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Lecturer in Tropical Marine Ecology

  • South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Island (TCI)
  • Education

Institutional Mission:  

The School for Field Studies (SFS) creates transformative study abroad experiences through field-based learning and research. Our educational programs explore the human and ecological dimensions of the complex environmental problems faced by our local partners, contributing to sustainable solutions in the places where we live and work. The SFS community is part of a growing network of individuals and institutions committed to environmental stewardship. 

Position: 

Lecturer in Tropical Marine Ecology 

Reports to: 

  • Center Director, Dr. Heidi Hertler 

  • Program Manager 

  • Dean, Office of Academic Affairs, Dr. Katie Goodall 

This position reports jointly to the Program Manager, Center Director, and Dean, with day-to-day management from the Program Manager. 

Location: 

Center for Marine Resource Studies (CMRS), South Caicos, Turks and Caicos Island (TCI) 

Start Date:   

Anticipated travel and arrival to CMRS are scheduled for January 15, 2027. The selected candidate will participate in required virtual and on-site trainings as part of their onboarding starting the week of January 4, 2027. 

Compensation/Benefits:
Salary is dependent on experience and qualifications. Comprehensive benefits package and on-site room and board included. 

Position Summary:  

The SFS Center for Marine Resource Studies, located in South Caicos seeks an enthusiastic, team-oriented individual to serve as part of a team of faculty and staff that delivers an interdisciplinary, hands-on learning experience to students spending a semester in South Caicos. On a contract basis, the Lecturer in Tropical Marine Ecology will deliver the 50-hour Tropical Marine Ecology course during the fall and spring semesters. Additionally, during fall and spring, they will co-teach the 50-hour Directed Research course with other faculty members, leading a faculty-developed directed research project with a small group of students. If the contract is extended into the summer, this position will assist in teaching two 50-hour summer courses, Tropical Marine Ecosystems: Monitoring and Management and Marine Fauna Ecology and Conservation. 

SFS programs are field-based and experiential. This position will engage students in a classroom and through extensive time spent in the field. We encourage faculty to integrate as much fieldwork and hands-on experience into their courses as possible.  

SFS programs do not follow a nine to five model. Faculty are also integral members of the Center’s communal living model, eating and working with the student cohort.   

Faculty are expected to be active members in the community-building process. Additional responsibilities outside of teaching may include participation in community engagement days, involvement in student life, organization of laboratory space, and general Center upkeep. We are especially interested in candidates with experience teaching to a diverse student body, and demonstrated commitment to diversity, inclusion, and cultural competence in a learning environment, conservation, and the Center’s host community.    

Center Focus:  

The SFS Center for Marine Resource Studies (CMRS), a field station located on South Caicos Island in TCI, is committed to providing educational and research opportunities to visiting students while collaborating with local stakeholders on setting the research agenda and sharing research outcomes. We operate year-round, delivering two semester and two summer programs. During program time, we operate a 6-day work week. The Center strives to make a meaningful contribution to the sustainable management of South Caicos marine resources and ecosystems, to the better management of the terrestrial environment, and towards the preparedness of the local community for the advent of mainstream tourism. The Center research activities are carried out in three areas: assessment and monitoring of marine environments, conservation and management of marine resources, and socio-economic conditions for development.   

SFS Position on Diversity and Inclusion:  

SFS was founded with the belief that stewardship of our planet is the responsibility of people all around the world. Addressing complex global issues requires the active inclusion of stakeholders with varying perspectives and identities. We recognize that to successfully address threats to our natural world, we must look beyond social constructs designed to divide us. Just as we value biodiversity in all its forms, we value and engage with a multitude of diverse perspectives and people in the countries where we work and the students and staff we serve. 

Duties and Responsibilities 

Each lecturer is expected to provide high quality, inquiry-based teaching and will lead students in Directed Research projects defined in the Center’s research plan. 

