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Form of workPosition Overview
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist to work on modeling of the North AtlanticRight Whale response to climate change as part of a project funded by the National Science Foundation. North AtlanticRight Whales are in decline, and a rapid climate shift in 2010 abruptly redistributed the whale's primary prey, leading to changing foraging patterns, and higher mortality rates. The case of the Right Whale illustrates the consequences of a lack of understanding how an organism responds to climate change. We seek a Postdoctoral Scientist to develop species distribution models to test hypotheses related to climate adaptation for this species. The successful candidate will work closely with other team members who are developing movement models, studying remotely sensed data layers, and acquiring and obtaining in situ oceanographic datasets. Projects will be led by the Postdoctoral Scientist, but will involve working with a team of PIs (Dan Pendleton and Nick Record at Bigelow Laboratory, and Erin Meyer-Gutbrod at the University of South Carolina) and other collaborators.
The preferred start date for this position is January 2024, and it is funded for a three-year term, contingent on satisfactory annual performance reviews. The salary range for this position is $54,000-68,000, based on experience, with a generous benefits package including health care, retirement contribution, and paid time off. Some supervision of research undergraduates and/or technicians assisting with lab experiments may be required.
Requirements
Apply
Please submit a cover letter, CV, and three professional references using our online application portal. Screening of candidates will begin November 27, 2023, and the search will continue until the position is filled.
Individuals seeking more information about this position or needing to request an accommodation, please contact careers@bigelow.org or (207) 315-2567, ext. 107.
Why choose Bigelow Laboratory for postdoctoral research?
In brief, Bigelow Laboratory offers one of the best career growth opportunities for early career scientists interested in bold science for our blue planet. Postdocs at Bigelow Laboratory are an integral part of our research and educational programs.
Cutting edge, multidisciplinary science
Bigelow Laboratory scientists and our Discovery Centers use innovative approaches to study the foundation of global ocean health and unlock its potential to improve the future of all life on our planet. Creative, cutting-edge science is our hallmark, fusing the best of scientific inquiry and entrepreneurial ingenuity. Our scientists are highly productive, frequently publishing high-impact scientific papers. Postdocs at Bigelow are encouraged to collaborate across groups, facilitated by our open lab building layout and broad pool of technical expertise in our scientific staff.
Funding opportunities
In addition to funding support on research grants, postdocs at Bigelow are eligible to apply for internal funding to support research. For example, Bigelow sponsors a Postdoctoral Fellowship that funds a 10-week independent project with an undergraduate student intern as well as possibilities for postdocs to apply as co-investigators for internal seed funding for new ideas. Postdocs are also eligible to be co-investigators on proposals to major funding agencies. Funding is also available to support postdocs to teach in our educational programs. Bigelow Laboratory also welcomes Postdoctoral Fellows who receive external funding, such as from the National Science Foundation's postdoctoral fellows programs, NASA's Postdoctoral Program Fellows, and various foundation-supported fellowships.
Teaching and mentoring opportunities
Postdocs at Bigelow Laboratory are integral parts of our diverse educational programs. Postdocs have the funded opportunity to co-teach sections of our fall Sea Change Semester for undergraduate students, and postdocs can also be the primary mentor for undergraduate interns during our summer intern program. Postdocs are also eligible to apply for professional development funds to support skill building related to teaching. As adjunct research faculty with Colby College - one of Bigelow Laboratory's major educational program partners - postdocs can also participate in educator and course development opportunities through Colby College.
Dedicated professional development training and opportunities
Bigelow Laboratory strongly believes in supporting the growth and development of our postdocs. To this end, we offer a monthly training series - taught by our scientists and other professionals - that covers diverse professional development topics such as grant writing, applying for jobs, mentoring, research ethics, course development, conflict resolution, project management, and more. Postdocs at Bigelow also get the opportunity to serve on our various governance committees of the institution, helping to shape the policies of the organization and getting real-life experience relevant to future career stages. This kind of professional development opportunity is highly unique to Bigelow, and provides a competitive advantage in the job market. Postdocs at Bigelow are also eligible to apply for promotion to a Research Scientist position as they begin to take on more intellectual leadership of projects.
