Fellows to 'Characterize Remote Coral Reefs and Conduct Coral Reef Ecosystem Health Assessments'

The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation (Foundation) sponsors graduate fellowships for doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers conducting applied research that serves the Foundation’s efforts to improve management and conservation of coral reef resources and habitats.  Beginning in the Fall of Academic Year 2009-2010, the Foundation will support up to a maximum of two new dedicated and hard working individuals interested in contributing to research activities conducted during a multidisciplinary three year global coral reef expedition (Expedition, see www.globalreefexpedition.com). 

The selected Fellows will have research opportunities in a number of locations in the wider Caribbean, South Pacific, Southeast Asia and Indian Oceans spanning the period of 2010-2013. The primary objectives of the Expedition are to map and characterize remote coral reefs and conduct coral reef ecosystem health assessments across gradients of human and natural disturbance.  A primary focus of the research will involve characterization of resilience factors with emphasis on 1) determining global and local processes that control the functioning of these ecosystems, 2) assessing impacts from acute disturbances and how patterns of recovery vary across biophysical gradients and 3) identification of strategies that can help mitigate impacts and improve coral reef resilience. 

Potential areas of research include, but are not limited to:

1) Characterization of key biological processes (e.g., reproduction and recruitment, predation, competition) that drive coral reef ecosystem health, and how diversity, productivity, habitat structure, anthropogenic disturbances, environmental determinants and other factors affect these processes.  This could include identification of factors and processes that may enhance the resilience of coral reef ecosystems to climate change and how these indicators vary across gradients of human and environmental stressors.

2) Evaluation of the functional roles of different reef organisms, the degree of functional redundancy among key fish and coral species and how this varies across spatial scales, and interrelationships with other species;

3) Elucidation of genetic connectivity within and between reef systems and the roles of biological factors (e.g., life history traits) and physical factors in retaining or dispersing propagules; 
  
4) Characterization of geological, physical and environmental processes that structure and maintain healthy reef communities;

5) Evaluation of climate change parameters, including measures of sea water chemistry (e.g., alkalinity, carbon dioxide), calcification processes, linkages between temperature anomalies and bleaching and disease, and the impacts of these on coral reef communities; and

6) Characterization of microbial communities associated with stressed and healthy corals, and studies on coral diseases, their pathogenesis, and impacts and linkages with human stressors and climate change. This could include efforts to understand innate immunity and an evaluation of bioindicators that enhance the ability of corals to resist environmental stress, such as cellular-diagnostic markers (e.g., heat shock proteins), and associated microbial communities, and how these vary across spatial and temporal gradients.

7) Assessment of nutrients in coral reef environments and their impacts on associated organisms including measurements of (a) standing stocks of functional indicator groups, (b) water-column and sediment nutrient levels, (d) tissue C:N:P ratios, (e) algal physiological-response assays. A Fellow interested in exploring this aspect would be leading water sampling efforts and analysis of these samples during the Global Expedition, such as the possible deployment and maintenance of in situ chemical profiling analyzers; assessment of responses of algae, corals and other organisms to nutrient pulses; and comparative studies of offshore and nearshore reefs.

The Living Oceans Foundation Fellow will receive up to $35,000 as a fellowship grant to cover legitimate educational and research expenses, such as tuition and research field-work expenses. The fellowship recipient will be known as the “Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation Research Fellow.” Fellows may receive up to three continuous years of financial support based upon annual performance reviews.  Candidates must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills and have the knowledge and expertise needed to develop a dissertation topic related to the mission of the Foundation and its role in marine conservation.  Ph.D. candidates must also meet the requirements of graduate programs at accredited universities.  Applications must originate from the accredited university or research centers. 

Applications from Ph.D. candidates must include: 1) proof of enrollment or admission from an accredited university; 2) copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts (which may be sent separately from the application by May 31, 2009, only if required by the sending institution); 3) an essay explaining your interest in marine conservation; 4) a research proposal; 5) two letters of recommendation (which may be sent separately from the application by May 31, 2009, if necessary); 6) a written endorsement of your established or prospective academic major advisor (which may be sent separately from the application by May 31, 2009, only if required by the sending institution); and 7) a completed Online Application.

Postdoctoral candidates should submit:  1) copies of undergraduate and graduate transcripts (which may be sent separately from the application by May 31, 2009, only if required by the sending institution); 2) an essay explaining your interest in marine conservation; 3) a research proposal including discussion of the capabilities for sample analysis and laboratory research; 4) three letters of recommendation (which may be sent separately from the application by May 31, 2009, if necessary); 5) information on the institution where you are conducting your postdoctoral work with your supervisor’s contact information; 6) a written endorsement from the institution and/or supervisor (which may be sent separately from the application by May 31, 2009, only if required by the sending institution); 7) a list of publications in reputable scientific periodicals; and 8) a completed Online Application.

Specific Fellowship Criteria:

1. The Living Oceans Foundation typically supports up to a maximum of two new fellowships per year upon discretion of the Board of Directors.  
   
2. Fellowship applications will be accepted worldwide, regardless of nationality.   
    
3. Ph.D. Fellows must engage in a thesis or dissertation that has direct application to the planned Living Oceans Foundation Global Reef Expedition.  Preference will be given to applicants who will use data collected during the Foundation Expedition in the course of their thesis or dissertation.  Similarly, postdoctoral research Fellows must engage in research during the Global Reef Expedition.  Research may also include field sampling during the Expedition, with sample processing undertaken at the Fellow’s home institution between legs of the Expedition.

4. The Fellow recipient must provide copies of all data, photographs, video, products, etc. to the Foundation with unrestricted use privileges. A detailed interim report on the activities undertaken during each leg of the Expedition must be submitted within 30 days of completion of the mission. The Fellow may also be asked to donate back some of his/her time and talent to the Foundation in a manner and time frame to be mutually determined.  The Fellow may also be asked to participate in scientific meetings or symposia related to the mission of the Foundation.

5. Overhead expenses will be negotiated with the university on a case-by-case basis, not to exceed 10%.   
  
6. The Fellow will acknowledge the Foundation’s support in his/her thesis or dissertation and in any subsequent articles and papers that result from the research conducted during the time frame of the fellowship.    

Please see http://www.livingoceansfoundation.org and click on “Fellowships” for more information. 

Applications may be submitted by email to: Bruckner@livingoceansfoundation.org or mailed to:

Andy Bruckner 
Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation  
8181 Professional Place, Suite 215 
Landover, MD 20785  
USA