Visiting Assistant Extension Educator- Regional Aquaculture Liaison CT Sea Grant

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 - Visiting. The position is a one -year annually renewable grant-funded position to support a multi-year initiative to enable, augment, and accelerate the exchange of ideas and information between NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center (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 the owners/operators of aquaculture operations, 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, Health 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 a 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, extension, and service, 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 faculty and staff, including attending monthly staff meetings, and interact regularly with Sea Grant regional colleagues.
• Conduct Extension 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 professionals 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 professionals, owners/operators of aquaculture operations, industry members, and researchers to understand the 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 gear from the office to program locations all along the CT coast and out of state. 
• Occupy a primary duty station in the Milford lab, interacting (formally and informally) with NEFSC researchers on an ongoing basis.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

1. Earned master’s degree or equivalent.
2. At least two years of research or field experience in marine aquaculture or another relevant field.
3. Demonstrated experience in extension/outreach.
4. Demonstrated superior communication (verbal and written) and interpersonal skills.
5. Ability to work