Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Coastal Disease Ecology

Smithsonian; Edgewater (MD); On-site; USD 77,000 - 94,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & Vision insurance

Life insurance

Transit benefits

403b retirement plan

Paid time off

Smithsonian membership discounts

Job summary

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center in Edgewater, Maryland invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Coastal Disease Ecology. This full-time, one-year appointment (with potential for renewal) focuses on understanding drivers of fecal contamination across urban estuaries in the United States.

Occasional travel is required. The fellow will join the Coastal Disease Ecology Lab, collaborate with Smithsonian scientists and partners across multiple states, and contribute to

Qualifications

• PhD in Biology, Ecology, Marine Science, Environmental Science, or closely related field.
• Experience with socio-ecological systems and urban estuarine contexts is preferred.
• Experience with data management, data synthesis, and quantitative analysis.
• Proficiency in R and/or Python for data analysis.

Responsibilities

• Conduct interdisciplinary research on drivers of fecal contamination in urban estuaries by synthesizing and analyzing water quality, environmental, and socioeconomic data.
• Perform comparative and gap analyses and collaborate with Smithsonian researchers and external partners.
• Carry out field and data-driven research and contribute to scientific publications, reports, and presentations.
• Assist with project implementation, data quality maintenance, and coordination across institutions and locations.
• Prepare and publish reports and scholarly papers; present results at conferences.

Skills

Data synthesis

Statistical analysis

R/Python

Scientific writing

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Education

PhD in Biology/ Ecology/ Marine Science/ Environmental Science

Job description

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - Coastal Disease Ecology

Application Deadline: 30 October 2026

Department: Smithsonian Environmental Research Center

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Edgewater, MD

Compensation: $85,447 / year

Description

OPEN DATE: October 19, 2026

CLOSING DATE: October 30, 2026

POSITION TYPE: Trust Fund

SCHEDULE: Full Time

DUTY LOCATION: Edgewater, MD

Position sensitivity and risk: Non-Sensitive/ Low Risk

Select One of the following:

Open to all qualified applicants

What are Trust Fund Positions? Trust Fund positions are unique to the Smithsonian. They are paid for from a variety of sources, including the Smithsonian endowment, revenue from our business activities, donations, grants and contracts. Trust employees are not part of the civil service, nor does trust fund employment lead to Federal status. The salary ranges for trust positions are generally the same as for federal positions and in many cases trust and federal employees work side by side. Trust employees have their own benefit program, which may include Health, Dental & Vision Insurance, Life Insurance, Transit/Commuter Benefits, Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance, Annual and Sick Leave, Family Friendly Leave, 403b Retirement Plan, Discounts for Smithsonian Memberships, Museum Stores and Restaurants, Credit Union, Smithsonian Early Enrichment Center (Child Care), Flexible Spending Account (Health & Dependent Care).

Conditions of Employment

• Pass Pre-employment Background Check and Subsequent Background Investigation for position designated.
• Complete a Probationary Period.
• Maintain a Bank Account for Direct Deposit/Electronic Transfer.
• The position is open to all candidates eligible to work in the United States. Proof of eligibility to work in U.S. is not required to apply.
• Applicants must meet all qualification and eligibility requirements within 30 days of the closing date of this announcement.

OVERVIEW

TheSmithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in Edgewater, Maryland, is seeking an interdisciplinary, data-driven Postdoctoral Research Fellow to support research examining the drivers of fecal contamination across urban estuaries in the United States. This is a full-time, one-year appointment with the possibility of annual renewal and up to two years of anticipated funding. A comprehensive benefits package is provided, and occasional travel is required.

The selected fellow will be based in SERC's Coastal Disease Ecology Lab and will collaborate with Smithsonian scientists and research partners located in Maryland, Florida, California, and Panama. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong scientific writing skills, expertise in socio-ecological systems, and experience with large-scale data synthesis and analysis.

Mission: Coastal Disease Ecology

The Coastal Disease Ecology Program seeks to advance understanding of the environmental factors driving fecal contamination in aquatic ecosystems and to support the development of science-based solutions that protect both environmental and human health. As global temperatures rise, increasingly intense storms and higher rainfall events contribute to greater stormwater runoff and sewer overflows, increasing the transport of fecal contaminants into rivers, estuaries, and coastal waterways. Across many waterways in the National Capital Region, fecal contamination levels frequently exceed public health thresholds, limiting opportunities for safe recreation and posing ongoing risks to local communities.

