NSF/PLR/ANT position announcement

PROGRAM DIRECTOR
ANTARCTIC INTEGRATED SYSTEM SCIENCE
Division of Polar Programs, Antarctic Sciences Section
National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA

OPEN PERIOD: May 26, 2015 to June 23, 2015

NSF’s Division of Polar Programs is seeking an Antarctic Integrated System Science Program Director. The successful candidate will have experience with interdisciplinary science, including managing the challenges presented by such projects. The current AISS portfolio includes projects involving glaciology, geology, biology, atmospheric and ocean sciences and also management of the awards for two Antarctic Long Term Ecological Research Sites. The incumbent will manage a dynamic proposal-driven research grants program and coordinate with other programs throughout NSF, other funding agencies, and international partners to achieve program goals. Science community input into an initial vision for the program can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/geo/plr/antarct/science/workshop_rpt/aiss_2007_workshop.pdf<UrlBlockedError.aspx; the current program description is at http://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=503240&org=PLR; and the results of a community effort to define important research directions to understand the ice-sheet/ocean/atmosphere system can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/geo/plr/usap_special_review/science_review/science_docs/nsf_sea-level_rpt.pdf<UrlBlockedError.aspx. Information about the Antarctic Sciences Section (ANT) can be found at http://www.nsf.gov/geo/plr/ant/index.jsp. In 2014, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) conducted a study, “Development of a Strategic Vision and Implementation Plan for U.S. Antarctic Program,” at the request of ANT. Information about the study is available at http://dels.nas.edu/Study-In-Progress/Development-Strategic-Vision/DELS-BASCPR-13-03?bname=prb. A report will be published in 2015 with recommendations for Antarctic research for the next decade. An earlier report (Future Science Opportunities in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean), prepared by a NAS committee as part of the 2011 external review of USAP, is available at http://dels.nas.edu/Report/Future-Science-Opportunities-Antarctica/13169?bname=prb. This report identifies key questions that will drive scientific research in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean.

The AISS program director coordinates closely with directors of the other Antarctic Science Programs (Astrophysics & Geospace Sciences, Atmosphere & Ocean Sciences, Earth Science, Glaciology and Organisms & Ecosystems) to assure that AISS research addresses questions about the Antarctic as a system that transcend disciplinary boundaries and are highly integrated and broader in scope than typically addressed by the other programs.

This position may be filled as a Career appointment, Visiting Scientist appointment, a Federal Temporary appointment, or an Intergovernmental Personnel Act assignment. Candidates for this position must possess a Ph.D in glaciology, geology, biology, atmospheric sciences or ocean sciences; experience as evidenced by lead-authorship in peer-reviewed publications and/or demonstrated leadership roles in science projects in any field of science pertinent to the activities of the AISS Program, plus, after award of the Ph.D., six or more years of research, research support, and/or research administration experience pertinent to the position that shows a progressively increasing level of responsibility. Special Conditions: Appointment is contingent upon satisfactory completion of a physical examination according to U.S. Antarctic Program medical and dental standards for extended summer deployment to Antarctica.

Applicants for this position should review announcement PLR-2015-0007 – Permanent and PLR-2015-0008 – Rotator. The position requirements and application procedures are located on the NSF Home Page at http://www.nsf.gov/about/career_opps/. Hearing impaired individuals may call TDD 703-292-5090). Applications must be received by June 23, 2015. NSF is an Equal Opportunity Employer.