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Research Areas

Postdoctoral scholarships are available to new or recent doctoral graduates 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.

Research Departments/Disciplines

Recipients will pursue their own research interests, mentored by resident staff. Applicants should identify and contact members of the Scientific and Senior Research Staff within one or more of our scientific departments, who share similar research ideas and are willing to serve as mentors.  Information about the individual Departments and their research can be found by visiting the following department links.

Additional awards may be available to support appointments in cross-cutting topics that are aligned with WHOI’s Campaign for Our Ocean that grow scholarly expertise in emerging areas of institutional strength. These areas may include Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Coral Reefs, Defense-related Science and Technology, Ocean Carbon Cycling, and Underwater Acoustics.

Marine Policy Center Postdoctoral Scholarships

The Marine Policy Center (MPC) applies social science and policy research to pressing ocean issues while advancing the integration of natural and social sciences in marine affairs and policy. We seek outstanding individuals with academic preparation in marine affairs and policy, economics, law, public policy, international relations, environmental and natural resource management, infrastructure and urban development, conservation biology, earth and ocean sciences, and related disciplines. The main objectives of the Program are: (i) to foster interdisciplinary research that integrates the social and natural sciences to address marine policy questions; and (ii) to advance actionable knowledge and tools that inform effective local, national, and international ocean policy and decision-making.

Ocean Carbon Cycling/GOCO Postdoctoral Scholarships

We invite applications for a Global multi-scale Ocean Carbon Observatory (GOCO) Postdoctoral Scholar in Ocean Carbon Cycling. This year’s position focuses on work directly related to the WHOI Ocean Vital Signs Network (OVSN) program activities in the Northwest Atlantic. OVSN is targeting tracking ocean carbon flows at the regional scale in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean, nested within a global backbone of ocean observations and models. OVSN will also enable the testing and development of next-generation technologies for monitoring carbon and ecosystems. Scholar projects should fall within the OVSN goals to (i) Track and quantify carbon flows through the ocean as they are influenced by physical and biogeochemical processes from the air-sea interface until and including ultimate burial, or re-ventilation to the atmosphere (ii) Quantify the impact of natural and intentional carbon cycle perturbations, including both direct effects on carbon flux as well as indirect feedbacks (iii) Evaluate interactions between ocean carbon cycling and ecosystem functioning across trophic levels, and quantify relationships to ‘ocean health’.

Labs and Groups at WHOI

Can be found here.

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