Quality of Life
Bigelow Laboratory believes that the greatest asset of our independent research institute is our people. Thus, we aim for everyone to be able to thrive. Our postdoc positions are well paid for the cost of living of the area, and employment includes generous employee benefits like health care, retirement plans, and paid leave. Our state-of-the-art oceanfront campus in East Boothbay is located in scenic Midcoast Maine, perfectly situated to provide access to the very best Maine has to offer. Within a reasonable commuting distance of most major Maine cities, this mid-coast peninsula offers the perfect balance between small town coastal charm and urban accessibility. Bigelow Laboratory is an inclusive community of scientists from around the world that welcomes and supports diverse opinions and cultures. We strive to maintain an environment that allows our employees to flourish through respectful, inclusive, and equitable treatment of others. We believe there is power in embracing the full diversity of humanity to advance science and are committed to supporting each other as individuals worthy of respect.
Competitive job placement success
Postdocs from Bigelow Laboratory have a high placement rate (over 90%) in the competitive academic job market, leveraging the broad portfolio of experience and cutting-edge research they are able to do. In the past decade, most of our recent postdocs have secured tenure-track academic positions at research intensive universities as well as education-focused liberal arts institutions, with some also going into federal or commercial research.
Working at Bigelow Laboratory
Bigelow Laboratory is an inclusive community of scientists from around the world that welcomes and supports diverse opinions and cultures. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences strives to maintain an environment that allows our employees to flourish through respectful, inclusive, and equitable treatment of others. We believe there is power in embracing the full diversity of humanity to advance science and are committed to supporting each other as individuals worthy of respect.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.
About Midcoast Maine
Bigelow Laboratory's state-of-the-art oceanfront campus in East Boothbay is located in scenic Midcoast Maine, perfectly situated to provide access to the very best Maine has to offer. Within a reasonable commuting distance of most major Maine cities, this mid-coast peninsula offers the perfect balance between small town coastal charm and urban accessibility. Our peninsula is home to fishermen and sea captains, marine biologists, nature lovers, botanists and gardeners, artists, merchants, and entrepreneurs. Many non-profit organizations call this region home and work hard to further their missions in support of the arts, seamanship and marine education, conservation, historic preservation, and more.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences is seeking a Postdoctoral Scientist to work on modeling of the North AtlanticRight Whale response to climate change as part of a project funded by the National Science Foundation. North AtlanticRight Whales are in decline, and a rapid climate shift in 2010 abruptly redistributed the whale's primary prey, leading to changing foraging patterns, and higher mortality rates. The case of the Right Whale illustrates the consequences of a lack of understanding how an organism responds to climate change. We seek a Postdoctoral Scientist to develop species distribution models to test hypotheses related to climate adaptation for this species. The successful candidate will work closely with other team members who are developing movement models, studying remotely sensed data layers, and acquiring and obtaining in situ oceanographic datasets. Projects will be led by the Postdoctoral Scientist, but will involve working with a team of PIs (Dan Pendleton and Nick Record at Bigelow Laboratory, and Erin Meyer-Gutbrod at the University of South Carolina) and other collaborators.
The preferred start date for this position is January 2024, and it is funded for a three-year term, contingent on satisfactory annual performance reviews. The salary range for this position is $54,000-68,000, based on experience, with a generous benefits package including health care, retirement contribution, and paid time off. Some supervision of research undergraduates and/or technicians assisting with lab experiments may be required.
Requirements
- PhD in marine ecology, ecological modeling, or other relevant field
- Experience using and integrating diverse data and running models using R or similar
- Experience or strong interest in developing mathematical models
- Track record demonstrating a commitment to publishing research findings
- Strong written and oral communication skills with significant motivation to publish in the peer-reviewed literature
- Strong interest in team-based interdisciplinary science, with the willingness and ability to work independently when required
Apply
Please submit a cover letter, CV, and three professional references using our online application portal. Screening of candidates will begin November 27, 2023, and the search will continue until the position is filled.
Individuals seeking more information about this position or needing to request an accommodation, please contact careers@bigelow.org or (207) 315-2567, ext. 107.
Why choose Bigelow Laboratory for postdoctoral research?
In brief, Bigelow Laboratory offers one of the best career growth opportunities for early career scientists interested in bold science for our blue planet. Postdocs at Bigelow Laboratory are an integral part of our research and educational programs.
Cutting edge, multidisciplinary science
Bigelow Laboratory scientists and our Discovery Centers use innovative approaches to study the foundation of global ocean health and unlock its potential to improve the future of all life on our planet. Creative, cutting-edge science is our hallmark, fusing the best of scientific inquiry and entrepreneurial ingenuity. Our scientists are highly productive, frequently publishing high-impact scientific papers. Postdocs at Bigelow are encouraged to collaborate across groups, facilitated by our open lab building layout and broad pool of technical expertise in our scientific staff.
