Postdoctoral Scholar Program
The application for 2027 will open in mid-August 2026.
We invite applications for eighteen-month Postdoctoral Scholarships that are designed to extend the education and training of the applicants and to advance their research careers. WHOI is the largest private, non-profit oceanographic institution in the world. Our mission is to advance understanding of the ocean and its interaction with the Earth system, and to communicate this understanding for the benefit of society. Awards are granted to recent doctorates in oceanography, chemistry, engineering, geology, geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, physics, biology, economics, marine policy, and any field that may contribute to WHOI’s core mission. Applications from all fields of ocean sciences and engineering are welcome. In 2027, we also plan to award scholarships to doctoral recipients whose academic record and stated interests demonstrate the potential to build institutional momentum in research areas to be announced.
Special Postdoctoral Scholarships will also be awarded in 2027 in Marine Policy, and other topics to be announced.
WHOI’s Postdoctoral Scholars conduct independent research in association with one or more members of the Resident Scientific or Senior Technical Staff. Communication with potential WHOI advisors prior to submitting an application is highly recommended and sponsor support for research activities will be considered in the award selection. More information about ongoing WHOI research is available through individual Department and Center web pages. Assistance identifying potential sponsors will be provided on request. WHOI maintains a two-tiered mentoring system for postdoctoral researchers, with resources at the Departmental and Institutional levels. Postdoctoral researchers meet with departmental Postdoctoral Research Mentorship Committees. Numerous institutional career development events, including proposal writing workshops, an annual Postdoctoral Science Symposium, networking opportunities with federal agency program managers and others, and forums on academic and non-academic careers, are well-attended by WHOI postdoctoral researchers. Social and research events are held to convene postdoctoral researchers, their sponsors, and WHOI’s leadership to discuss issues of potential importance to postdoctoral scientists. A heterogeneous community is integral to WHOI’s academic excellence and leadership in the global scientific community.
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for one of these awards, applicants must have received their doctoral degree no more than 3 years before their start date. A doctoral degree is required at the time of appointment, but not at the time of application. It is also expected that candidates will have a command of the English language. The following groups are not eligible for the Scholar competition: MIT-WHOI Joint Program Students; those holding any type of WHOI appointment (paid or unpaid) at the post-doctorate level during the 12 months prior to December 31st of the Scholar application year; and those with more than 12 total months as a WHOI guest student (paid or unpaid), or who have a formal doctoral (co)advisor who is a WHOI employee.
Award Timing
Applications will close on October 15, 2026. Awardees can initiate their study and research period at the Institution any time after January 15 and before December 1, 2027 following the award notification. It is expected that awardees will physically reside at WHOI for at least two-thirds of their total postdoctoral award period. Recipients of the 2026-2027 awards will receive an annual stipend of at least $71,000 for an 18-month appointment, plus relocation and health and welfare allowances (2027-2028 stipend will be posted soon). Limited support is also available for travel expenses, equipment, supplies, and special services. Sponsors are committed to supporting Scholars in their career development.
