Job Openings, Position Listings & Other Opportunities
Below are a selection of HABs-related job openings, graduate student positions, and other opportunities. Please check back frequently as listings are updated. If you wish to post a position or opportunity here, please contact Harmful-Algae@whoi.edu.
Job Openings
Tenured Faculty Position in Chemical Ecology or Toxicology – The University of Texas at Austin invites applications for a tenured faculty position in the Department of Marine Science at the rank of Associate Professor or Professor from candidates with research experience in chemical ecology or toxicology. We seek an accomplished scientist who investigates the effects of environmental factors on aquatic systems and includes a research focus on regional environmental issues. Areas of research include the study of chemical cues and signaling among marine biota and/or the biological effects of natural toxins and anthropogenic chemicals. The Associate Professor or Professor ranks will be eligible for the Mary Anderson Abell and Joseph Miles Abell, Jr., M.D. Endowed Chair in Marine Science, as a Chair Fellow or Holder, respectively.
Candidates are sought with areas of interest in any experimental biology subfield of chemical ecology or toxicology. Those with experience in sensory biology, neurobiology of behavior, endocrinology, physiology, biochemistry, or immunology are especially encouraged to apply; however, qualified candidates from other fields will also be considered. The successful applicant will be expected to establish an internationally recognized research program at the University of Texas, mentor graduate students and postdoctoral scientists, and teach at the graduate and undergraduate levels.
Applicants should submit the following items via Interfolio: i) a cover letter with contact information, (ii) a current CV, (iii) a research statement, (iv) a teaching statement, and (v) a statement addressing past and/or potential contributions to diversity through research, teaching, and/or service. Applications received prior to December 1 will receive full consideration. For additional information about the Institute and Department, see https://www.utmsi.utexas.edu. We are a vibrant and inclusive community, and we seek candidates who are interested in contributing to diversity and equal opportunity in higher education. Review of applications will begin January 2023.
This is a full-time, non-exempt position. This position is responsible for conducting research and developmental activities as directed by the Director of R&D. The individual’s primary responsibility will be to assist and guide the Cultivation and Manufacturing departments through algal research via literature review, data analysis, wet-bench laboratory work, strain isolation and identification, and outdoor pond experiments. Secondary responsibilities may occasionally include analytical tasks related to other departments such as Supply Chain or Sales & Marketing. This role includes both collaborative and independent work. $70k-$90k annually.
Learn more here : https://www.cyanotech.com/job/research-and-development-scientist/
This is a full-time, non-exempt position. This position is responsible for conducting algal research and developmental activities as directed by the Director of R&D. The individual’s primary responsibility is executing and collaborating on studies at both laboratory and production scale. Topics can be related to algal growth, productivity, and resistance to contaminants, pests, and diseases. This role includes both collaborative and independent work. $23-$26/hr.
Learn more here: https://www.cyanotech.com/job/research-technician/
The USDA Agricultural Research Service (Albany, CA) has an opening for a Ph.D. level scientist who studies algal toxin production/detection/control in agricultural environments. The ideal candidate will have > 3 years of post doctoral experience studying toxigenic algae in fresh or marine systems. Although candidates with experience with toxigenic bacteria and fungi will also be considered, candidates with knowledge of algal toxins are preferred. See https://www.usajobs.gov/job/769090300 for more information. This position closes on 02/05/2024.
Postdoctoral Positions
The Pflug and Boyer labs in the Chemistry Department at SUNY ESF are seeking a highly motivated and independent postdoctoral researcher with expertise in organic synthesis to work on an exciting NOAA-funded project in collaboration with the National Research Council Canada aiming at the development of certified reference materials of anatoxin-a and its congeners. The postdoctoral researcher will be responsible for the total synthesis of anatoxin-a and related congeners as well as expanding anatoxin-a monitoring methods to include these additional congeners.
Key responsibilities:
- Total synthesis of anatoxin-a and related congeners
- Expansion of anatoxin-a monitoring methods to include these additional congeners
- Collect, prepare, and analyze experimental and spectroscopic data
- Write reports and scientific publications to be submitted to high-impact scientific journals
- Assist in supervising graduate and undergraduate students
Required qualifications/skills include:
- PhD Degree in Chemistry or a closely related filed
- At least 3 years of demonstrable experience in organic synthesis
- Demonstrated experience in characterizing organic compounds by MS & NMR
- Ability to work independently in an exciting, high-paced environment and possess a strong passion for (and commitment to) interdisciplinary research
- Demonstrated experience in supervising undergraduate and/or graduate students
ESF is the premier US institution focused solely on the environment with excellent capabilities for state-of-the-art organic synthesis. Researchers have access to world-class facilities and instrumentation, including an analytical services complex that includes two new Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometers and 600- and 800-MHz nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers.
