Postdoctoral Fellow Plankton Ecology and Bioluminescence
About The Position
A postdoctoral position is available at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU-HBOI) in Fort Pierce, Florida. The appointment is for one year, with the possibility of a second year contingent on funding and performance. The position is subject to funding. The fellow will work on an interdisciplinary project at the intersection of fluid dynamics, bioluminescence, plankton ecology, and optics. The research explores how physical forcing and morphology affect bioluminescent behavior in key dinoflagellate species, using laboratory experiments that simultaneously quantify organism abundance, flow, and bioluminescence emissions. A broader objective is to understand how bioluminescence arises from predator-prey interactions and other sources of shear. The postdoctoral fellow will help design and use optical setups for imaging fluid, particles, and/or plankton; acquire and analyze data; and develop data post-processing routines. The position is based at Harbor Branch in Fort Pierce, Florida.
Requirements
- Strong experimental background in fluid mechanics.
- Familiarity with optical techniques such as particle image velocimetry and digital holography for characterizing flow, turbulence, particle or organism distributions, and interactions.
- Experience conceptualizing and designing experiments and executing projects individually or as part of a team.
- Proficiency with MATLAB and/or Python for data analysis and visualization.
- Strong writing skills and a demonstrable record of publishing high-quality peer-reviewed papers.
Nice To Haves
- Background in marine ecology, optics, or instrument development.
Responsibilities
- Conduct laboratory research on how physical forcing and morphology influence bioluminescent behavior in dinoflagellate species.
- Design and employ optical setups for fluid, particle, and/or plankton imaging.
- Quantify organism abundance, flow, and bioluminescence emissions in experiments.
- Acquire and analyze research data.
- Develop data post-processing routines.
- Conceptualize and design experiments and execute projects individually or as part of a team.
- Contribute to research publications.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
Education Level
No Education Listed
