Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Climate Change and Nearshore Marine Biodiversity

University of British Columbia; Vancouver; On-site; CAD 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent Canadian university in Vancouver seeks a Postdoctoral Research Fellow focused on climate change and nearshore marine biodiversity. Candidates should hold a PhD and have experience in statistical analysis using R. This two-year position involves collaborative research and offers an annual salary of $70,000. Applications are accepted directly through the provided email, with a deadline set for November 26, 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience with experimental approaches in marine ecosystems preferred.
• Experience conducting field work is an asset.
• Experience with statistical analysis in R is required.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Sentinels and PCRG scientists, postdocs, field and data technicians.
• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely fashion.
• Employ excellent communication skills with colleagues and collaborators.

Skills

Statistical analysis in R

Collaborative skills

Communication skills

Education

PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline

Job description

Overview

Academic Job Category Faculty Non Bargaining

Job Title: Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Climate Change and Nearshore Marine Biodiversity

Department: Research | Hakai Institute; Department of Zoology | Faculty of Science (Christopher Harley)

Posting End Date: November 26, 2025

Note: Applications will be accepted until 11:59 PM on the Posting End Date.

Job End Date: December 31, 2027

The expected salary for this position is $70,000 per year.

Please do not apply through UBC Careers.

Applications must be submitted to Michelle McEwan by email at [e-mail] as stated in the job description below.

Focal project and context

Climate Change and Nearshore Marine Biodiversity

A Sentinels of Change Alliance postdoctoral fellowship

About the Sentinels of Change Alliance Project:

The Sentinels of Change Alliance brings together Hakai Institute scientists, University of British Columbia scientists, and local communities to deepen our understanding of Salish Sea biodiversity change at an unprecedented scale and resolution. Our goals are to implement standard observation systems for biodiversity across a range of taxa (e.g. light traps, ARMS, MARINe Biodiversity monitoring and other systematic observation and experimental systems), to conduct experiments to test hypotheses about the causes of diversity change, and to integrate knowledge from observation and experimental systems into a sustainable ongoing biodiversity observation system for the Salish Sea. Project personnel use state of the art data science and statistical approaches in the context of emerging frameworks for detecting and attributing biodiversity change. Sentinels postdoctoral researchers will be co-advised by UBC professors and Hakai scientists to develop projects that synthesize the information coming in from the monitoring program, as well as provide complementary theory development, mechanistic experiments, and monitoring. For more information, see the Sentinels of Change Alliance project description.

Focal project

We are seeking a postdoctoral fellow to join a collaborative, community-driven project investigating the impacts of climate change on larval marine invertebrate recruitment and nearshore biodiversity patterns in the Salish Sea. This position will build and expand on a unique, multi-year dataset obtained from a network of community-run light traps, which has a specific focus on Dungeness crab (Metacarcinus magister) larvae, although research directions are not limited to this focal species. This network is part of a larger trans-boundary collaboration between the Hakai Institute and the Pacific Northwest Crab Research Group (PCRG).

The fellow will be encouraged to develop and test novel research questions that leverage data that have been or can be collected through this program. Possible research directions include:

• Creative applications of ecological questions to expand on the existing light trap program. For example, evaluating larval recruitment dynamics and the physiological impacts of changing temperature and ocean acidification on early life stage demographics and condition.

• Make use of existing biodiversity data collected through experiments and field sampling conducted by the Hakai Institute and a diverse network of community partners. Numerous species are found in the light traps, although past quantitative sampling of by-catch has not been network-wide.

• Engagement in collaborative synthesis as part of an international working group focused on climate impacts to Dungeness crab recruitment and molt timing, contributing directly to adaptive management recommendations for one of the region’s most valuable fisheries.

This position offers a unique opportunity to shape emerging research directions, while expanding upon existing collaborations. The postdoctoral fellow will work alongside the diverse community of scientists, Indigenous Nations, state and tribal co-managers, NGOs, and fisheries stakeholders playing an active role in interdisciplinary working groups, regional summits, and science-to-management knowledge transfer.

Responsibilities and requirements

• Collaborate with the Sentinels and PCRG scientists, postdocs, field and data technicians

• Publish results in peer-reviewed journals in a timely fashion

• Employ excellent communication skills with colleagues, collaborators, and mentors about all aspects of the projects (design, interpretation, challenges, solutions, timelines, and progress)

• The successful candidate will have a PhD or equivalent in a relevant discipline

• Experience with experimental approaches in marine ecosystems preferred

• Experience conducting field work is an asset (but not required)

• Required experience with statistical analysis in R

Project advising team

UBC PI - Dr. Chris Harley

Hakai PI - Dr. Alyssa Gehman

Light Trap Network Lead - Heather Earle

Additional details

Equity and diversity are essential to research excellence. We encourage applications from groups that have been marginalized on grounds enumerated under the B.C. Human Rights Code, including sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, racialization, disability, political belief, religion, marital or family status, age, and/or status as a First Nation, Metis, Inuit, or Indigenous person. Candidates of any nationality are encouraged to apply.

The position is based at the Vancouver campus of the University of British Columbia, which lies on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Musqueam people. Hakai is an independent research organization based in British Columbia with many scientists studying coastal ecosystems. The postdoctoral fellow is expected to be able to travel within the Salish Sea Region to participate in experimental work, and accommodation at field stations will be provided.

We hope to fill the position for a start date in early 2026. The expected salary is $70,000 per year. The position is for two years, with a performance review after one year.

Contact Alyssa Gehman at for questions. (Note: contact emails are omitted in this refined version to maintain format integrity.)

To apply

Please email Michelle McEwan at [e-mail] with the following:

• cover letter

• CV

• two reference letters, emailed directly to [e-mail], subject: “PDF job LightTraps [your surname]”

• Two sample research publications

Note: Do not submit applications via UBC Careers. All applications should be emailed directly to Michelle McEwan.