Note: The selected candidate must already have permission to work in the U.S. Application materials will not be accepted via email. Applicants should apply at: https://esf.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=170095. Interested candidates can contact Dr. Nicholas Pflug (ncpflug@esf.edu) for further information.
Position Title: Postdoctoral Researcher
Posting Date: 1 December 2023
Organization Name: State University of New York – College of Environmental Science & Forestry (SUNY ESF)
Position Type: Postdoc Position, 12 months (with possibility for extension)
Department: Chemistry
Location: Syracuse, New York, USA
Application Deadline: 20 January 2024
Position Starts: February 2024 (flexible)
Postdoctoral Researcher, Antiviruence Strategies in Algae
The Corcoran Lab at New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM) is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher. Research in the lab focuses on the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems, with an emphasis on microalgal biology and ecology. We conduct both foundational and applied research to address questions that support ecosystem management and sustainability. For more information on the lab see: http://www.corcoranalgaelab.com. The researcher will work on a DOE-funded project focused on developing and testing antivirulence strategies to protect algal crops from predation in the field. They will develop a database of antivirulence compounds that can be tested against pathogenic bacteria and annotate this database for compounds that can feasibly be deployed at commercial scale levels. Then, relying on pest models as well as mixed bacterial assemblages from field cultures, they will test compounds, combinations of compounds, and combinations of in iterative lab-field experiments to refine treatment strategies. For more information on the project, see: https://bit.ly/3tdO3hr. The researcher will work both independently and collaboratively with PIs, researchers, and students at NMSU and Arizona State University. Additional collaborative opportunities exist with researchers at Sandia National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory.
We are seeking a candidate who can collaborate to develop innovative solutions to technical challenges. The minimum qualifications for the position include:
• a Ph.D. in biology, chemistry, or other relevant discipline,
• experience in experimental design and execution, and
• the ability to work effectively as a part of a team.
We are especially interested in researchers with:
• experience cultivating microalgae and/or bacteria,
• experience in bioinformatics and/or in working with large datasets,
• a strong working knowledge of algal-bacteria interactions, and
• experience with anti-virulence approaches.
This is a full-time position with benefits (health, dental, life, disability, and retirement plan). Continuing education opportunities are available in the lab and at the university. The postdoctoral researcher will be supported at least annually to travel to team meetings, academic conferences, and/or industrial conferences. The planned start date for the position is between February 1, 2024, and March 1, 2024, with support possible for 3 years. Although there are no citizenship requirements, the planned start date of the position may preclude international applicants that require visa sponsorship. If you are an international candidate who requires a visa, please check J1 visa appointment wait times at your local US embassy before applying, assuming that an offer may go out from NMSU during January.
The Corcoran Lab welcome all members regardless of race, religion, ethnicity, gender, orientation, age, or belief -- and we work to provide opportunities to those from groups that have historically been excluded. We commit to making the lab a trusting place to have complex and sometimes difficult conversations about diversity and inclusion; to implement education on unconscious bias; and to take specific actions to promote diversity and equity on our teams.
This position will be posted at https://jobs.nmsu.edu/ in late November 2023. To apply, please upload a single PDF that includes a cover letter, CV, and contact information for three professional references. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Please email acor@nmsu.edu with questions
Linked is an announcement for a statistics post-doc at NASA’s Ocean Ecology Lab to help with assessing and developing satellite remote sensing algorithms for harmful algal blooms, both inland and coastal. They are hoping to find someone with a nerdy love of data and data analysis! Find the posting here: https://workforcenow.adp.com/mascsr/default/mdf/recruitment/recruitment.html?cid=a40f480a-47ae-461b-bf11-ceedb843d226&ccId=19000101_000001&jobId=463989&lang=en_US
Student Opportunities
As part of a comprehensive study of the ecology and effects of Sargassum accumulations in the US Virgin Islands, two Ph.D. positions and one M.S. position, are immediately available in the lab of Edwin Cruz-Rivera at Morgan State University and the University of the Virgin Islands. These students will join an active group of researchers and fellow students conducting multidisciplinary research on the emerging environmental problems posed by Sargassum golden tides. Candidates from underrepresented groups in STEM are strongly encouraged to apply.
Ph.D. position 1 – small scale circulation and Sargassum landings: The selected candidate will engage in research linking sub-mesoscale circulation features to incidence of Sargassum accumulations for the Virgin Islands. Candidates with remote sensing and/or hydrodynamic modeling experience are especially welcome. While not a requirement, previous training using drones for ecological work will be considered a strong asset. The candidate will be based at Morgan State University (MSU) in Baltimore and will interact with investigators at both the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) and Dr. Roy Armstrong’s group at the University of Puerto Rico. This is a NASA-funded full time position.