 Teaching 

  • As part of an interdisciplinary teaching team, teach one-third of the academic program (minimum 60 lecture hours per semester, 20 per summer program) 

  • Plan, revise, and effectively deliver a challenging, problem-based interdisciplinary curriculum 

  • Organize lectures and prepare course materials in a timely and professional manner 

  • Adhere to the daily academic schedule 

  • Prepare, administer, and grade assignments, quizzes, mid-term and final examinations  

  • Supervise and mentor up to 15 students in Directed Research projects 

  • Actively support and counsel students on academic issues 

  • Maintain records of lectures, exams, quizzes, readings, field experiences and homework assignments 

Research 

  • Conduct designated research according to the Center's Strategic Research Plan 

  • Identify appropriate components of the Center's research plan suitable for student Directed Research projects 

  • Prepare research permits for government department and research results for stakeholders, partners, and government entities and for publication and conference presentations 

  • Assist in the creation and implementation of Center research policies, priorities, budgets as required 

  • Apply for external funding opportunities to support research activities when possible 

  • Follow data management, record keeping, and reporting systems 

  • Present research findings at local and international conferences (budget dependent)        

Administration 

  • Participate in planning activities prior to the program start and in review/analysis following students' departure (minimum of 5 days) 

  • Participate in training activities for new Center staff prior to and during the program, particularly assistants and managers 

  • Participate in and lead parts of the orientation and re-entry components of the program presented to students at the beginning and end of each program period 

  • In cooperation with other Center staff, provide day-to-day coordination of assistants as delegated by the Center Director 

  • Participate in resolving group management issues and student discipline problems 

  • Participate in preparation of the final reports, academic handbook revisions and other required reports 

  • As requested by the Center Director, assist with other logistical, group management and administrative tasks 

 Safety & Risk Management 

  • Take responsibility, as an individual and as a member of the Center faculty/staff team, for the safety of all program participants 

  • Prepare Risk Management Plans for course field exercises 

  • Participate in the review and revision of Center risk assessment and management plans 

  • Recommend and review policies and procedures needed to manage risks 

  • Know the emergency procedures plan for the Center, including evacuation plan 

  • Participate in the safety portions of the on-site orientation and conduct safety briefings for students and/or staff 

  • Complete incident reports when appropriate and contribute to safety audits 

  • Comply with, actively model, and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures 

  • Ensure that first-aid certifications are kept up to date via periodic courses offered by SFS between program sessions 

Daily Center Life 

  • Live on-site for the duration of each program period and take meals with the students  

  • On a rotating basis, take responsibility for Center-specific "staff of the day" duties  

  • Take part in, and occasionally lead community outreach, Center upkeep projects, social and field activities  

  • At the request of the center director, serve as caretaker for center during program breaks and center rentals 

  • Drive standard transmission vehicles and boats as needed  

  • Adhere to, actively model and enforce all SFS and Center policies and procedures 

Minimum Qualifications:

  • Master’s degree, significant experience or scholarship, university-level teaching experience in Tropical Marine Ecology, or related field.   

  • Field research experience, preferably in the fields of Queen Conch, Spiny Lobster, and Reef Fish Ecology; Tropical Coastal Zone Ecology; Marine Protected Areas; Coral Reef Monitoring; Marine Policy Formulation 

  • Demonstrated ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary teaching and research team  

  • Good track record of research publications  

  • Certified SCUBA diver, Rescue or Divemaster preferred  

  • Small boat handling experience 

  • Demonstrated commitment to environmental issues 

  • Ability and willingness to drive a standard-transmission vehicle, operate or travel by boat as required, and participate in field exercises and waterfront activities 

  • Ability to safely lift, carry, and move materials or equipment weighing up to 50 pounds 

  • Ability to walk on uneven terrain, swim/snorkel, board and travel on small vessels, work outdoors in tropical conditions, and respond effectively during emergency situations 

Preferred Qualifications:

  • Ph.D. and university-level teaching experience in Tropical Marine Ecology, or related field 

  • Demonstrated experience working in collaboration with small island governments 

  • Residential student group management and risk management experience highly desirable 

