Job description
Join the Pacific Marine Institute, a leading research organization dedicated to advancing understanding of coastal and open-ocean processes. We seek a Senior Oceanographer to lead interdisciplinary research, manage field campaigns, and mentor a growing team of scientists. This role combines hands-on fieldwork with data-driven analysis and model development, impacting policy, conservation, and marine resource management. You will work at our Monterey campus near the iconic Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, collaborating with universities, government agencies, and industry partners.
Responsibility
- Lead the design and execution of oceanographic field campaigns (CTD rosettes, moorings, autonomous platforms) and ensure high-quality data collection.
- Develop and apply physical oceanography analyses and numerical models to study coastal circulation, upwelling, and stratification.
- Integrate multi-disciplinary observations (physical/chemical/biological) to address coastal and open-ocean processes.
- Lead data management, quality control, and reproducible workflows for large marine datasets.
- Publish findings in high-impact journals and present results to diverse audiences.
- Mentor graduate students, postdocs, and junior scientists; contribute to grant writing and project management.
- Collaborate with government, academic, and industry partners to translate research into actionable insights for resource management and policy.
- Oversee budgets, timelines, and reporting for multiple projects and ensure compliance with safety and ethical standards.
Qualification
- PhD in Oceanography, Physical Oceanography, or a closely related field; equivalent research experience considered.
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on research experience in physical oceanography and data-driven modeling.
- Proficiency in MATLAB, Python, and R for data analysis, visualization, and modeling.
- Experience with field instrumentation (CTD rosettes, moorings, autonomous vehicles, gliders) and data processing.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills; track record of peer-reviewed publications and grant acquisition.
- Ability to manage multiple projects, collaborate across disciplines, and work in a dynamic team environment.
- Experience with data management, reproducible research practices, and version control (Git).