Job DescriptionJob DescriptionDescriptionOPEN DATE: September 5, 2024  CLOSING DATE: October 2, 2024              POSITION TYPE: Trust FundAPPOINTMENT TYPE: Temporary Not to Exceed One (1) Year (subject to renewal depending on performance) SCHEDULE: Full TimeDUTY LOCATION: Edgewater MD
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk

Open to all qualified applicants

Application Instructions:  As a single PDF, please submit a brief cover letter outlining how you meet the qualifications, CV, and the names of three references.
What are Trust Fund Positions?Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program and may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).  Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated as low risk.
• Complete a Probationary Period
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States.  Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement. 

OVERVIEW The position is based at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, MD and requires local travel. This is a full-time position with annual salary of $68,405 and a comprehensive benefits package. The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the US. 

SERC is a research institute of the Smithsonian Institution dedicated to environmental research and education. SERC’s 2,650-acre campus is a living laboratory for long-term ecosystem research on forests, farmland, wetlands, shorelines and estuaries. SERC is strategically located in a rural landscape with immediate proximity to the Baltimore-Washington DC-Annapolis urban system on the western shore of Chesapeake Bay and central to the Bay’s large watershed. Our vibrant community of 150 staff includes principal investigators, educators, technicians, postdocs, and graduate and undergraduate researchers, who annually engage and collaborate with interns, 500+ volunteers, and 15,000 public visitors. Research and education at SERC address grand challenges in environmental science by working across ecological scales, conducting long-term studies, and engaging in comparative, synthetic studies. Our scientists collaborate across the Smithsonian Institution and with federal and state agencies, universities, and international organizations. We value public engagement and have strong programs in citizen science, science education, and science communication. 

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) Watershed Science Lab conducts research on the ecosystem ecology and biogeochemistry of watersheds and stream networks. We are especially interested in understanding how land use and land management interact with climate to affect stream network functioning with respect to organic carbon and nutrient transformations and fluxes. The Coastal Disease Ecology Lab conducts research on the biogeography, epidemiology, and impact of parasites and pathogens in coastal ecosystems. We are especially interested in using molecular tools to examine parasite sources and movements trophically and geographically. 

This postdoctoral position will support a collaborative project with the WS and CDE labs and the Anacostia River Keeper that is focused on understanding sources of fecal bacteria across the Anacostia Watershed and potential water quality proxies for assessing recreational water safety. This position will involve a wide range of field, lab, and data analysis approaches, as well as collaboration with community partners. Applicants need strong molecular laboratory and data analysis skills, including experience with bioinformatics. The postdoc will have the opportunity to work closely with an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary team and will be co-mentored by the two PIs. Mentorship will include regular meetings with PIs, career planning and professional development opportunities (e.g., development of an individualized development plan, guidance on networking, scientific communication, mentorship, and proposal writing, opportunities to publish, develop scientific and community networks, and opportunities to submit proposals). SERC has a large postdoc cohort which provides a broader community of peers. 
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work collaboratively with project team to identify program goals and coordinate field and lab work;
• Work closely with Riverkeeper partners to coordinate sample collection, transportation, and analysis;
• Extract genomic DNA, run qPCR assays, generate amplicon next generation sequencing (NGS) libraries;
• Conduct bioinformatic analyses for amplicon NGS data;
• Calibration, maintenance, troubleshooting of in situ multiparameter water quality sensors;
• Regular water sampling and lab processing for water chemistry samples;
• Organize and document data, including digitization, quality control, and metadata documentation;
• Data analysis and visualization, manuscript preparation, and formal presentations of results 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• PhD in ecology, environmental science, geosciences, or a related discipline
• Competent data entry and management skills 
• Competent genetic laboratory skills (i.e., DNA extraction, PCR, metabarcode library preparation)
• Water quality monitoring experience, including grab sample collection and processing
• Well-organized, able to work as part of a team, able to work independently, able to problem solve, good communication skills, attention to detail 
• Must hold a valid driver’s 

 Applicants, who wish to qualify based on education completed outside the United States, must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package. Any false statement in your application may result in your application being rejected and may also result in termination after employment begins.  The Smithsonian Institution values and seeks a diverse workforce. Join us in "Inspiring Generations through Knowledge and Discovery." 
Resumes should include a description of your paid and non-paid work experience that is related to this job; starting and ending dates of job (month and year); and average number of hours worked per week.  

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager. Relocation expenses are not paid.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact coyleb@si.edu. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.  To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures. The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We believe that a workforce comprising a variety of educational, cultural, and experiential backgrounds support and enhance our daily work life and contribute to the richness of our exhibitions and programs. See Smithsonian EEO program information: www.si.edu/oeema.

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