Postdoctoral Research Associate – Phytoplankton Ecology

About the role

The Coastal Water Health lab at the Harte Research Institute seeks a postdoctoral researcher to study Aureoumbra lagunensis (brown tide) dynamics under a new NOAA ECOHAB grant. The role combines field and laboratory work, data analysis, and project coordination.

Key responsibilities

• Coordinate project activities with the PI, co‑PIs and staff (≈10% effort).
• Conduct field and laboratory data acquisition, develop new techniques, and process samples (≈40% effort).
• Analyze water‑quality and phytoplankton data, submit to data managers, publish findings and present at conferences (≈40% effort).
• Develop new research avenues and prepare grant applications (≈10% effort).

Required profile

• Ph.D. in Marine Science or a related discipline.
• Experience identifying marine phytoplankton, especially Aureoumbra lagunensis.
• Ability to work in field conditions with heat and wind.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills for diverse audiences.

Required skills

• Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• R software packages and statistical techniques for time‑series and community‑structure analysis.

What we offer

• Competitive salary $50,000–$57,500 USD annually.
• Comprehensive benefits including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and retirement plans.
• Tuition assistance, professional development, and on‑campus wellness programs.
• Paid vacation, sick leave, birthday leave, and holidays.