine interest in, and passion for, the important ocean and marine animal conservation mission of the Aquarium.