Summary
The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the world’s leading independent non-profit ocean research organization, invites applications for its prestigious 18-Month Postdoctoral Scholarships. These awards are designed to extend the education and training of early-career scientists and engineers, providing them with the opportunity to conduct independent research, advance their careers, and contribute to WHOI’s mission of understanding the ocean and its interaction with the Earth system.
Designation
Postdoctoral Scholar
Program Overview
| Attribute | Details |
| Position Type | Postdoctoral Fellowship / Scholarship |
| Duration | 18 Months |
| Annual Stipend | Minimum $73,000 / year |
| Additional Benefits | Relocation allowance, Health & welfare benefits, Independent research budget |
| Start Window | Between January 1 and October 1 |
| Residency Requirement | Must physically reside at WHOI for at least two-thirds of the appointment period |
| Application Deadline | October 15 |
Research Areas
Awards are granted across all fields contributing to ocean sciences, engineering, and policy, including:
- Oceanography (Physical, Chemical, Biological, and Geological)
- Applied Ocean Physics & Engineering
- Marine Chemistry & Geochemistry
- Geology & Geophysics
- Biology
- Marine Policy
- Special Fellowship Focus Areas:
- Marine Policy
- Ocean Carbon Cycling (GOCO)
- Emerging cross-cutting topics in institutional strength
Location
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)
266 Woods Hole Road, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA
Eligibility & Qualifications
- Doctoral Degree: Applicants must have received their doctoral degree (Ph.D.) no more than 3 years prior to their start date.
- Note: A Ph.D. is required at the time of appointment, but not at the time of application.
- Language Proficiency: Strong command of the English language.
- Ineligibility Criteria:
- MIT-WHOI Joint Program students.
- Individuals who have held any WHOI appointment (paid or unpaid) at the post-doctorate level within the 12 months prior to December 31st of the application year.
- Individuals with more than 12 total months as a WHOI guest student (paid or unpaid) or whose formal doctoral (co)advisor is a WHOI employee.
Job Description & Responsibilities
- Independent Research: Conduct high-impact, independent research in collaboration with one or more members of WHOI’s Resident Scientific or Senior Technical Staff.
- Mentorship & Career Development: Participate in WHOI’s two-tiered mentoring system (departmental and institutional levels), including proposal writing workshops, annual postdoctoral science symposiums, and networking forums.
- Institutional Engagement: Engage in seminars, meetings, and forums with leaders and visiting program managers from federal funding agencies.
- Budget Management: Utilize the allocated independent research budget for specialized research expenses, travel, conferences, equipment, and publication costs.
How to Apply
- Identify and Contact an Advisor: Review the research interests of WHOI’s Scientific and Senior Technical Staff via individual department/center pages. Communicating with potential advisors prior to submission is strongly recommended.
- Online Application: Complete and submit the online application form through the WHOI Academic Programs Postdoctoral Application Portal.
- Supporting Documents: Prepare and upload required materials (curriculum vitae, research statement/proposal, transcripts, etc.) as specified in the application portal.
- Letters of Recommendation: Arrange for referees to submit reference letters directly via the WHOI reference letter upload system.
Last Date to Apply
October 15
