The world-renowned Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) at the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) announces prestigious Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Marine Science Research Appointments for 2026/27, offering world-class scholars opportunities to advance groundbreaking research in biological oceanography, marine biodiversity, and marine ecology.
About Scripps Institution of Oceanography
Founded in 1903, Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one of the oldest, largest, and most prominent marine and earth science institutions globally. Situated on the Pacific coast in La Jolla, California, Scripps manages state-of-the-art global research vessels—including the R/V Sally Ride and R/V Roger Revelle—the iconic Ellen Browning Scripps Memorial Pier, specialized marine collections, and advanced genomic and bio-optical laboratories.
Core Scientific Research Themes
- Biological Oceanography & Plankton Ecology: Plankton food web dynamics, oceanic primary productivity, biological carbon export, and microbial community structures in marine ecosystems.
- Marine Biology & Fisheries Ecology: Pelagic fish stock population dynamics, top marine predator tracking, larval fish dispersal modeling, and conservation of vulnerable marine species.
- Coral Reef & Benthic Ecology: Resilience of tropical and temperate marine biomes to warming, ocean acidification, hypoxia, and habitat degradation.
- Marine Chemical Biology & Biotechnology: Exploration of marine natural products, secondary metabolites from deep-sea sediment microbes, and aquatic enzymatic bio-discovery.
- Physical-Biological Interactions: Eddy-driven nutrient transport, coastal upwelling biome dynamics along the California Current, and climate impacts on marine food chains.
Fellowship Remuneration & Benefits
- Competitive Salary: Annual postdoctoral stipends ranging from $66,500 to $76,000 (commensurate with post-degree experience) adhering to UC San Diego postdoctoral collective bargaining agreements.
- Health & Welfare Package: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage, alongside life insurance, disability benefits, and retirement plans.
- Oceanographic Mission Access: Direct participation in open-ocean scientific cruises aboard Scripps research vessels across the Pacific and global oceans.
- Research Support Grant: Dedicated annual discretionary funding for computational resources, molecular sequencing, analytical instrumentation, and international conference travel.
Eligibility & Application Procedure
Applicants worldwide holding or expecting a Ph.D. in Marine Biology, Oceanography, Fisheries Science, Limnology, Aquatic Geochemistry, or Marine Ecology by the start date are eligible. Candidates must submit a curriculum vitae, 3-page research proposal, representative publications, and contact details of three academic references.
To review active mentor profiles and submit formal applications, visit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography Postdoctoral Portal (scripps.ucsd.edu).