Technical
Staff and Departmental Assistants
Although
the Scientific Staff at WHOI takes the lead in formulating
hypotheses and originating and obtaining funding
for research projects, implementation of the projects
is a team effort between the scientists and the
Technical Staff and Departmental Assistants. Members
of both groups are expected to be highly skilled
and innovative. At more senior levels they operate
with considerable independence, and are responsible
for both the development and the implementation
of the techniques that make the research possible
at sea and in the laboratory.
Oceanography
requires a wide range of skills. To provide for the
diversity of training and experience required by the
many different skill types, WHOI has three technical
career paths: Science/Research, Engineering, and Information
Systems (see
Figure). As noted above, members of both staffs
on all three paths are expected to have superior competence
and to be committed to continuing growth of their
skills. The existence of career paths is not meant
to assure employees of promotions or continued employment
with WHOI. Promotion is a function of qualification,
performance, and position responsibilities. There
are many similarities among the three career paths
and associated appointment and promotion procedures.
These are described below. The particular qualifications
for each path are outlined in the following sections.
