Duke University, Marine Lab
Position ID:
Position Title:
Post Doctoral Associate
Position Location:
Beaufort, North Carolina 28576, United States of America
Subject Areas:
Appl Deadline:
2025/09/01 11:59PM
(posted 2025/06/17, listed until 2025/12/17)
(posted 2025/06/17, listed until 2025/12/17)Position Description:
Position Description
Postdoc Teacher-Scholar in Marine Ecology and Conservation, Duke University Marine Lab We are seeking a highly motivated postdoc scholar in the Silliman Lab in the Department of Marine Science and Conservation at Duke University. The position is ideally suited to researchers with interests in applied coastal ecology. There is room for independence in addition to a large focus on seagrass restoration innovation, establishment of a seagrass farm, and monitoring of a large living shoreline project. In addition to research, the post-doctoral scholar will be required to teach a 4-5 week-long field course each spring semester on Coastal Fish Ecology and Marine Fisheries Management. The course will be taught at the Duke Marine Lab in Beaufort, NC. The doctoral teacher-scholar must be in residence at the marine lab year-round. For the seagrass farm funded projects, the post-doctoral will be in charge of conducting experiments in the lab and the field to refine and increase efficiency of seed production and planting techniques, as well as on creating a seagrass farm that supplies seeds to local conservation groups. For the living shoreline projects, we are using a multi-disciplinary technical approach combining on-the-ground field surveys, water quality monitoring, drone surveys, digital twins and ecosystem service modelling to generate estimates of ecosystem functions and services provided by a living shoreline that is being constructed at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point. With the assistance of a full time technician and at least one summer intern, the postdoc will take the lead in coordinating and conducting all fieldwork in the living shoreline project and in analyzing data, to assess nursery habitat provisioning, augmented secondary production of valuable fishes and crustaceans, water quality improvements, shoreline protection, and carbon sequestration. The postdoctoral scholar will be supervised by Dr. Brian Silliman (Duke University) with many opportunities to collaborate with others at Duke and in coastal NC. The field work environment will be on the beautiful Duke Marine Lab Campus in Beaufort NC, with easy access to saltmarsh, oyster reef, seagrass, and beach ecosystems. The research environment is complemented by colleagues from UNC Chapel Hill’s Institute for Marine Science, NC State University’s Center for Marine Sciences and Technology, NOAA, and others. Qualifications A successful applicant will have earned a PhD in Ecology, Marine sciences, or a related field by the time of appointment. Expertise in marine conservation science, coastal fish ecology, salt marsh and seagrass ecology and assessment of conservation intervention through quantitative means is especially important. The postdoc scholar will have the opportunity to mentor graduate and undergraduate students, design and lead research, manage and analyze large datasets, and prepare conference presentations and manuscripts. The ideal candidate will be skilled with field sampling methodology, statistics, and ecosystem service modeling. Applicants with evidence of creativity, productivity, strong oral and written communication abilities, and enthusiasm are especially encouraged to apply, particularly those that bring a new perspective, new ideas, or a new skillset to the team. A promising record of publication is highly valued. The successful applicant will be an independent, motivated problem solver who communicates well and enjoys working in a collaborative setting. In the Silliman lab at Duke University, we: 1) study how species interactions (e.g., trophic cascades, mutualisms) and physical drivers (e.g., climate change, nutrient enrichment) interact to regulate biodiversity and ecosystem structure and function, 2) develop a predictive understanding of when and where species interactions are important, and 3) integrate our novel theoretical and system-specific findings into conservation and ecosystem restoration to advance outcome success. We test our research questions with multi-factorial, field experiments and complement that approach with modeling, meta-analysis, and/or observational approaches to provide robust evaluation of generality of species-interaction effects across space, time and physical gradients. We work in salt marshes, seagrasses, oyster reefs, coastal forests, and coral reef systems, and are equally drawn to work with plants, microbes, invertebrates, fish, and reptiles, although snails, alligators and sea otters could be favorites. We are committed to inclusivity, equity, and excellence in science; we develop use-inspired and place-based conservation solutions to help both humans and nature. We believe that diversity of life experience and thought is essential for our collective success. Our overarching goal is to advance the understanding of ecosystems and inform and inspire effective solutions for their preservation and restoration. The Silliman lab https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/silliman/, works closely with Duke RESTORE https://sites.nicholas.duke.edu/dukerestore/, and the Duke Wetland and Coast Center, https://wetland.nicholas.duke.edu. Position details The postdoc needs to be available to start in August 2025. Starting salary is commensurate with experience and includes health insurance and other benefits. This is a one-year appointment.Duke University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas-an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.
Application Materials Required:
Submit the following items online at this website to complete your application:
- Cover letter
- Curriculum Vitae
- Names and email addresses of 3 references
And anything else requested in the position description.
Further Info:
Division of Marine Science and Conservation
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516
135 Duke Marine Lab Road
Beaufort, NC 28516