OPS EES Research Assistant

OPS EES Research Assistant

Job Summary
FGCU’s Department of Ecology and Environmental Studies (EES) is seeking a full-time, fixed-term field research assistant to work on a project investigating nature-based incentive programs on cattle ranches in southern Florida. This position will be for one year, with a second year expected depending on satisfactory performance and the availability of funding.

The EES Department is located within The Water School, an interdisciplinary enterprise that brings together faculty from five colleges and schools within FGCU, representing 15 departments, to focus on the environmental, economic, and human dimensions of coastal resilience, ecosystem integrity, health and wellbeing, and restoration and remediation.

Job Description

Typical duties may include but are not limited to:

• Conducting focus groups and semi-structured interviews within the ranching community;
• Interacting with members of the ranching community to identify and interview participants;
• Using mixed-method approaches to analyze data gathered; and
• Authoring, presenting, and publishing study findings in academic conferences and peer-reviewed journals.

Additional Job Description

Required Qualifications:

• Masters degree in conservation-related discipline from a regionally accredited institution or equivalent accreditation OR equivalent level of experience working in agricultural and/or conservation-based settings.
• Experience with sampling and gathering field data using accepted qualitative methods.
• Reliable personal transportation.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with leading or co-leading the design and implementation of comprehensive field-based qualitative studies.
• Experience with working within agricultural and/or rural communities.
• Experience conducting rigorous quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods data analysis.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Knowledge of qualitative field research methodologies.
• Understanding of conservation challenges, especially those relevant to agricultural or ranching contexts.
• Proficiency in conducting fieldwork, including experience with sample collection, data recording, and other relevant tasks.
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, for interacting with participants, documenting research findings, and presenting results to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team, given the interdisciplinary nature of The Water School.
• Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with stakeholders, ranchers, and other collaborators involved in the project.
• Ability to work independently and engage in effective time management to meet project deadlines and complete tasks efficiently.
• Proactive approach to research, taking the initiative to identify and pursue opportunities for improvement or innovation.