Job Description

Position Overview Postdoc Scholar - Marine ecology ESPM The Coastal Climate Resilience Lab at UC Berkeley Salary range: The UC academic salary scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073-$77,030. Percent time: 100% Anticipated start: Fall 2025 Position duration: 2 years with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding. Application Window Open date: September 12, 2025 Next review date: Friday, Sep 26, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Final date: Wednesday, Oct 15, 2025 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time) Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee. Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled. Position Description The Coastal Climate Resilience Lab (PI Rachel Carlson, Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management) seeks a postdoctoral researcher in the area of marine ecology and ocean optics. The postdoc will work on the project “Impacts of Extreme Freshwater Events on Marine Freshwater Plumes and Phytoplankton Community Structure,” under the guidance of PI Carlson and co-PIs Albert Ruhi (UC Berkeley) and Kelly Hondula (Arizona State University). The project aims to understand how climate-driven freshwater pulses affect coastal phytoplankton dynamics and related coastal ecosystem processes. Specific goals include: Develop the first observational freshwater plume map for the U.S. West Coast during recent extreme runoff events; Convert climate scenarios for extreme rainfall into forecasts of future coastal runoff under climate change; Analyze changes in marine ecological (phytoplankton) communities during and after freshwater extremes (low-salinity pulses) at multiple spatial and temporal scales. Responsibilities Define specific questions and methods around the effects of freshwater plume exposure on phytoplankton communities. Develop and interpret phytoplankton metrics using multi- and hyperspectral satellite sensors, customized to taxa and water quality typical of the U.S. West Coast. Apply data from ocean color and/or land imaging satellite missions as appropriate (e.g. PACE, Sentinel 3, MODIS, Sentinel 2, Landsat, Planet). Lead time series analysis to identify extreme hydrological events and measure impacts on phytoplankton across time and space. Lead a case study on the above topics in a local region in California (to be identified). Lead data cleaning, quality control, analytical documentation, and SOP development. Prepare manuscripts for publication as lead author. Contribute to lab knowledge exchange and community-building activities. Attend lab meetings in ESPM Oceans and Freshwater groups. Mentoring The postdoctoral researcher would be based in the UC Berkeley campus lab of PI Dr. Rachel Carlson and co-mentored by Dr. Albert Ruhi (co-PI, ESPM, Berkeley) and remotely by Dr. Kelly Hondula (Arizona State University). They would receive additional guidance from collaborators and assistance from at least one PhD student. In-person work is required, but a hybrid arrangement may be considered. The position includes regular goal-setting and development plan activities, opportunities for campus data science and professional development, guest lectures, mentoring undergraduate researchers, and attending one USA-based conference per year. The program emphasizes a supportive, diverse, anti-racist environment and field safety. Qualifications Basic qualifications (required at time of application): PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in a PhD degree program (or equivalent international degree). Additional Qualifications (required At Time Of Start) : Ph.D. (or equivalent international degree) required by the appointment start date. No more than three years of post-degree research experience by the start date. Preferred Qualifications PhD in marine ecology, environmental science, computational ecology, or related fields. Knowledge of phytoplankton biology, ecology, and taxonomy. Experience with temperate nearshore ecosystems and California Current oceanographic dynamics. Experience developing and applying ocean color remote sensing algorithms to satellite data, especially for phytoplankton in coastal ecosystems. Proficiency in R, Python, and code documentation/metadata creation. Experience with high-performance computing. Experience with time series and/or spatial analysis, and statistical modeling. Strong record of developing peer-reviewed publications as lead author. Proficiency in developing public-facing or outreach materials for scientific products. Application Requirements Document requirements Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated CV Cover Letter Research Statement - Please discuss research accomplishments and proposed plans, including publication record, awards, presentations, inclusive research practices, and areas for future research. Reference Requirements 3 required (contact information only) Apply link : Help contact : rrcarlson@berkeley.edu Equal Opportunity UC Berkeley is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. Job location Berkeley, CA To apply, visit Copyright 2025 Jobelephant.com. All rights reserved. #J-18808-Ljbffr Inside Higher Ed

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