Marine Habitat Suitability Modeling
This project will model habitat suitability for key groundfish species in the Gulf of Alaska to better understand and predict their recruitment success.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: Base stipend approximately $58,000/year plus $3,000 travel allowance and $2,000 location supplement; duration typically 2-3 years.
Summary: Postdoctoral and senior researchers can apply for a fellowship to develop habitat suitability models for key Gulf of Alaska groundfish species to improve understanding of recruitment dynamics.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and non-U.S. citizens; requires Ph.D. within last 5 years for postdocs; strong quantitative and GIS skills needed.
Description
This fellowship opportunity supports research at NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service, Alaska Fisheries Science Center in Juneau, AK, focusing on marine habitat suitability modeling for five important groundfish species in the Gulf of Alaska: arrowtooth flounder, Pacific cod, Pacific Ocean perch, sablefish, and walleye pollock. The project aims to better understand the ecological processes regulating year-class strength or recruitment, which is a major driver of fluctuations in marine fish stock sizes.
The early life history of these species includes three stages: pelagic offshore to nearshore, nearshore settlement, and pre-recruit migration to adult habitats. Developing species-specific habitat suitability models for all three stages will enable more accurate predictions of survival to recruitment by integrating benthic habitat data, spatial statistical analysis, and high-dimensional modeling techniques.
Candidates will coordinate with scientists involved in the Gulf of Alaska Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (GOA IERP) and conduct extensive literature synthesis on habitat preferences. There may be opportunities to participate in at-sea research.
