Postdoctoral Research Associate – Phytoplankton Ecology

About the role

The Coastal Water Health lab at the Harte Research Institute seeks a postdoctoral researcher to lead studies on Aureoumbra lagunensis (“brown tide”) blooms in the Baffin Bay‑Upper Laguna Madre ecosystem under a new NOAA ECOHAB grant. The position offers experience in project coordination, field and laboratory data collection, and stakeholder engagement.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate project activities with the PI, co‑PIs and staff, ensuring timely implementation of grant deliverables.
• Conduct field and laboratory work to acquire and process phytoplankton and water‑quality samples, developing new techniques as needed.
• Analyze data, submit results to the data manager, publish findings in peer‑reviewed journals and present at scientific meetings.
• Develop new research avenues and prepare grant proposals to expand the program.

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Marine Science or a related discipline.
• Experience identifying marine phytoplankton, including Aureoumbra lagunensis.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work in field conditions and manage project timelines.

Required skills

• Phytoplankton identification (marine taxa).
• Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Statistical analysis of time‑series and community‑structure data.
• R software packages (preferred).

What we offer

• Salary range $50,000‑$57,500 per year, commensurate with experience.
• Comprehensive medical, dental and vision insurance with high employer contribution.
• Retirement options through the Teacher Retirement System of Texas or an optional plan.
• Tuition benefits covering up to 18 credit hours per fiscal year.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, birthday leave and holidays.