CALL FOR  REVIEWERS

The Center for Independent Experts (CIE) regularly accepts applications for independent participation in peer reviews of stock assessments, programs, and other scientific studies carried out by the NOAA Fisheries. The goal of this initiative is to strengthen NOAA Fisheries' Quality Assurance efforts under the current NOAA Strategic Plan by setting up a database of qualified scientists who can be called upon to review specific assessments. Under this initiative, participating scientists will receive honoraria for the time spent in their review activities.

Selected participants will be added to a pool of experts from which individuals will be assigned to different tasks. There will be a degree of flexibility in accepting task assignments, particularly to avoid scheduling conflicts. For this reason, scientists interested in the program should provide a clear indication of their time availability. 

HONORARIA

Fees will be commensurate with experience but will not typically exceed $600 per day, in addition to expenses, approved travel, and other costs. 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Applicants should

(A)

Have a Ph.D. or equivalent degree in fishery science, renewable resource assessment, or in a closely related field, and possess experience in applying methods to real stock/population assessments and developing scientific advice for management,

OR

Have five or more years of applied experience in one or more of the following:  Fishery stock assessment model development, fishery stock assessment applications, population dynamics of marine mammals and sea turtles, development of scientific advice for resource management and be a nationally or internationally recognized expert in the appropriate disciplines,

AND

(B)

Have 10 or more peer-reviewed publications in the areas outlined above or have substantially contributed to work conducted by fishery management agencies in the subject area,

OR

Have record of past participation in stock assessments (e.g. working groups) and/or stock assessment reviews, nationally or internationally.

RESTRICTIONS

It is of utmost concern that the scientific input provided by the reviewers be unbiased. This means that the selected individuals will provide their expert advice free from the influence of government managers, the fishing industry, or any other interest group. For this reason, applicants must lack any potential for conflict of interest with the tasks associated with the review process.

The three main likely reasons for conflict of interest are (a) having received in the recent past (1-2 years) substantial funds from industry or environmental groups with vested interests in resources for which NOAA Fisheries has stewardship responsibilities, (b) having received in the recent past substantial funds from NOAA Fisheries via "sole-source contracts", and (c) having a history of an advocacy role for a specific viewpoint. Participants will be asked to sign an affidavit stating that they do not possess any such attributes that may bias the review. Additionally, participants will be asked to sign an agreement to (1) not obtain any funding from, or carry any unpaid work for, environmental or industry-related sources with U.S. marine fisheries interests during the time in which they will be contracted by the program, and (2) not obtain any funding from environmental or industry-related sources with fisheries interests in the stocks actually reviewed for one year after the review ends, without prior consent from NOAA Fisheries. 

Please refer to the Conflict of Interest section on this website for more details on restrictions and terms of eligibility. 

HOW TO APPLY

Interested and eligible scientists should send the following information:

1. A letter stating their interest to participate, highlighting their expertise and preferred types of reviews, and a statement confirming a lack of conflict of interest;

2. A curriculum vitae;

3. An indication of general availability of time for the 12 months starting from the date of application (for example 4 days in January, 3 days in February, and so on)

Applicants shall be informed shortly after their application is received whether they qualify as participants in the program, and their information shall be retained and considered for appropriate independent peer reviews. 

PLEASE SEND ALL INFORMATION VIA EMAIL OR REGULAR MAIL TO:

Dr. David Die

CIE/RSMAS/UM

4600 Rickenbacker Causeway

Miami, Florida 33149

305-361-4607

Email:  ddie@rsmas.miami.edu

OR

Mr. Manoj Shivlani

Senior Research Associate

MBF/RSMAS/UM

4600 Rickenbacker Causeway

Miami, Florida 33149

305-361-4608/FAX: 305-361-4457

Email:  mshivlani@rsmas.miami.edu