Call for applications to serve as Essac Chair

DEADLINE to apply: 31 March 2019
 
The European Consortium of Ocean Research Drilling (ECORD) Science Support and Advisory Committee (ESSAC) is now accepting applications from active leading scientists from ECORD member countries to serve as ESSAC CHAIR from 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2021.

Role of the ESSAC Chair and ESSAC within IODP:
ESSAC is responsible for the planning, participation and coordination of science and outreach activities as an integral part of the ECORD contribution to the International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP). ESSAC's tasks include nominating ECORD members to IODP advisory panels and the ECORD Facility Board, staffing IODP expeditions, coordination of outreach activities, and participation in the strategic planning of ECORD science, funding and technology.
The ESSAC Chair reports directly to the ECORD Council and acts as a liaison to the ECORD Managing Agency (EMA), the ECORD Science Operator (ESO) and other IODP entities. The Chair oversees and coordinates all ESSAC science and outreach activities. The ESSAC Chair is responsible for running the ESSAC Office, coordinating nominations of ECORD members for IODP expeditions and advisory panels, and for organizing and leading biannual ESSAC meetings. The Chair represents ESSAC as a member of the ECORD Vision Task Force, the ECORD Executive Bureau, the ECORD Facility Board, the ECORD Outreach Task Force, the ECORD Industry Liaison Panel and the IODP Forum. The ESSAC Office coordinates the evaluation of applications and funding of ECORD Grants, ECORD Summer Schools, ECORD Scholarships and the Distinguished Lecturer Programme. The ESSAC Chair is also expected to propose and co-convene an IODP/ICDP-related special session at the European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly each year.

Term, Conditions and Compensation:
The ESSAC Chair is appointed by the ECORD Executive Bureau and approved by the ECORD Council, based on nominations by ESSAC. The ESSAC Chair rotates every two years, and with them the location of the ESSAC Office (but with consecutive terms in the same host country avoided where possible). In addition to their term, the selected ESSAC Chair shall serve as incoming Vice-Chair from mid June 2019 and outgoing Vice-Chair for one year from 1 January 2022. The ESSAC Office shall be funded by ECORD with a budget sufficient to support a full-time Science Coordinator with a scientific background, office costs, associated travel and subsistence costs related to ECORD/IODP business, and provide €50,000 per annum compensation for the time spent by the Chair on ESSAC business. The ESSAC Chair also serves as an ESSAC delegate representing their ECORD member country. Therefore, candidates will need to follow national selection procedures for ESSAC delegates and, if necessary, have endorsement from their respective countries.

Application Process:
Interested scientists from ECORD member countries should provide the ESSAC Office with the following documents (as pdf files): 1) a letter of interest including scientific expertise and previous involvement in DSDP/ODP/IODP; 2) a two-page CV; 3) a list of publications, 4) a confirmation letter from the head of your institute/department confirming that the home institution agrees to host the ESSAC Office, and 5) a short letter (or email) from your national office or research council representative indicating that they are aware of and approve of your application. Applications will be assessed by ESSAC, with a final nomination passed to the ECORD Council for approval in June 2019.

For further information, please contact the ESSAC Office:
Antony Morris (ESSAC Chair)
Hanno Kinkel (ESSAC Science Coordinator)
 University of Plymouth
Email: essac@plymouth.ac.uk
http://www.ecord.org