Apply here (Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply for this position only if they have a STEM OPT extension that allows them to complete the two-year term of the fellowship)

• Website: www.edf.org
• Location: Any EDF U.S. office location (Austin, TX; Boulder, CO; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Raleigh, NC; San Francisco, CA; Washington D.C.).
• Fellowship Position
• Position title: High Meadows Fellow, Blue Carbon Innovation
• Department: Fisheries & Oceans
• Reports to: Jamie Collins, Marine Biogeochemical Scientist
• Address of fellowship placement: Any EDF U.S. office location (Austin, TX;
  Boulder, CO; Boston, MA; New York, NY; Raleigh, NC; San Francisco, CA; Washington, D.C.). Supervisor is based remotely in OR.

Department Description

The ocean is a lifeline for billions of people globally, providing essential nutrients, livelihoods, and economic opportunities. Yet climate change and overfishing are rapidly degrading marine ecosystems, threatening biodiversity, the safety of coastal communities, and global food security. That’s why EDF’s Climate Resilient Fisheries and
Oceans team is working to safeguard the oceans and protect nature, while feeding the planet, creating more secure livelihoods, and bolstering more equitable societies for human well-being. Our dedicated team of scientists, economists and fishery management experts are collaborating with partners around the globe to make sustainable oceans the norm. Through our programs in the U.S., Latin America, and the Asia-Pacific region, we draw on strong science and economic principles to advance sustainable fishing practices, forward-looking policies and innovative tools that can mitigate the impacts of climate change while supporting the health of our oceans and the people who depend on them for food and their livelihoods.

Position Description

The High Meadows Fellow will work closely with the team of experts within the Oceans Science Team to help EDF evaluate whether restoring mangrove forests that have previously been used for shrimp farming can serve as a scientifically and economically sound solution to climate change. The Fellow will use a large, high-resolution spatial imagery dataset of several mangrove forests in Ecuador to investigate fundamental questions surrounding blue carbon ecosystems, including whether these systems serve as net sinks for atmospheric carbon dioxide, what effect patterns of human disturbance have on the movement of carbon into and out of these systems, and whether
restoration projects serve as a cost-effective means of increasing the amount of carbon the systems store. The Fellow will play a critical role in this high impact science work, including development of a public-facing report and contributions to multiple peer-reviewed papers, which will lay a foundation for strategic engagement to enhance coastal zone management and support nature-positive industries that incentivize the protection and restoration of important mangrove and nearshore ecosystems. 

This work is part of a collaborative effort between EDF, Stanford University, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo in Guyaquil, Ecuador, providing the Fellow with the opportunity to work closely with faculty and scientists at these partner institutions while fully integrating into the EDF Ocean Science team. The Fellow will also have an opportunity to work closely with staff across EDF’s Fisheries & Oceans team and EDF’s Science & Innovation team, who are pursuing complementary projects.

The Fellow will report directly to the Marine Biogeochemical Scientist. Fellow supervisor is in Oregon and core team members are in Boston, Seattle, and San Francisco, and adept at working professionally remotely.

Responsibilities

Tasks will include but are not limited to:

• Research on the use of spatial imagery to estimate blue carbon stocks and fluxes, as well as changes in blue carbon stocks due to land-use change. This could include GIS analysis and/or development of basic computer models using open-source software such as R or Python.
• Assist the project’s diverse team of EDF and external scientists with analysis of other project datasets, including those focused on the restoration sites’ microbial ecology and the measurement of carbon fluxes using new, low-cost, state-of-the-art sensors.
• Contribute to the preparation of a public-facing report and multiple peer-reviewed scientific publications by conducting literature reviews.
• Provide support to team members across EDF’s Fisheries & Oceans and Science & Innovation teams in advancing goals for relevant to blue carbon through activities such as attending meetings, compiling data, and performing relevant literature searches.
• Participate in advancing EDF Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) goals in which people from all backgrounds and experiences feel connected, included, and empowered to address the environmental and organizational challenges in alignment with EDF values.

Qualifications

• Degree and/or coursework in oceanography, geochemistry, environmental science, marine ecology, marine conservation, blue carbon habitat, fisheries, or related field.
• Demonstrated interest in the science and policy surrounding blue carbon ecosystems such as mangroves and salt marshes.
• Proficiency with R, Python or another open-source software environment highly desirable.
• Experience with GIS, remote sensing data and/or drone imagery is a plus.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including exposure to scientific writing through coursework, previous internships, etc.
• Spanish language skills are a plus.
• Must be well organized, motivated, and detail-oriented.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work in a team setting and have the ability to work independently when projects are due.
• Demonstrate self-awareness, cultural competency and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.
• Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills.

Professional Development

• Work alongside subject matter experts in the field, and learn about the interdisciplinary approach to EDF's work and mission.
• Ability to work in a global NGO that uses science and economics to influence policy
  change, and develop a better understanding of ways to work with colleagues across different timezones.
• Attend team conferences and annual all-staff conferences to connect with EDF colleagues across the globe.
• Network with other fellows across EDF working in the sciences, economics, policy, law, and business.
• Contribute to public-facing report and contributions to multiple peer-reviewed papers.
• Be part of a collaborative effort between EDF, Stanford University, the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo in Guyaquil, Ecuador.