ECS is seeking a Research Associate, Social Scientist to work remotely.

The position will support the NOAA Northeast Fisheries Science Center as part of an interdisciplinary, collaborative team. While the position can be fully remote, the Social Scientist may also choose to work on-site at the Science Center in Woods Hole, MA. A government-furnished laptop will be provided. Occasional domestic travel may be required for meetings.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

Changes in environmental conditions, management, and economic conditions drive changes in human behavior. In close partnership with academic researchers, we will examine the joint effects of local (state-level) regulations and changes in the locations of stocks of fish on the communities and industries that rely on them. We will address questions that include:

• How will fishing fleets respond to changing environmental conditions, management, and economic conditions in terms of potential adaptation strategies, including targeting, timing, and diversification strategies?
• How do differences in local regulations impact the timing, targeting, and economic geography of a fishery?
• What institutional and strategic processes influence how these local regulations arise?
• Which communities will benefit and which communities will suffer as the distribution of fish stocks changes?

TASKS

The primary task is to develop and parameterize econometric models to answer the above questions. Empirical methods are likely to include discrete choice, production economics, and quasi-experimental methods. Theoretical models may include Random Utility Models, Production Theory, and Political Economy. The following sub-tasks are likely:

1. Review and synthesize the existing related literature to determine appropriate methods.
2. Develop and estimate econometric models of fishing vessel behavior to answer the above research questions.
3. Prepare internal NOAA Fisheries data necessary to estimate econometric models. Collect and prepare external data necessary to estimate and interpret econometric models. Document work through scholarly articles and functional code.
4. Support the trans- and multi-disciplinary modeling effort by improving software and participating collaboratively in team meetings.
5. Attend fishery management council meetings to understand management needs as necessary.
6. Integrate into the scientific community by attending Social Science Branch meetings and other organizational meetings as necessary.
7. Formally share the results of the research through technical and scientific writing and present research findings at scientific meetings.

DELIVERABLES

• Reproducible and annotated code used to prepare data and estimate econometric models.
• Reports, such as scholarly articles suitable for publication in a peer-reviewed journal or technical memorandum.
• Presentations at internal and external meetings of fishery managers and social scientists.

Salary Range: $55,000 - $75,000

General Description of Benefits

• An advanced degree (Ph.D. preferred). Eligible degrees include: 1) a Ph.D. in economics, applied economics, or applied social science; 2) a Ph.D. in fisheries science, computer science, data science, or related field, supplemented by economics training; or 3) a Masters degree in one of the above fields, plus relevant work experience. Please note that Ph.D. candidates with an anticipated completion date before May 31, 2026 are encouraged to apply.
• Demonstrated experience working collaboratively on multidisciplinary teams to develop joint products.
• Demonstrated experience with both formulating research questions and executing the quantitative research necessary to answer those questions.
• Proficiency in R, stata, or other statistical software.