Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) Postdoctoral Fellowship

Position overview

Salary range: 69,073-82,836 depending on experience Review timeline: Full consideration will be given to applications completed by July 1, 2026. Applications received after this date will be considered only if the position has not been filled.

Application Window

Open date: May 27, 2026

Next review date: Monday, Jun 15, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Wednesday, Sep 30, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
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 and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) at the University of California, Davis invites applications for a competitive CMSI Postdoctoral Fellowship Program designed to support exceptional early-career scientists pursuing innovative and highly collaborative research in coastal and marine sciences. Areas of particular interest, but are not limited to: climate change and environmental stressors, sustainable aquaculture and coastal food systems, physiological ecology and evolutionary responses to environmental change, host-microbe interactions and marine microbiomes, coastal data science and oceanography, coastal social-ecological systems and policy, coastal restoration and nature-based solutions.

This fellowship aims to attract bright, creative, and collaborative researchers who are interested in developing new lines of inquiry while engaging with the diverse coastal and marine sciences community at UC Davis.

About CMSI and Bodega Marine Laboratory

The Coastal and Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) connects faculty, researchers, and students across the University of California, Davis who are working to understand and address challenges facing coastal and marine systems. CMSI fosters interdisciplinary collaboration across multiple colleges and departments and supports research that advances scientific understanding while informing management and policy.

A central hub for CMSI activities is the Bodega Marine Laboratory (BML), a world-class coastal research and teaching facility located on the northern California coast adjacent to Bodega Bay. Established in 1966, BML is internationally recognized for research in marine biology, ecology, oceanography, climate change, and coastal processes.

BML provides direct access to diverse marine and coastal ecosystems including rocky intertidal habitats, sandy beaches, estuaries, and coastal ocean waters. The laboratory supports year-round research through facilities that include seawater laboratories, experimental aquaria, classrooms, research vessels, sustained field observations, and field access to protected natural areas. BML also hosts undergraduate courses, graduate training programs, visiting scientists, and collaborative research initiatives, creating a vibrant intellectual community focused on coastal and ocean sciences.

CMSI Postdoctoral Fellows will be embedded within this dynamic research environment and will benefit from the collaborative culture and scientific infrastructure available at BML and across UC Davis.

Fellowship Overview

CMSI Postdoctoral Fellows will propose a collaborative research project that leverages expertise, data, and resources from at least two faculty mentors at UC Davis. To foster interdisciplinary exchange, we encourage applicants to identify and and initiate discussion with mentors from across CMSI that reflect cross-disciplinary connections between existing UCD research programs.

Fellows are encouraged to pursue novel or emerging research directions that extend beyond the core research focus of any single host group. The program is designed to provide fellows with the intellectual independence and collaborative network needed to launch innovative research trajectories.

Fellows will also become active members of the CMSI/BML scholarly community, contributing to seminars, workshops, mentoring, and professional development activities.

Research Expectations

CMSI Postdoctoral Fellows will:
-Develop and conduct an interdisciplinary research project in the coastal or marine sciences.
-Collaborate with two or more UC Davis research groups .
-Spend time at both BML and the UC Davis main campus. This may include split time if mentors are at both locations, or it may entail primary residence in one location with a sustained visit to the other for engagement.
-Contribute to the intellectual life of CMSI and BML, for example by organizing seminars, workshops, discussion groups, etc.
-Contribute to educational and mentoring activities at CMSI and BML
-Engage with the broader coastal and marine sciences community by strengthening connections within CMSI/BML and with external partners.

CMSI Community

CMSI Fellows are expected to contribute to the intellectual and collaborative environment of the institute , including participation in seminars, workshops, and cross-campus initiatives. Fellows will join a growing network of coastal and marine scientists at UC Davis and will play a key role in strengthening connections across departments, colleges, and between BML and the Davis campus, with external communities, partners and industry engagement in coastal marine sciences.

