Postdoctoral Scholar Position: Bioenergetics and ecology of gray whales

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About the GEMM Lab

The Geospatial Ecology of Marine Megafauna (GEMM) Lab sits within the Marine Mammal Institute, Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Science, College of Agricultural Sciences, at Oregon State University.

The role

The GEMM Lab has led a collaborative study of gray whale ecology and physiology for over 12 years through the Gray whale Response to Ambient Noise Informed by Technology and Ecology (GRANITE) project. GRANITE aims to understand the effects of stressors on individual whales and population vital rates through collection of multidisciplinary data and the Population Consequences of Multiple Stressors (PCoMS) framework. Through support from the Office of Naval Research Marine Biology program, the project is entering phase 2, which focuses on deployment of multisensor suction cup tags to collect simultaneous data on the whale’s behavior and acoustic and visual environment. We seek a motivated and collaborative post doc to join our team, who brings skills in analysis of accelerometry data, bioenergetics, and acoustics.

Qualifications and experience

Required

• PhD in a life science field, completed by start of position and within 3 years of start date
• Demonstrated productivity, capacity for independent and collaborative research, and intellectual creativity
• Strong background in wildlife bioenergetics and experience working with accelerometry data
• Skilled in data management, analysis, and visualization
• Ability to program in R
• Eligible for postdoctoral scholar support at OSU

Desirable

• Research experience in marine ecology, including behavioral and spatial ecology, wildlife management, and marine mammal biology
• Research experience working with acoustic data
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Field experience working in a marine environment, including on a small vessel
• Strong track record of collaboration and ability to work within an interdisciplinary team
• Experience working with CATS tags or Dtags

Salary and benefits

The position provides a competitive stipend and health insurance for up to three years, subject to satisfactory performance.

Location and schedule

Hatfield Marine Science Center, Newport, Oregon. 1.0 FTE, 12 months per year. Position start date: May 1, 2027.

Deadline and how to apply

Close date: Nov 1, 2026. Prepare a single PDF that includes a 1-page cover letter, a full CV, and names and contact information for three references (include your surname and first initial in the file name). Applications and inquiries may be sent by email with subject line “PD scholar” to Leigh Torres, Oregon State University, at leigh.torres@oregonstate.edu.