Postdoctoral Associate, Earth & Planetary Sciences

G. Evelyn Hutchinson Environmental Postdoctoral Fellowship: Tarhan Geobiology Lab and Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Yale University

Overview

The Tarhan Geobiology Lab, in Yale’s Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences (EPS), invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher to begin in Summer or Fall 2026 as part of a funded interdisciplinary research project, Marine Coastal Ecosystems in a Warming World. This position is supported through the Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies Hutchinson Environmental Program. Our goal is to bring together an interdisciplinary cohort of biogeochemists, ecologists, oceanographers, and climate scientists to advance our ability to forecast the biogeochemical and ecological consequences of warming and associated environmental stressors on coastal ocean ecosystems in coming decades, with a focus on Long Island Sound and with broader relevance to coastal systems globally.

Postdoctoral Associates at Yale are appointed for 12-month terms. This position has funding for two years. There is the possibility of renewal subject to satisfactory performance and available funding. The starting salary is $68,500, plus up to $10,000 per year for research and travel. Additional support is available for cohort-based projects, as well as project-related symposia, workshops, engagement in educational outreach programs and training in science communication.

The postdoctoral researcher will lead diagenetic modeling investigations to quantify the impact of warming, as well as of associated changes in bottom-water oxygen and nutrient levels and bioturbation, on seafloor biogeochemical processes, particularly organic carbon burial and nutrient recycling. A central focus will be determining system responses across different warming regimes, including gradual long-term warming and episodic marine heat waves in Long Island Sound. The postdoctoral researcher will also work with two additional postdoctoral researchers supported by this Hutchinson project to apply modeled geochemical output fluxes to oceanographic, climate and ecological modeling efforts. This project may also include opportunities to conduct laboratory-based incubation experiments and collect geochemical and bioturbation data through field work in Long Island Sound.

The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Lidya Tarhan (primary mentor, EPS) and collaborate with a multidisciplinary team of co-mentors in Yale’s EPS and Ecology and Evolutionary Biology (EEB) departments, including Dr. Martina Dal Bello (EEB), Dr. Elizabeth Yankovsky (EPS), Dr. Mary Beth Decker (EEB), Dr. Pincelli Hull (EPS), and Dr. David Vasseur (EEB). This position offers a unique opportunity to pursue biogeochemical research within a strongly interdisciplinary research environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform diagenetic modeling simulations to investigate how warming and associated environmental and ecological changes affect seafloor carbon cycling, with a focus on Long Island Sound.
• Collaborate closely with other team members to develop collective understanding on how future warming will impact physical ocean properties, ecology, and biogeochemistry in coastal settings such as Long Island Sound.
• Lead and contribute to team-wide communication of research findings through peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and educational outreach programs.

Qualifications

• Completion of a Ph.D. in biogeochemistry or a related field at the time of the appointment.
• Experience in geochemical and diagenetic modeling.
• A record of relevant publications in the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced research environment.

Application Instructions

A complete application includes:

• A brief cover letter describing the applicant’s interest in and qualifications for the position
• A full CV, including a complete bibliography
• Three letters of recommendation

Applications should be submitted via Interfolio using the link: https://apply.interfolio.com/180598. For additional information regarding the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, please visit http://earth.yale.edu. Questions regarding this position should be addressed to Assistant Professor Lidya Tarhan (lidya.tarhan@yale.edu).