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Assistant Specialist in Cooperative Extension, Aquaculture Specialist

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Position description

This is a 100% Cooperative Extension (CE) appointment, an academic position in the Department of Animal Science. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an externally funded, applied research program addressing problems in freshwater or marine aquaculture, and to develop an extension education and outreach program that extends information to diverse clientele groups (e.g., multi-species producers, agencies and the general public). This individual will be expected to work closely with academic colleagues within the academic senate, Experiment Station, and Cooperative Extension; and government scientists and other professionals working in related fields (e.g., fisheries biologists, aquatic physiologists, animal behaviorists, aquatic pathologists).

Specialists in Cooperative Extension (CE) provide statewide leadership in their area of expertise for University colleagues, public agencies, community-based organizations, and consumers. The Specialist is expected to keep campus and county-based University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) academics and clientele appraised of emerging issues and research findings and directions, conduct applied research and develop applications of research-based knowledge to specific problems, and provide educational leadership and technical information support for county-based CE academics and clientele. A Specialist in CE is a primary liaison between University research units and statewide clientele. The Specialist will be expected to provide leadership and participation in ANR Program Teams, workgroups, and Strategic Initiatives, work closely with CE academics toward the resolution of issues of regional and statewide importance, and coordinate statewide programming with UCCE and AES colleagues throughout California. The Specialist also identifies and considers the needs of all relevant major clientele groups in planning, developing and executing applied research and education programs. The Specialist is evaluated for merit and promotion using four areas of expectation that include Extension Education, Applied Research, Professional Competence and Activity, and University and Public Service.

I. General disciplinary focus: Aquaculture will be the focus of this position. Accordingly, applicants should have the professional background necessary to conduct original applied research on some aspect of commercial aquaculture or associated areas.
II. Educational and professional background requirements: A minimum requirement is a Ph.D. in the biological sciences or related field focused on aquatic animals. The applicant should be well-versed in aquatic animal production systems including some expertise in recirculating aquaculture systems. The successful candidate must have a record that documents productivity in research as evidenced by publications in peer-reviewed journals.
III. Supporting units: The duty station for this position will be at the UC Davis Campus and will be supported by the Department of Animal Science. Specialists serve as an integral member of the faculty with appropriate support for office space and access to staff who will handle grant administration and personnel matters, among others.

Expected Contributions:

By developing reciprocal and mutually beneficial relationships with colleagues and with various stakeholders, the Specialist is expected to create public value by develop a program with four elements:

Extension Education: Key extension activities include but are not limited to:
• Provide statewide and national leadership in matters concerning commercial aquaculture production.
• Plan, organize, and participate in programs designed to educate CE academics and other clientele including commercial producers, state and federal agencies; and the general public about aquatic production technology, sustainability practices, aquaculture regulations and public policy.
• Develop extension programs including print and electronic materials that address subjects associated with freshwater and marine aquaculture.
• Provide campus and county based CE academics, with up-to-date and extendible information on freshwater and marine aquaculture.
• Conduct educational programs for aquaculture clientele, CE colleagues and others that focus on the production of aquatic species.

Mission-oriented Research
• Potential research areas include, but are not limited to: recirculating aquaculture systems including aquaponics and effluents for hydroponics; finfish and shellfish reproduction; early stage feeding; finfish and shellfish production; nutrition to improve growth; optimization of production system designs; approaches to shellfish sanitation analytics and modeling; technology for humane finfish slaughter; remote setting of shellfish, and production protocols for native species; and aquatic animal stress.
• The candidate will collaborate with colleagues in the academic senate, Experiment Station, UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) academics and stakeholders on emerging issues in aquaculture, and develop and conduct research and extension initiatives to address aquaculture related issues.
• We expect the successful candidate to publish their research findings in refereed journals such as Aquaculture, J. World Aquaculture Society, J. Applied Aquaculture, Aquaculture Nutrition, American Society of Agriculture & Biological Engineering, J. of Environmental Health, and journals in the disciplinary area of the candidate; and in various other electronic and print venues such as California Agriculture or UC/ANR publications, among others.

Professional Competence and Activity: The appointee will be expected to participate in professional society activities including presenting papers at national and international meetings; reviewing manuscripts and grant proposals in his/her area of expertise; and establishing productive working relationships with scientists and extension personnel statewide, and in other states and countries. The goal would be to gain national and international recognition for scholarly contributions to the science and practices of aquaculture, as he/she advances to the higher ranks in the UC system.

University and Public Service: The appointee will serve on committees that support the needs of the Department, University and ANR, including appropriate ANR Program Teams and Workgroups. The appointee may also serve on advisory councils and boards appropriate to the candidate’s area of expertise. The candidate should ultimately be recognized as a knowledgeable partner who can provide reliable information and build research-informed networks to address public issues in the state of California.

UC Davis supports Family-friendly recruitments. UC Davis covers travel expenses for a second
person to accompany an invited faculty recruitment candidate who is a mother (or single parent of either gender) of a breast or bottle-feeding child less than two years of age.
http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/work-life/index.html

UC Davis recognizes the necessity of supporting faculty with efforts to integrate work, family and other work-life considerations. To recruit and retain the best faculty, the campus sponsors a Work Life
Program that provides programs and services that support faculty as they strive to honor their commitments at work, home and the community.
http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/programs/worklife/index.html

The UC Davis Partner Opportunities Program (POP) is a service designed to support departments and deans’ offices in the recruitment and retention of outstanding faculty. Eligibility for POP services is limited to full-time Academic Senate Ladder Rank faculty (including Lecturers with Security of Employment (LSOE), Lecturers with Potential Security of Employment (LPSOE) Senior Lecturer with Security of Employment (SLPSOE)), and Cooperative Extension Specialists.

UC Davis is a smoke- and tobacco-free campus effective January 1, 2014. Smoking, the use of smokeless tobacco products, and the use of unregulated nicotine products (e-cigarettes) will be strictly prohibited on any property owned or leased by UC Davis-- indoors and outdoors, including parking lots and residential space.

Application Requirements

Document requirements
  • Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

  • Summary or abstract of the Ph.D. dissertation

  • Statement of research and extension interests and goals

  • Publication List - Publication list in chronological order

  • Recent Publication 1

  • Recent Publication 2

  • Recent Publication 3

  • Statement of Contributions to Diversity - Diversity contributions documented in the application file will be used to evaluate applicants. Visit http://academicaffairs.ucdavis.edu/diversity/equity_inclusion/index.html for guidelines about writing a diversity statement and why one is requested.
    (Optional)

  • Cover Letter (Optional)

Reference requirements
  • 3 required (contact information only)
2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Diversity 2023 Forbes Award: Best Employers for Women

Job location

Davis, CA