Postdoctoral Researcher in Gray Whale Ecology and Biology

Position Overview

Position title: Postdoctoral Researcher in Gray Whale Ecology and Biology. The initial appointment is for 2 years from the start date. Position start date is negotiable, ideally in Fall 2026 or later.

About the Position

The Benioff Ocean Science Laboratory seeks a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to conduct field research on gray whale biology and ecology in the San Francisco Bay. In the last five years, an increasing number of gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus) appear to be using the Bay as a migratory stopover during their 12,000-mile journey between Mexico and the Arctic. Marine mammal biologists have observed gray whales feeding and/or attempting to feed in the Bay, a departure from past migratory behavior that is not yet well understood and that puts whales in closer contact with human activity and often at greater risk of harm, including increased risk of ship strikes. This research is targeted at answering some of the core ecological questions related to understanding how and why gray whales are currently using the Bay and what effects this use of Bay habitats has on the whales themselves.

Research Questions

Though specific research questions may be defined in collaboration with the successful candidate, example questions that may be addressed include:

• What San Francisco Bay habitats are most important to gray whales and what are the general temporal and spatial patterns of use?
• What specific benthic prey resources are the whales using in the Bay?
• What is the nutritional value of these prey resources and is there physiological evidence that gray whales are benefiting from access to these food resources?
• To which toxicological risks could gray whales be exposed by feeding upon prey sources within the Bay?
• How may the feeding ecology of gray whales be shaping the ecology of the Bay itself?

Research Methods

The specific methodologies will be shaped collaboratively with the successful candidate based on their background and interests and the expertise of project principal investigators. These methods may include:

• Benthic ecology surveys and sampling
• Direct vessel-based observation of gray whale feeding ecology within the San Francisco Bay
• Uncrewed aerial systems surveys
• Review and analysis of long-term datasets curated by Bay monitoring and management agencies
• Lab-based analyses of whale tissue
• Prey energetic analyses
• Molecular/eDNA diet analysis
• Stable isotope analysis
• Contaminant sampling
• Acoustic benthic mapping
• Ecological modeling

Responsibilities

The postdoc will work closely with collaborators at UC Santa Barbara, UC Berkeley, the Marine Mammal Center, and additional stakeholders. The postdoc will take the lead in:

• Defining field and lab research plans
• Managing the logistics for accomplishment of this plan
• Collection and analysis of all data
• Publishing the results in peer-reviewed journal(s)
• Communicating about the research with relevant stakeholders

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application): Applicants must have completed all requirements for a PhD program (or equivalent), except the dissertation, in biology, ecology, chemistry, environmental sciences, or a related field at the time of application.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start): Applicants must have a doctoral degree in biology, ecology, chemistry, environmental sciences, or a related field at time of the appointment.

Preferred qualifications: Depending on the candidate's area of expertise and anticipated research question(s), the ideal candidate may bring:

• Hands-on experience with benthic invertebrate sampling, nutritional ecology, feeding ecology, or marine mammal ecology
• Background in the toxicology of marine invertebrates or marine mammals, particularly contaminant transfer through benthic food webs
• Experience with field/analytical methods such as stable isotopes, eDNA, UAV/drone-based data collection, or sonar sampling of the benthos
• Statistical fluency (e.g., mixed effects models, Bayesian statistics) applied to noisy field biomonitoring data or long-term ecological datasets
• Experience operating and/or crewing small research vessels for field sampling in contexts similar to San Francisco Bay
• Other relevant technical skills as described in the candidate's application

Additionally, the ideal candidate will:

• Be willing to travel to field work sites, such as the San Francisco Bay, to lead field data collection activities during gray whale season
• Adopt a rigorous and scholarly approach to their science, with a strong track record of presentations and peer-reviewed publications
• Be a respectful, professional, and reliable team player who values creating and maintaining strong collegial bonds
• Have excellent time management skills, accomplishing research goals by creating realistic but ambitious plans and initiating open communication with the PIs, colleagues, and stakeholders when plans must be modified

Application Requirements

Document requirements:

• Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter

References: 3 required (contact information only). The search committee will contact references of the top candidate(s) after the interview(s).

Apply link: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03150

Help contact: lswanson@ucsb.edu

Work Location

The field research work will be conducted primarily in the Bay Area during the gray whale field season (approximately Jan-May). However, the on-site work location for the remainder of the season will be UC Santa Barbara.