Professional Development

CMSI Postdoctoral Fellows will have opportunities to pursue professional development activities , including:
-Developing teaching modules or educational materials
-Proposing new teaching experiences or guest lectures
-Participating in mentoring programs for undergraduate and graduate students
-Engaging in outreach or community-building activities within BML

These experiences are intended to support fellows in developing skills in teaching, mentorship, and academic leadership .

Funding and Resources

Each CMSI Postdoctoral Fellow will receive:
- Two years of salary and benefits
- Research funds of approximately $5,000-$10,000 to support research activities, conference travel, or exploratory work
-Eligibility to apply for $5,000 additional funds to support engagement, travel, and teaching activities .

Fellows will also benefit from access to the research infrastructure and facilities at BML .

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Ph.D. (or equivalent foreign degree) in any marine related field. Ph.D. must be conferred before July 1, 2027.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Full consideration will be given to applications completed by July 1, 2026 . Applications received after this date will be considered only if the position has not been filled.

Applications will be reviewed by a CMSI faculty selection committee , which may invite shortlisted candidates to participate in interviews before final selections are made.
Questions should be directed to CMSI Director Andrea C. Alfaro (View email address on click.appcast.io) or CMSI Deputy Director Michael O'Donnell (View email address on click.appcast.io).

• Cover Letter (2 pages) - -Describe your previous research accomplishments
  -Address why you think you are a good candidate for this position
  -Describe your previous experience with community building

• Research Proposal (2-3 pages) - -Description of the proposed collaborative research project
  -Description of how this work will leverage the expertise of and align with the UC Davis faculty mentors you have identified
  -Explanation of how the project fosters interdisciplinary collaboration

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

• Statement of Professional Goals (1-2 pages) - -Career aspirations
  -Interest in interdisciplinary collaboration, teaching, mentorship, and community engagement
  -Provide examples of activities during the postdoc that will help develop these skills, including CMSI community-building activities

• Proposed Faculty Collaborators - Provide the names and contact information of at least 2 UC Davis faculty members who have agreed to work with you if selected for the position

• Authorization to Release Information Form - This form is required for all applicants applying to academic recruitments. Please see the Employment Disclosure Requirements webpage for more information. Download, complete, sign, and upload the form.

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Provide contact information of 3 professional references. One of these should be a proposed UC Davis faculty collaborator. We will contact references separately.

Apply link:

Help contact: View email address on click.appcast.io

About UC Davis

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

• "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, discrimination, dishonesty, or unethical conduct, as defined by the employer.
• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy for Employees, Students and Third Parties
• APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled, "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration.

UC Davis is a smoke and tobacco-free campus.

The University of California 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, protected veteran status, or other protected status under state for federal law.

Under Federal law, the University of California may employ only individuals who are legally able to work in the United States as established by providing documents as specified in the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986. Certain UC Davis positions funded by federal contracts or sub-contracts require the selected candidate to pass an E-Verify check.

The University of California, Davis (UC Davis) is committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment for all employees and students. Our excellence in research, teaching, and service are embodied by members of our academic community who share our commitment to these values. A variety of resources and programs are available to academics, staff, and students that reflect the core values reflected in our strategic plan: "To Boldly Go," our Principles of Community, the Office of Academic Affairs' Mission Statement, and the UC Board of Regents Policy 4400.

UC Davis is also a national leader in inclusive practice. There are numerous links available on the About Us webpage where you can learn more about our administration, campus rankings, locations, campus safety, sustainability, visiting UC Davis and UC Davis Health.

The university is consistently ranked among the top institutions in the world for campus sustainability practices by the UI Green Metric World University Rankings. UC Davis is focused on achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions and repeatedly shown its commitment to preserving a healthy and sustainable environment for generations to come.

The University of California and UC Davis are committed to offering a wide variety of benefits for employees. The University of California Employee benefits and UC Davis New Employee benefits webpages have additional information.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

Job location

Davis, CA and Bodega Bay, CA

Required

Preferred

Job Industries

• Other