Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CSI-TNC Coastal Sustainability

Northeastern University; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Vision

Dental

Paid time off

Tuition assistance

Wellness & life

Retirement- as well as commuting &

Job summary

Northeastern University’s Coastal Sustainability Institute (CSI) and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) invite applications for a two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Coastal Sustainability. Fellows will conduct interdisciplinary research at NU's Nahant Marine Science Center and collaborate with CSI and TNC scientists to address coastal restoration and flood adaptation challenges.

Qualified candidates hold a doctoral degree in a relevant field, with strong emphasis on coastal systems.

Qualifications

• PhD or Doctoral degree in natural or social science or engineering.
• Prior experience in coastal restoration, flood risk, or related fields preferred.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Conduct independent research aligned with coastal sustainability priorities.
• Collaborate with CSI and TNC mentors and partners.
• Disseminate findings through publications and presentations.

Skills

Grant writing

Networking

Data analysis

Education

Doctoral degree in a relevant field

Job description

About the Opportunity

Northeastern University’s Coastal Sustainability Institute (CSI) and The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Massachusetts and Global Science programs are partnering to offer a joint Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity in Coastal Sustainability. Northeastern University (NU) is a global leader in experiential education and research with expertise in marine and coastal ecology, environmental forecasting and climate adaptation, fisheries and ecosystem-based management, ecological engineering and restoration, environmental sociology, and sustainability science. The Nature Conservancy is a world-leading conservation organization with marine priorities currently focused on sustainable fisheries, quantifying the economic benefits of coastal conservation, and the role of ecosystems in protecting societies from coastal hazards and climate change. NU and TNC are active partners in coastal conservation and sustainability science research and practice. As part of this ongoing partnership, NU’s CSI and TNC are excited to announce the fourth round of this Coastal Sustainability Fellows Program for postdoctoral scientists. The CSI‑TNC Coastal Sustainability Fellows Program will foster a collaborative, intellectual environment that leverages the interdisciplinary expertise of both CSI and TNC to train postdoctoral scholars and address major challenges facing coastal communities and ecosystems.

Qualifications

The CSI‑TNC Coastal Sustainability Fellows Program welcomes applicants from all fields of study focused on understanding and implementing solutions that promote coastal sustainability. Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree in a relevant field of natural science, social science, or engineering. The 2026 Fellowship competition will prioritize applicants with research interests related to coastal restoration, marsh migration, and community adaptation to flood risk. While not exclusive, specific areas of research connected to these priorities could include:

• Addressing ecological and social barriers and enabling factors for coastal restoration, including salt marshes, oysters, and seagrasses
• Understanding factors that influence land use decisions related to coastal flood risk, including floodplain protection, coastal relocation, restoration potential, and local socio‑ecological dynamics
• Identifying and facilitating marsh migration corridors

Fellowship Details & Application Process

Based on funding availability, the fellowship will provide two years of salary ($60,315 per year) and benefits plus an additional $5,000 each year to support travel for meetings and field research. Fellows will be based at NU’s CSI and Marine Science Center in Nahant, MA, and co-mentored by scientists at CSI and TNC. In addition to research, fellows will have opportunities to develop skills consistent with their goals including grant writing / fundraising, teaching, mentoring, and networking with TNC and academic partners. Initial review of applications will begin on September 21, with an anticipated start date as early as October 2026. Complete applications will include a CV, 2-4 representative publications, names and contact information for 2-3 individuals who can provide letters of recommendation, a 1‑page broader impacts statement, and a 2‑page research statement that identifies an academic mentor (or mentors) at CSI, and how their research will also link to TNC mentors in the Massachusetts Ocean and Climate programs. For questions about the fellowship, please contact: Randall Hughes at [e-mail] and Alison Bowden at [e-mail]

Position Type Research

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.

Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information.

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

• medical
• vision
• dental
• paid time off
• tuition assistance
• wellness & life
• retirement- as well as commuting & transportation

Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 108S Expected Hiring Range: $60,315.00 - $85,192.50. With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.

About Northeastern University

Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real‑world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact. Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross the world of disciplines, sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.