  • Experience teaching field courses 

  • Current First Aid, CPR, and /or Wilderness First Aid certification 

Other Expectations 

  • Willingness to work flexible hours and live on site at the field station with a small team of permanent staff, groups of US undergraduate students and visiting researchers or programs 

  • Participate in the residential campus activities and community outreach  

  • Represent SFS at local and international meetings and conferences 

  • At all times, work to ensure good relations between the SFS and the local community 

 

Expectations for Faculty Conduct:
The School for Field Studies strives to create and maintain a work environment in which people are treated with dignity, decency, and respect. The SFS environment is characterized by mutual trust and the absence of intimidation, oppression, and exploitation. SFS will not tolerate unlawful discrimination or harassment, including sexual harassment, of any kind. Through enforcement of this policy and by education of employees, SFS seeks to prevent, correct, and discipline behavior that violates this policy. 

All offers of employment are contingent upon clear results of a thorough background check, which may include, depending on the candidate’s home of record and local requirements, a certificate of good standing or clearance from the local police precinct. Background checks will be conducted on all final candidates and on all employees as deemed necessary. 

The successful candidate will provide high quality, modern and experiential teaching in critical environmental issues in an interdisciplinary curriculum and participate fully in the implementation of the Center’s five-year research plan that addresses these issues. The publication of research results is critical. The successful candidate will work closely with the lecturers in Socioeconomics and Marine Resource Management to deliver an interdisciplinary program through education and research in a field setting. 

Course Descriptions 

Tropical Marine Ecology: Marine ecology is the study of how marine organisms interact with their biotic and abiotic environments. In this course we will focus on the biological processes and trophic webs that exist in the ecosystems that dominate the shallow coastal areas of the tropical western Atlantic, i.e. mangrove forests, seagrass meadows and coral reefs, as well as the behavior and biology of the organisms that inhabit them. Furthermore, we will explore the ways in which Marine Protected Areas, climate change and hurricanes can affect ecological processes, and we will learn some of the practical field data collection techniques that can be employed to assess marine communities. 

Tropical Marine Ecosystems: Monitoring and Management: This course is an interdisciplinary course that highlights key aspects of environmental assessment and management of tropical marine ecosystems. In addition, students explore sustainable development strategies for the Turks and Caicos Islands that are successful on a local and global scale. Students gain knowledge of subtropical marine ecosystem function and connectivity and begin to understand the most pressing challenges at the intersection of marine conservation and economic development. Students learn how to engage in management of local fisheries and coastal development and how to respond to the global phenomena of climate change and ocean acidification. 

Marine Fauna Ecology and Conservation: In this four-week summer course, we will explore the ecological importance and conservation status of macro- and megafauna that are prominent in the coastal waters of the tropics, namely elasmobranchs (sharks and rays), large oceanic and reef fishes, marine and coastal reptiles (sea turtles, island iguanas), and marine mammals and octopuses. The course will consist of lectures, workshops and field-based activities that provide students with an understanding of the diversity and ecological characteristics of these animals. Furthermore, the workshops and field activities will introduce students to the practical techniques that are commonly employed to study and assess marine fauna. 

Directed Research: This course provides students with the opportunity to apply ecological, biological, and/or social-scientific methods to a field research project that addresses a local issue related to the environment. We will also investigate the ways that various methods and theories distinguish (or don’t) fact from interpretation, cause from correlation, and advocacy from objectivity. The directed research topics are derived from the SFS Center’s Research Plan as defined by the Center staff and local stakeholders. Through the Directed Research project, students will contribute to a growing body of scientific research that informs local conservation and resource management decisions. SFS program lecturers lead a small group of students in this research component of the program. 

Applicants are encouraged to review the full course syllabi and programs descriptions on the SFS website: Marine Resource Studies – School for Field Studies 

To Apply: Submit a cover letter, resume, and references outlining relevant experiences via the online application on the SFS Careers page at https://fieldstudies.catsone.com/careers/ 

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws: Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)  

Equal Opportunity Employer:  

SFS is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, creed, caste, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetics, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, national origin or ancestry, ethnic origin, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.