Funding opportunities
In addition to funding support on research grants, postdocs at Bigelow are eligible to apply for internal funding to support research. For example, Bigelow sponsors a Postdoctoral Fellowship that funds a 10-week independent project with an undergraduate student intern as well as possibilities for postdocs to apply as co-investigators for internal seed funding for new ideas. Postdocs are also eligible to be co-investigators on proposals to major funding agencies. Funding is also available to support postdocs to teach in our educational programs. Bigelow Laboratory also welcomes Postdoctoral Fellows who receive external funding, such as from the National Science Foundation's postdoctoral fellows programs, NASA's Postdoctoral Program Fellows, and various foundation-supported fellowships.
Teaching and mentoring opportunities
Postdocs at Bigelow Laboratory are integral parts of our diverse educational programs. Postdocs have the funded opportunity to co-teach sections of our fall Sea Change Semester for undergraduate students, and postdocs can also be the primary mentor for undergraduate interns during our summer intern program. Postdocs are also eligible to apply for professional development funds to support skill building related to teaching. As adjunct research faculty with Colby College - one of Bigelow Laboratory's major educational program partners - postdocs can also participate in educator and course development opportunities through Colby College.
Dedicated professional development training and opportunities
Bigelow Laboratory strongly believes in supporting the growth and development of our postdocs. To this end, we offer a monthly training series - taught by our scientists and other professionals - that covers diverse professional development topics such as grant writing, applying for jobs, mentoring, research ethics, course development, conflict resolution, project management, and more. Postdocs at Bigelow also get the opportunity to serve on our various governance committees of the institution, helping to shape the policies of the organization and getting real-life experience relevant to future career stages. This kind of professional development opportunity is highly unique to Bigelow, and provides a competitive advantage in the job market. Postdocs at Bigelow are also eligible to apply for promotion to a Research Scientist position as they begin to take on more intellectual leadership of projects.
Quality of Life
Bigelow Laboratory believes that the greatest asset of our independent research institute is our people. Thus, we aim for everyone to be able to thrive. Our postdoc positions are well paid for the cost of living of the area, and employment includes generous employee benefits like health care, retirement plans, and paid leave. Our state-of-the-art oceanfront campus in East Boothbay is located in scenic Midcoast Maine, perfectly situated to provide access to the very best Maine has to offer. Within a reasonable commuting distance of most major Maine cities, this mid-coast peninsula offers the perfect balance between small town coastal charm and urban accessibility. Bigelow Laboratory is an inclusive community of scientists from around the world that welcomes and supports diverse opinions and cultures. We strive to maintain an environment that allows our employees to flourish through respectful, inclusive, and equitable treatment of others. We believe there is power in embracing the full diversity of humanity to advance science and are committed to supporting each other as individuals worthy of respect.
Competitive job placement success
Postdocs from Bigelow Laboratory have a high placement rate (over 90%) in the competitive academic job market, leveraging the broad portfolio of experience and cutting-edge research they are able to do. In the past decade, most of our recent postdocs have secured tenure-track academic positions at research intensive universities as well as education-focused liberal arts institutions, with some also going into federal or commercial research.
Working at Bigelow Laboratory
Bigelow Laboratory is an inclusive community of scientists from around the world that welcomes and supports diverse opinions and cultures. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences strives to maintain an environment that allows our employees to flourish through respectful, inclusive, and equitable treatment of others. We believe there is power in embracing the full diversity of humanity to advance science and are committed to supporting each other as individuals worthy of respect.
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences requires that all employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated means that an individual is at least two weeks past their final dose of an authorized COVID-19 vaccine regimen. As a condition of employment, newly hired employees will be required to provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination.
About Midcoast Maine
Bigelow Laboratory's state-of-the-art oceanfront campus in East Boothbay is located in scenic Midcoast Maine, perfectly situated to provide access to the very best Maine has to offer. Within a reasonable commuting distance of most major Maine cities, this mid-coast peninsula offers the perfect balance between small town coastal charm and urban accessibility. Our peninsula is home to fishermen and sea captains, marine biologists, nature lovers, botanists and gardeners, artists, merchants, and entrepreneurs. Many non-profit organizations call this region home and work hard to further their missions in support of the arts, seamanship and marine education, conservation, historic preservation, and more.
