INTRODUCTION

Connecticut Sea Grant, the Department of Extension, College of Agriculture Health and Natural Resources, University of Connecticut, and the NOAA Milford Lab invite applications for a Regional Aquaculture Liaison Assistant Extension Educator. The position is a one -year annually renewable grant-funded position to support a four-year initiative to enable, augment, and accelerate the exchange of ideas and information between NOAA NEFSC Milford Lab researchers and end users, including the latest research results and tools and how they address existing and emerging needs. The Regional Aquaculture Liaison will provide region-specific and timely feedback from the aquaculture industry to help inform Milford Lab research, accelerate technology transfer from the Milford Lab research for the benefit of the aquaculture industry, and engage the academic research community in collaborative projects to supplement capacity at the Milford Lab to address ongoing and emerging research needs. Overarching tasks will include improving understanding of the marine aquaculture landscape at the regional scale, developing user-friendly technology-transfer products, interacting with researchers and stakeholders, sharing information, and providing feedback.

The Assistant Extension Educator will be a member of the Connecticut Sea Grant College Program, and a faculty member in the Department of Extension. The person in this position will report to the Director of Connecticut Sea Grant, and to the Head of the Department of Extension, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The position will be located at the Milford Lab (Milford, CT) and have a comprehensive regional mandate (Maine to Virginia).

Founded in 1881, UConn is a Land Grant and Sea Grant institution and member of the Space Grant Consortium. It is the state’s flagship institution of higher education and includes a main campus in Storrs, CT, four regional campuses throughout the state, and 13 Schools and Colleges, including a Law School in Hartford, and Medical and Dental Schools at the UConn Health campus in Farmington. The University has approximately 10,000 faculty and staff and 32,000 students, including nearly 24,000 undergraduates and over 8,000 graduate and professional students. UConn is a Carnegie Foundation R1 (highest research activity) institution, among the top 25 public universities in the nation. Through research, teaching, service, and outreach, UConn embraces diversity and cultivates leadership, integrity, and engaged citizenship in its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. UConn promotes the health and well-being of citizens by enhancing the social, economic, cultural, and natural environments of the state and beyond. The University serves as a beacon of academic and research excellence as well as a center for innovation and social service to communities. UConn is a leader in many scholarly, research, and innovation areas. Today, the path forward includes exciting opportunities and notable challenges. Record numbers of undergraduate applications and support for student success have enabled the University to become extraordinarily selective.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

The successful candidate will:

• Maintain regular interactions with Sea Grant staff, including attending monthly staff meetings, and interact regularly with Sea Grant regional colleagues.
• Conduct outreach programming on a weekly basis at various location sites requiring regular in and out-of-state travel.
• Maintain regular contact (calls, online meetings) with Sea Grant extension staff in the region to discuss ongoing progress and needs related to marine aquaculture.
• Visit each state in the greater Northeast (Maine to Virginia) at least once annually to interact with local Sea Grant extension staff, stakeholders, and researchers to understand local landscape and needs. These visits may include typical farms, innovative aspects, demonstration projects, and research installations and require the incumbent to lift, carry, load, and unload and transport program materials and fishing apparatus from the office to program locations all along the CT coast. 
• Occupy a primary duty station in the Milford lab, interacting (formally and informally) with NEFSC researchers on an ongoing basis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Earned Master’s degree or equivalent
• At least two years of research or field experience in marine aquaculture or another relevant field.
• Demonstrated experience in extension/outreach
• Demonstrated superior communications (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team setting
• Must possess the adequate physical strength, stamina, agility, and fitness to perform the required duties 
• Reliable transportation and a valid driver’s license is required

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS 

• A Ph.D. in a relevant field of study
• Three or more years of experience in marine aquaculture or related field
• Familiarity with Cooperative Extension/Sea Grant Extension non-advocacy, research-based, educational programming.

APPOINTMENT TERMS 

This full-time (11-month appointment) end-date, grant-funded position subject to annual renewal, contingent on satisfactory performance and availability of funds.  The initial appointment is anticipated to begin on September 1, 2021.  The successful candidate will be located at the NOAA NEFSC Milford Lab but regular travel throughout the greater Northeast region (Maine to Virginia) is required.  Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.

TO APPLY 

Please apply online to Academic Jobs Online https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/19063 and submit the following application materials:

• A cover letter highlighting your qualifications and interests,
• Curriculum vitae,
• Three letters of reference.

Screening of applicants will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.  More information regarding the Connecticut Sea Grant, the Department of Extension, and the NOAA Milford Lab can be found at https://seagrant.uconn.edu/, https://cahnr.uconn.edu/extension/, and https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/about/milford-laboratory, respectively. 

All employees are subject to adherence to the State Code of Ethics, which may be found at http://www.ct.gov/ethics/site/default.asp.

The University of Connecticut is committed to building and supporting a multicultural and diverse community of students, faculty and staff. The diversity of students, faculty and staff continues to increase, as does the number of honors students, valedictorians and salutatorians who consistently make UConn their top choice. More than 100 research centers and institutes serve the University’s teaching, research, diversity, and outreach missions, leading to UConn’s ranking as one of the nation’s top research universities. UConn’s faculty and staff are the critical link to fostering and expanding our vibrant, multicultural and diverse University community. As an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity employer, UConn encourages applications from women, veterans, people with disabilities and members of traditionally underrepresented populations.