Jobs at Western

Postdoctoral Researcher

Apply now Work type: NTT Faculty
Location: Anacortes, WA
Categories: Academic Affairs

Position Title Postdoctoral Researcher
About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public master's-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Western's greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the Department The College of Science and Engineering and the Department of Biology support Western's mission, which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.
About the Position The postdoctoral research associate will work on an NSF-funded collaborative project investigating "Do diatom-derived polyunsaturated aldehydes directly or indirectly reduce embryonic and larval forage fish fitness?" The project is anticipated to begin early winter 2025 (negotiable). The postdoc will work with PI Brady Olson and collaborators at Western Washington University and at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science Horn Point Laboratory. The postdoc will conduct manipulative laboratory studies to explore the role of diatom-derived polyunsaturated aldehydes on the early life history fitness of Pacific herring and surf smelt.

The successful candidate will be a marine ecologist or fish biologist with strong experimental design and quantitative skills, an accomplished microscopist, as well as interest or knowledge in forage fish ecology. The position is a two-year appointment.

The position will be located at the Shannon Point Marine Center in Anacortes, Washington. 

Required Qualifications
  • A PhD in marine ecology, marine science, fish developmental biology, or biological oceanography by the time of application.
  • Research experience in the field of marine biology/ecology
  • Research experience with experimental design and statistical modeling
  • Familiarity with forage fish ecology
  • Familiarity with diatom chemical ecology
  • An interest in marine science education and mentoring of undergraduates and master's students, as well as public outreach
  • Strong communication skills in both writing and speech
Preferred Qualifications
  • Record of peer-reviewed publications
  • Research experience with embryonic and larval fishes
  • Research experience with quantitative microscopy
  • Record of collaboration with students (undergraduate and MS), lab technicians, and other researchers
  • An interest in forwarding the lab and institution's mission in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion
Conditions of Employment All employees must comply with our Immunization policies, including Proof of Rubeola Measles Immunity within 60-days of hire. Please reach out to HR@wwu.edu if you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.
Salary Position salary is $65,000
Benefits Information Benefits Overview for Faculty Positions

Bargaining Unit

 United Faculty of Western Washington

Application Instructions

A cover letter and curriculum vitae are required and should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

You will be asked to provide contact information of three references.

Closing Date Notes

Application review will begin December 4, 2024; applications will be accepted until the position has been filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation. Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services, 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act ("The Clery Act"). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Western's campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services at vpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at: Annual Security and Fire Safety Report.

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires and rehires, which includes a sexual misconduct background check.

Job no: 502011
Advertised: Pacific Standard Time
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