The Smithsonian Marine Science Network (MSN) is a unique array oflaboratories and research vessels spanning the western Atlantic coastalzone and across the Isthmus of Panama, facilitating long-terminterdisciplinary, comparative research between MSN sites. The Networkincludes SERC (Environmental Research Center, Edgewater, Maryland),SMSFP (Marine Station at Ft. Pierce, Florida), Carrie Bow Marine FieldStation (CCRE Program-Belize), and STRI (Tropical Research Institute,Panama). The MSN invites Post-Doctoral research proposals that addresspressing marine research questions.

Eligibility & Award Amount
Post-Doctoral scientists must collaborate directly with identifiedSmithsonian marine research scientists as named sponsors/advisors of thefellowship. Stipends are $35,000 per year with additional fundsavailable for group health insurance, travel from place of origin to theSmithsonian host facility, research travel and research supplies, up toa combined $45,000 maximum per year. Awards will be made for a maximumof two years. Proposals must focus on comparative research involvingmore than one of the Network facilities. Individuals who have beenemployed or contracted by the Smithsonian Institution within theprevious year are not eligible.

Thematic Marine Research Priorities

Systematics and Evolutionary Biology
-Systematics, life history, symbioses, phylogeny, and quantitativedistribution of taxa with substantial species richness, ecologicalinfluence, or biomass.
-Environmental and synecological causes of morphological variability.
-Molecular-biological approaches in systematic and phylogenetic analysis.

Ecology
-Mechanisms that structure biodiversity and process matter and energy.
-Processes connecting or separating ecosystems, such as oceanographicparameters, nutrient cycling, larval exchange, and sediment flow.

Ecophysiology
-Mechanisms of tolerance and adaptability of ‘key’ species exposed tostress, such as changes in the physical and chemical environment andcommunity composition, including the effect of symbionts, parasites, anddisease agents.

Paleobiology and Geology
-Patterns and processes from the fossil record that provide insight intothe ecology, evolution and conservation of modern marine communities.
-Biological, geological, and chemical processes in the formation ofcoastal geomorphic features.

Conservation and Education
-Consequences of economic development and natural catastrophes, sourceand impact of pollutants, strategies of conservation.
-Development of illustrated printed and interactive electronic fieldguides for improved communication among non-systematists and digitalecological data bases for important elements of coastal fauna and flora.

For additional information, application materials and deadlines go to:
http://www.si.edu/marinescience/