The historic and world-renowned Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom (MBA), founded in 1884 and incorporated by Royal Charter, invites applications for prestigious MBA Research Fellowships and Postdoctoral Research Appointments for 2026/27.
About the Marine Biological Association (MBA)
Located at Citadel Hill overlooking Plymouth Sound, UK, the MBA is one of the world’s oldest and most distinguished marine research organizations. Renowned for Nobel Prize-winning physiology, the MBA hosts the internationally celebrated Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) Survey—the world’s longest-running marine ecological monitoring survey spanning over 90 years. Operating state-of-the-art research vessels including the MBA Sepiola, high-specification seawater aquarium facilities, and advanced bio-imaging suites, the MBA provides a globally unmatched environment for fundamental marine discovery.
Primary Scientific Themes & Research Areas
- Global Plankton Ecology & CPR Survey: Macroecological modeling of global plankton biodiversity, phenological shifts driven by climate change, and marine food web disruptions.
- Marine Cell Biology & Single-Cell Physiology: High-resolution bio-imaging, cellular signaling mechanisms in marine microalgae and diatoms, and biomineralization in calcifying marine organisms.
- Pelagic Predator Movement & Fisheries Ecology: Bio-logging, satellite tracking of sharks, tuna, and rays, and spatial conservation modeling across marine protected areas.
- Macroalgae & Kelp Forest Functional Genomics: Thermal adaptation in coastal seaweeds, host-pathogen interactions in macroalgae, and blue carbon storage in temperate kelp beds.
- Marine Virology & Microbial Ecology: Giant marine viruses, viral lysis kinetics, and the microbial loop mediating oceanic carbon sequestration.
Remuneration & Fellowship Package
- Competitive Salary: Annual postdoctoral salary ranging from £38,000 to £48,500 per annum depending on postdoctoral qualifications and relevant experience.
- Comprehensive Benefits: Generous UK Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) pension contributions, comprehensive paid leave, and professional development support.
- Research Facilities Access: Priority access to coastal research vessels, running seawater laboratory facilities, flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and bioinformatics clusters.
- Discretionary Research Funding: Dedicated annual budget for analytical consumables, fieldwork, and international scientific conference travel.
Eligibility & Application Procedure
Applicants must hold or be nearing completion of a Ph.D. in Marine Biology, Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology, Aquatic Physiology, or Marine Microbiology. Applications require a curriculum vitae, publication list, a 3-page research proposal aligned with MBA research groups, and contact details for three academic referees.
For full vacancy listings, project briefs, and application submission portals, visit: MBA Careers Portal (www.mba.ac.uk/vacancies).