"Postdoctoral Associate, Earth & Planetary Sciences"

G. Evelyn Hutchinson Postdoctoral Fellowship: Earth & Planetary Sciences, Yale University

Overview:

The Yale Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences (EPS) invites applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Researcher in the area of physical oceanography to begin in Fall 2026 as part of the funded interdisciplinary research project Marine Coastal Ecosystems in a Warming World. This position is supported through the Yale Institute of Biospheric Studies Hutchinson Environmental Program. Our goal is to bring together an interdisciplinary cohort of ecologists, biogeochemists, oceanographers, and climate scientists to advance our ability to forecast the ecological and biogeochemical consequences of warming and associated environmental stressors on coastal ocean ecosystems in the coming decades, using Long Island Sound as a focus 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 modeling-based investigations using high-resolution regional ocean and climate models (e.g., ROMS and CESM) to quantify how surface-ocean warming influences stratification, circulation, and heat redistribution in coastal waters. A central focus will be understanding 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 Hutchinson-supported postdoctoral researchers to apply oceanographic and climate model data to predict ecological and biogeochemical responses to warming.

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

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform high-resolution regional ocean and climate model simulations (e.g. ROMS, CESM) to investigate how warming alters coastal circulation, stratification, and heat transport, with a focus on Long Island Sound.
• Quantify physical ocean responses across different magnitudes, durations, and rates of warming with extensions to other coastal systems worldwide.
• 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.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Qualifications

• Completion of a PhD in climate science, physical oceanography, or a related field at the time of the appointment.
• Experience in ocean and climate modeling.
• A record of relevant publications in the peer-reviewed scientific literature
• Familiarity with data analysis and visualization for large datasets; programming experience in Python.
• Experience with version control systems (e.g., Git) and collaborative coding practices
• Ability to work in high-performance computing (HPC) environments
• Ability to work independently and as part of an interdisciplinary team in a fast-paced research environment

Application Instructions

A complete application includes:

• Full CV, including a complete bibliography
• 3 Letters of Recommendation

Applications should be submitted via Interfolio using the link: https://apply.interfolio.com/180490. For information regarding the Department of Earth & Planetary Sciences, visit http://earth.yale.edu. Questions regarding the application process can be addressed to Assistant Professor Elizabeth Yankovsky (elizabeth.yankovsky@yale.edu).