Ph.D. position 2 – Sargassum decomposition and nutrient cycling: The selected candidate will focus on the role of Sargassum golden tides in coastal nutrient fluxes, especially at the sediment-water interface. Candidates with backgrounds in water quality assessment, nutrient transport modeling, biogeochemistry, and/or coastal geology are encouraged to apply. The position will be based at Morgan State University in Baltimore and will interact with investigators at both MSU and UVI. This is a NASA-funded full time position.
M.S. position – Effects of golden tides on coastal species diversity: The selected candidate will study the influence of Sargassum biomass on coastal biota of the Virgin Islands. Good microscopy skills (or willingness to develop them) and an interest in invertebrate communities are a must. We are seeking a highly motivated and committed student who likes field work. This NSF-funded position will be stationed at the St. Thomas campus of the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI). The selected candidate will work closely with Prof. Paul Jobsis (UVI), Dr. D. Christopher Rogers (Kansas Biological Survey), and two M.S. students already developing projects at UVI.
Only US citizens and green card holders can be considered for all these positions.
APPLICATION PROCESS (please note there are institution-specific instructions below):
For all positions: Please send a CV or résumé, three recommendation letters, pertinent unofficial transcripts, and a statement (1-2 pages) highlighting which position you are interested in, relevant experience and skills, and how the position will further your future career goals. Send these materials as a single PDF to:
Edwin Cruz-Rivera, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Biology and Bioenvironmental Science Program
Morgan State University
1700 E. Cold Spring Lane
Baltimore, MD 21251
Email: edwin.cruz-rivera@morgan.edu
Tel: (443) 885-2373
Additionally
Ph.D. positions: The degrees will be granted through Morgan State University’s Bioenvironmental Sciences (PhD) Program. Information about this interdisciplinary program, organization, and requirements is found here: https://catalog.morgan.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=13&poid=2586&returnto=830
Students interested must apply through Morgan State’s School of Graduate Studies. The link is here: https://morgan.elluciancrmrecruit.com/ApplyGRAD/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2fApplyGRAD%2f
Morgan State University – Maryland’s Preeminent Public Urban Research University – is an HBCU institution with an R2 Carnegie classification that offers more than 140 academic programs. In this exciting time, Morgan State is embarking on a strategic plan to grow its research capacity and attain R1 status. More information about the university and its programs can be found here: https://www.morgan.edu/
M.S. position: Please visit the admissions tab of the UVI Master of Marine and Environmental Science (MMES) program website, https://www.uvi.edu/academics/science-math/departments/bio-sciences/marine-envir-science/masters-marine-envir/entry-requirements.html, and submit the application requirements that include two applications, CV, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation. Please contact MMES Program Coordinator at sophia.mckenzie@uvi.edu with any questions about the application process.
Funded Ph.D. Student Opportunity in VIMS Phytoplankton Ecology Laboratory
The Virginia Institute of Marine Science’s (VIMS) Phytoplankton Ecology Laboratory is recruiting a Ph.D. student for the fall 2024 semester. The student will be working on a NOAA funded project that investigates how multiple stressors, including Karenia brevis blooms, influences plankton food-web interactions along the west coast of Florida. Through this project, a student will participate in several research cruises, gain experience with a diversity of methodologies, and interact with a wide range of collaborators in state and federal government and academic positions.
Anyone who is interested in this opportunity should send a CV, transcript (unofficial is fine), and short description of their research interests and why they are interested in the position to Dr. Nicole Millette (nmillette@vims.edu). For this project, someone will have the opportunities to learn a variety of field and laboratory methodologies. Experience or knowledge of anything listed below will be viewed as a plus.
Field Experiments - Dilution experiments - Prey removal experiments - Light-Dark bottle experiments - Phytoplankton and zooplankton identification - FlowCAM
Laboratory Experiments - Culturing toxic dinoflagellates - Controlling pH in experimental bottles - Toxin analysis
A limited number of people will be encouraged to apply to the VIMS School and Marine Science graduate program, with applications due in early January.
For more information about the VIMS graduate program: https://www.vims.edu/education/graduate/index.php
For more information about the VIMS Phytoplankton Ecology Laboratory: https://www.vims.edu/research/units/labgroups/phytoplankton_ecology/index.php
For more information about Dr. Nicole Millette: https://www.vims.edu/research/units/labgroups/phytoplankton_ecology/people/millette_nc.php