Post-doctoral Associate in Coral Reef Monitoring and Capacity-Building - Southeast Asia

Description

Mubadala Arabian Center of Climate and Environmental Sciences at New York University Abu Dhabi, seeks to recruit a post-doctoral associate with expertise in coral reef monitoring and capacity-building programs across Southeast Asia. This position will support a major new NYU Abu Dhabi-OceanX initiative dedicated to strengthening coral reef research, monitoring, and regional training programs throughout Southeast Asia, with a particular focus on Malaysia.

This two-year role embeds a regional coral reef specialist within the Burt Marine Biology Lab to co-develop a multi-year research, monitoring, and training agenda; coordinate annual field missions aboard the RV OceanXplorer; deliver targeted hands-on training for regional partners; host capacity-exchange workshops at NYU Abu Dhabi; and develop data and metadata platforms to support mission research across the region. The Post-doctoral Associate will also contribute to reporting, communications, and stakeholder engagement across Malaysia and neighboring countries, while serving as a scientific representative of the NYUAD-OceanX partnership.

Under the supervision of Professor John Burt, the candidate will play an essential role in designing and implementing a comprehensive two-year activity plan that includes mission preparation, field research, coordination with regional collaborators, and outreach to government and non-government partners. The position requires delivering three mission-linked field programs per year in Southeast Asia, developing pre-mission and post-mission activity agendas, conducting on-site meetings and training sessions, coordinating the participation of NYUAD staff, and fostering long-term partnerships to strengthen scientific capacity in the region. The candidate will also lead NYUAD’s annual Southeast Asia Learning Exchange, an immersive week long program that brings regional researchers to Abu Dhabi for advanced training in coral reef monitoring, data analysis, and research planning.

A major component of the role involves developing and managing an integrated multi-stage data and metadata platform for all Southeast Asian monitoring activities performed with OceanX. This includes designing open-access interfaces and communication products tailored to decision makers, researchers, NGOs, and public audiences. The candidate will contribute content for social and traditional media in coordination with NYUAD and OceanX communication teams, and will represent the initiative at regional events, meetings, and outreach activities. Regular coordination meetings and reporting to NYUAD, OceanX, and Dalio Philanthropies will form an ongoing part of the position, along with preparing brief progress updates and a comprehensive annual report summarizing achievements and future opportunities.

The post-doctoral associate will also collaborate with OceanX Education to integrate reef-monitoring activities with educational programming, especially those targeting Malaysian and Southeast Asian youth, educators and local communities. As a full member of the Burt Lab the candidate will contribute to ongoing coral reef research efforts, including experimental design, field surveys, data analysis, and manuscript preparation, as well as participating in lab meetings, seminars, project planning sessions, and broader activities. The candidate will manage a modest annual research budget supporting conference travel, analysis, and professional development.

Applicants must have a PhD in Marine Biology, Marine Science, Coral Reef Ecology, or a closely related field, along with SCUBA diving certification at the Advanced Open Water level or higher. They must have demonstrated experience leading coral reef monitoring programs in southeast Asia, ideally in Malaysia, and a proven ability to communicate scientific information across diverse audiences. A minimum of one year of post-PhD research experience, a track record of lead-author publications, experience in training or capacity-building, and experience in engaging regional partners or government agencies are required. Fluency in English is essential, and fluency in Malay/Bahasa Melayu is a strong asset. Preferred qualifications include PADI instructor-level certification, formal training in monitoring protocols, data-platform or GIS experience, and familiarity with applied science frameworks such as the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) or the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems.

If you have any questions, please email Kelly Bradham at Kelly.bradham@nyu.edu.

The terms of employment are very competitive and include housing and educational subsidies for children. Applications will be accepted immediately and candidates will be considered until the position is filled. To be considered, all applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, transcript of degree, a one-page summary of research accomplishments and interests, and at least 2 letters of recommendation, all in PDF format.