While numerous organizations, including community science groups and nonprofit partners, routinely monitor water quality and fecal indicator bacteria such as E. coli, these datasets are often used primarily for real-time public health advisories and response efforts. The lack of long-term data integration and cross-organizational synthesis limits our ability to fully understand the sources, persistence, movement, and ecological impacts of fecal contamination. Through interdisciplinary research, data synthesis, and collaborative partnerships, the Coastal Disease Ecology Program aims to address these knowledge gaps and generate the scientific insights needed to improve water quality management, inform mitigation strategies, and strengthen the resilience of urban and coastal ecosystems.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will conduct interdisciplinary research on the drivers of fecal contamination in urban estuaries by synthesizing and analyzing water quality, environmental, and socioeconomic data from multiple watersheds. The selected candidate will perform comparative and gap analyses, collaborate with Smithsonian researchers and external partners, conduct field and data-driven research, and contribute to scientific publications, reports, and presentations. The fellow will also support project implementation, maintain data quality, and coordinate research activities across multiple institutions and geographic locations.

Perform other duties:

• Independently conducts research and fieldwork in area of specialization.
• Research consists of systematically planned, original studies based on fieldwork in specialty areas and other institutional and private collections worldwide, and synthesizing information from literature.
• Designs and conducts field sampling to measure such variables as species composition and abundance, population size structure, and physiological condition of communities within the incumbent’s area of expertise.
• conducts field and laboratory experiments to determine mechanisms regulating species composition, abundance, distribution, sizes, and physiological condition of biotic communities within the incumbent’s area of expertise.
• Uses various analytical chemistry, spectroscopic, and/or infrared analytical techniques to determine the chemical properties of organic materials found in museum objects to assist Smithsonian Institution researchers. These materials include museum objects, their deterioration of products, and materials used in conservation treatments, exhibitions, or storage.
• Analyzes data from sampling and experiments using computers with statistical and graphics software applying appropriate statistical tests and data reduction methods.
• Reviews background material submitted with samples, determines approaches to be used in analysis and devises modification in the method that is required to solve the analytical problems.
• Writes reports and publishable scientific papers and gives oral presentations on the results of the sampling and experiments.
• Publishes scholarly reports of descriptive and/or theoretical nature based on the above. Publications are significant contributions of substantial scope within the physical, biological or social fields of science.
• Serve as a consultant and advisor on professional matters in this area to colleagues, Federal agencies, institutions, organizations, and the public. Through fieldwork and acquisition of specimens, participates in maintaining and improving the National Collections.
• Assists with guidance and teaching of students and technicians working on one or more research projects.
• May train staff members, interns, fellows, students, and visiting scholars in the theory and practical use of this specialized equipment as appropriate.
• Advise researchers in the interpretation of the data obtained and ensure safe and responsible work practices with such equipment.
• Prepares and submits grant proposals. Reviews research proposals, manuscripts, and publications as requested by scientific colleagues and outside institutions. Lectures to professional associations and other organizations.
• Attends and participates in national and international scientific conferences, seminars, and societies.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Doctoral degree in Biology, Ecology, Marine Science, Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated research experience in socio-ecological systems, preferably within urban, estuarine, or coastal environments.
• Experience with data management, data synthesis, and quantitative analysis.
• Proficiency in R and/or Python for data analysis and management.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, including experience with multivariate statistical methods.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to prepare scientific publications, reports, presentations, and other research products.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary and geographically distributed teams.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and commitment to maintaining high standards of data quality and research integrity.
• Ability and willingness to conduct field research in varied and occasionally challenging environmental conditions.

Education completed outside the United States must be deemed equivalent to higher education programs of U.S. Institutions by an organization that specializes in the interpretation of foreign educational credentials. This documentation is the responsibility of the applicant and should be included as part of your application package.

Any false statement in your application may result in rejection of your application and may also result in termination after employment begins.

What To Expect Next: Once the vacancy announcement closes, a review of your resume will be compared against the qualification and experience requirements related to this job. After review of applicant resumes is complete, qualified candidates will be referred to the hiring manager.

Relocation expenses are not paid.

The Smithsonian Institution provides reasonable accommodation to applicants with disabilities where appropriate. Applicants requiring reasonable accommodation should contact [e-mail]. Determinations on requests for reasonable accommodation will be made on a case-by-case basis.

To learn more, please review the Smithsonian’s Accommodation Procedures (https://www.si.edu/OEO/IndividualswithDisabilities).

The Smithsonian Institution is an Equal Opportunity Employer. To review The Smithsonian's EEO program information, please click the following: https://www.si.edu/oeo.