Scientific Advisor for Coral Reef Conservation (Remote)

About the Organization

Reef Advocates is a mission-driven nonprofit using technology and citizen science to protect coral reefs. We’re building tools to empower recreational SCUBA divers to capture reef imagery that supports conservation research at a scale previously unimaginable.

Our pilot program, the INSIGHT Diver Network, uses a custom-built mobile app and photogrammetry to generate 3D models and ecological data from reef sites. We currently have sample data from the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System. With an anticipated app launch later this year, we are looking to prove our diver participation model, demonstrate the scientific merit of the data, and prepare for global scale-up.

The Role

We’re seeking a volunteer Scientific Advisor with a background in coral reef science, marine ecology, or a related field to help guide the scientific rigor of our work and strengthen the impact of our conservation data.

This is a part-time, flexible role ideal for:

A current or former academic or research scientist

A postdoc looking for applied conservation impact

An NGO scientist interested in volunteer advisory work

A retired professional passionate about reef resilience

What You’ll Do

Advise on best practices for underwater data collection and ecological monitoring

Help shape protocols to maximize scientific utility of imagery and spatial data

Offer feedback on data structure, annotation priorities, and sampling strategies

Optionally contribute to grant narratives or serve as a co-PI on proposals

Potential to join our Board of Directors, if mutually aligned

Why This Matters

Your input will help ensure that our data is credible, useful, and publishable

Your guidance will shape the future of community-powered reef science

Time Commitment

Flexible and remote (video meetings / async collaboration)

~1–3 hours/month on average

Heavier input possible during protocol planning or grant cycles

Location

Remote — while we are based in the U.S., you may be located in the U.S. or internationally

Interested?

Please email us at with:

A few sentences about your background

Why this mission speaks to you

A CV or link to your academic/professional bio (if available)

We’d love to set up a call to learn more about one another and share our vision.