Postdoctoral Research Associate

University of New Hampshire; Durham (NH); On-site; USD 59,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

The Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire seeks a Postdoctoral Research Associate in marine science. The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D.

in marine biology or a closely related field and will have experience in marine geospatial analytics, remote sensing, machine learning and benthic systems. This position offers an opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research, particularly advancing the use of remote sensing datasets and machine learning for

Qualifications

• Ph.D. in Marine Biology, Ecology, Oceanography or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in remote sensing, machine learning and data acquisition.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to collaborative, interdisciplinary research.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research integrating robust machine learning and statistical approaches with acoustic data to investigate relationships of seafloor and environmental variability.
• Assist in acquiring ground‑truth data for this and related projects
• Travel as required to present research at national and international conferences

Skills

Marine geospatial analytics

Remote sensing

Machine learning

Benthic systems

Education

PhD in Marine Biology, Ecology or Oceanography

Job description

USNH Employees should apply within Workday through the Jobs Hub app

The Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping at the University of New Hampshire (UNH) seeks an exceptional marine scientist to fill a Postdoctoral Research Associate position. The successful candidate will hold a Ph.D. in marine biology or a closely related field and will have experience in marine geospatial analytics, remote sensing, machine learning and benthic systems.

This position offers an opportunity to contribute to cutting‑edge research, particularly advancing the use of remote sensing datasets and machine learning for constructing predictive models for benthic and pelagic fisheries and aquaculture site selection. The role is supported by a grant‑funded project and includes opportunities for publishing, presenting, and mentoring. This is a one‑year position.

Duties/Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research focused on integrating robust machine learning and statistical approaches with acoustic data to investigate relationships of seafloor and environmental variability.
• Assist in acquiring ground‑truth data for this and related projects
• Travel as required to present research at national and international conferences

Collaboration and Mentorship

• Assist with the preparation of annual progress reports, conference papers and journal articles
• Provide mentorship to graduate students and staff working on related topics.

Requirements

• Ph.D. in Marine Biology, Ecology, Oceanography or related field
• Demonstrated expertise in remote sensing, machine learning and data acquisition
• Ability to work independently while contributing to collaborative, interdisciplinary research

Required Licenses & Certifications

• Boating license
• AAUS Scientific Diving Certification

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong analytical, problem solving, and research skills to design, integrate and interpret complex datasets
• Effective communication and collaboration abilities, including writing publications and engaging with interdisciplinary teams, and delivering presentations.
• Self-management and attention to detail, with the ability to work independently and learn emerging tools and methods.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience utilizing bathymetric, remote sensing and optical datasets for machine learning
• Experience acquiring ground‑truth data
• Familiarity with the Gulf of Maine ecosystem

Compensation Pay Range

$65,000.00/Annually

This is a Fiscal Year position (26 pay periods)

Please be advised that this position is supported by external sponsor funding. As such, continued employment in this role is contingent upon the availability of those external funds. If, for any reason, the sponsor funding is reduced or discontinued, employment may be subject to modification or termination in accordance with applicable policies and procedures.

The University of New Hampshire is an R1 Carnegie classification research institution providing comprehensive, high-quality undergraduate and graduate programs of distinction. UNH is located in Durham on a 188-acre campus, 60 miles north of Boston and 8 miles from the Atlantic coast and is convenient to New Hampshire’s lakes and mountains. There is a student enrollment of 13,000 students, with a full‑time faculty of over 600, offering 90 undergraduate and more than 70 graduate programs. The University actively promotes a dynamic learning environment in which qualified individuals of differing perspectives, life experiences, and cultural backgrounds pursue academic goals with mutual respect and shared inquiry.

EEO Statement

The University System of New Hampshire is an Equal Opportunity/Equal Access employer. The University System is committed to creating an environment that values and supports diversity and inclusiveness across our campus communities and encourages applications from qualified individuals who will help us achieve this mission. The University System prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or marital status.

The pay range for this position is listed above. Actual offer will be based on skills, qualifications, experience, and internal equity, in addition to relevant business considerations. More information on benefits can be found here: USNH Employee Benefits | Human Resources

Location:

Durham

Salary Grade

Faculty 01