The Ocean Frontier Institute (OFI)—a premier transnational research alliance led by Dalhousie University (Nova Scotia) and Memorial University of Newfoundland (Newfoundland and Labrador), Canada—invites applications from outstanding early-career researchers for the OFI International Postdoctoral Fellowship Program in Ocean & Fisheries Science for the 2026–2027 academic cycle. The fellowship supports transformative research addressing the health, climate feedbacks, and sustainable management of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Overview & Program Summary
| Lead Institutions | Dalhousie University (Halifax, NS) & Memorial University of Newfoundland (St. John’s, NL), Canada |
| Program Level | Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2 Years Full-Time) |
| Fellowship Remuneration | CAD $65,000 – $75,000 per annum + full employee health/dental benefits + research and travel allowance |
| Research Domains | Biological Oceanography, Climate-Smart Fisheries, Marine Biogeochemistry, Marine Carbon Removal |
| Eligibility | Domestic and International PhD holders in Marine Science, Fisheries, Oceanography, or Aquatic Ecology |
| Key Timeline | Applications open Fall 2026; Fellowship appointments commence early 2027 |
| Official Websites | ofi.ca | dal.ca Postdoctoral Studies |
Interdisciplinary Ocean Science Themes
The Ocean Frontier Institute focuses on the safe and sustainable development of the ocean frontier, with special emphasis on the Northwest Atlantic and Canadian sub-Arctic shelf ecosystems. Fellows will engage in collaborative research across key themes:
- Climate-Resilient Fisheries & Marine Ecology: Evaluating climate-induced shifts in distribution and recruitment of commercial finfish (cod, haddock, salmonids, pelagics) and crustaceans; ecosystem-based fisheries modeling and quota forecasting.
- The Ocean Carbon Pump & Marine CDR: Investigating biological and solubility carbon pumps, deep-sea microbial carbon turnover, ocean alkalinity enhancement, and marine carbon dioxide removal (mCDR) technologies.
- Ocean Observation & Advanced Marine Technologies: Deployment of autonomous underwater gliders, acoustic telemetry grids (Ocean Tracking Network – OTN), biogeochemical Argo floats, and high-resolution numerical hydrodynamic models.
- Benthic Ecology & Coastal Marine Habitats: Subsea biodiversity, cold-water coral resilience, kelp bed dynamic monitoring, and marine protected area (MPA) connectivity networks in Atlantic Canada.
Fellowship Financial Support & World-Class Infrastructure
OFI International Postdoctoral Fellows receive a comprehensive, world-class support package:
- Competitive Salary: An annual salary of CAD $65,000 to $75,000 (dependent on experience and department), supplemented by standard university health, dental, and parental leave benefits.
- Research & Travel Grant: Dedicated funding for sea-going research expeditions aboard Canadian research vessels, high-performance computing access, and presentations at major international ocean science conferences (e.g., Ocean Sciences Meeting, ASLO).
- Access to Premier Facilities: Unrivaled access to Dalhousie’s world-renowned Aquatron Laboratory, the Ocean Tracking Network headquarters, Memorial’s Ocean Sciences Centre (OSC) deep-water flume tanks, and cold-ocean genomics suites.
- Dual Mentorship: Opportunities for co-supervision and collaborative research exchanges between Canadian and leading international oceanographic institutions (such as GEOMAR, Woods Hole, and Ifremer).
Eligibility Requirements
- Academic Qualifications: Applicants must hold a PhD in Oceanography, Marine Biology, Fisheries Science, Limnology, Aquatic Biogeochemistry, or a closely related physical/biological marine discipline, awarded within the last 4 years (extensions granted for parental/medical leaves).
- Research Track Record: A strong publication record in reputable peer-reviewed marine and environmental science journals.
- Methodological Skills: Demonstrated experience with numerical ocean modelling, ecological statistics (R/Python/MATLAB), GIS spatial analysis, or advanced marine laboratory/field analytical techniques.
- Open Globally: Citizens of all nationalities are encouraged to apply. Work permit and visa sponsorship assistance is provided to successful international scholars.
How to Apply
Interested postdoctoral candidates should prepare and submit their applications as follows:
- Explore active research projects and identify potential faculty supervisors at Dalhousie University or Memorial University aligned with OFI research priorities (OFI Research Directory).
- Contact prospective faculty mentors with your curriculum vitae and a brief statement of research alignment to confirm supervisory support.
- Compile an application package comprising: (a) a comprehensive CV with publication list, (b) a 3-page research proposal detailing project objectives and methodology, (c) a 1-page statement of career goals, and (d) contact details of three academic referees.
- Submit your completed application dossier via the official OFI Fellowship submission portal or through the Dalhousie Postgraduate Studies portal.
For detailed guidelines, call documentation, and current application deadlines, visit the Ocean Frontier Institute Fellowships Portal and the Dalhousie Postdoctoral Affairs Portal.