Post-doctoral Research Associate in Great Lakes Fish Ecology

Lake Superior State University’s Center for Freshwater Research and Education (LSSU CFRE) seeks a Post-doctoral Research Associate to lead a research project evaluating early life stage fish habitat and use in the Straits of Mackinac. The successful candidate will help support field surveys focused on identifying spawning and nursery habitats, characterizing environmental conditions and trophic-level resources, and contributing to improved ecological management of this critical Great Lakes connecting water. The position is a multi-agency collaboration and will work closely with scientists from the USGS and USFWS. The position is funded for 1 year with the potential for renewal. The successful candidate will be housed at LSSU’s Barch Center for Freshwater Research and Education (https://www.lssu.edu/cfre/) in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan, located at the nexus of the upper Great Lakes on the beautiful St. Marys River.

In collaboration with the project team, the Post-doctoral Research Associate will:

• Lead field-based surveys to inventory fish spawning and nursery habitats in the Straits of Mackinac
• Manage and analyze complex datasets, including egg and larval fish data, zooplankton and benthic invertebrate surveys, and habitat assessments
• Lead authorship of peer-reviewed publications on project findings
• Collaborate with federal, state, tribal, and academic partners to translate findings into management strategies
• Contribute to proposals for future research initiatives
• Provide mentorship to LSSU undergraduate students involved in the project

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. or ABD in a relevant field (e.g., fisheries science, aquatic ecology, habitat management)
• Experience conducting field sampling using standardized protocols
• Competency in data management and statistical analysis (e.g., R or similar software)
• Demonstrated ability to prepare and publish peer-reviewed manuscripts
• Strong organizational and collaboration skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Ph.D. in a relevant field (e.g., fisheries science, aquatic ecology, habitat management)
• Experience with ichthyoplankton sampling and expertise in underwater habitat characterization (e.g., ROV, sonar imaging)
• Experience contributing to collaborative research projects
• Record of securing external research funding

For further information, please contact:
Dr. Ashley Moerke (amoerke@lssu.edu) – Executive Director, LSSU Center for Freshwater Research and Education