Mote Marine Laboratory (Mote) is seeking a postdoctoral research fellow for the Mote Ocean Technology Research Program.

Overview of Fellowship Program:

Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellowships are three-year positions providing 100% salary support, funding assistance for equipment/supplies and travel, and office and laboratory space. The Fellowship includes mentorship from a diversity of cross-discipline Mote scientists and administrative assistance for policy issues, grant proposals, contract compliance, and reporting. Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellows are expected to conduct and build their own program that are distinct from and not under the oversight of existing Mote research programs. Exemplary Fellows have been invited to join Mote as a Staff Scientist upon completion of their initial three-year appointment.

Position Overview:

Mote Marine Laboratory is seeking a postdoctoral research fellow for the Mote Ocean Technology Research Program. This position will assist Mote in moving to the next level of innovation in autonomous and remotely operated vehicles, the next generation of robotics and sensor development, use of artificial intelligence and swarm model algorithms, and citizen science beach condition reporting that will together serve as a new Mote Ocean Technology Center of Excellence. This three-year position provides 100% salary support, research start-up, supplies, equipment, and mentorship. Preferred candidates should have a PhD in a related discipline awarded within the last 5 years and 1-3 years of marine technology research or engineering experience. The ideal candidate will actively secure external funding by writing, submitting, and acquiring competitive research grants to support and expand program initiatives. The position is located at Mote's main laboratory (1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34236) campus but will collaborate across all Mote's campuses as well as with national and international partners around the world. The incumbent shall assist Mote leadership in establishing the program vision and goals, guiding program finances, crafting government and philanthropic funding proposals, representing Mote at professional forums, and ensuring that all funding deliverables are achieved efficiently and effectively.

Program Overview:

Mote envisions significant growth of its existing Ocean Technology Research Program into the Ocean Technology Center of Excellence that will be a cornerstone of the evolution of its current 10-acre Sarasota City Island campus into an International Marine Science, Technology and Innovation Park. The current Mote Ocean Technology Research Program mission is to develop and utilize various forms of cutting-edge sensor and autonomous vehicle technology in conjunction with a wide range of interdisciplinary scientific goals to assist in addressing complex ocean and coastal issues, streamline processes, and monitor the important ecological parameters off the western shores of Florida such as water quality, water temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and chlorophyll levels in near real time. Center of Excellence research may include but isn't limited to, sensor development, autonomous and remotely operated vehicles, next generation robotics, and use of swarm model algorithms. It is also expected that the new Ocean Technology Center of Excellence will closely collaborate with the newly launched Mote Artificial Intelligence Marine Science (AIMS) Center and growth of the Mote Beach Condition Reporting System. The successful candidate will be an innovator for paradigm changing ocean technology impacts in restoring, sustainable use of and conservation of ocean species, habitats and ecosystem, as well as creating intellectual property that will stimulate economic growth in Southwest Florida. The position affords opportunities for hosting visiting scientists, interactions with researchers from multiple disciplines at Mote, and oversight of technicians, student interns, and volunteers. The successful candidate will be selected based on ability to not only strengthen and diversify the Laboratory's existing research expertise, but also to establish their own innovative research initiatives that address Mote's Beyond 2020 Vision & Strategic Plan.

Mote Background:

Mote is celebrating over 70 years as one of the few remaining independent, non-profit international marine research laboratories. Mote's ocean and coastal research enterprise has 38 research units, an array of STEM education/outreach efforts, and an aquarium featuring teaching and working laboratories with more than 100 marine species. Mote currently has more than 45 PhD-level scientists, over 400 staff, and approximately 1500 volunteers that are located on its main campus in Sarasota and across additional campuses/facilities including a state-of-the-art 200 acre marine and freshwater aquaculture research park, a 19,000 square foot International Center for Coral Reef Research & Restoration in the Florida Keys and work was recently completed on a new 145,000 square foot Mote Science Education Aquarium (Mote SEA). The Mote scientific expertise is considerable and diverse, and is augmented by more than 150 non-resident scientists from more than 100 different U.S. and international institutions who are involved in projects with Mote all around the world. Additionally, Mote envisions significant growth in Ocean Technology Research as part of the evolution of its current Sarasota campus into an International Marine Science, Technology and Innovation Park, continued expansion of the Mote Aquaculture Research Park, as well as numerous satellite campuses and outreach posts. Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellows are selected based on their ability to not only strengthen and diversify the Laboratory's significant existing research expertise, but also the potential to establish their own innovative research initiatives that address Mote's Beyond 2020 Vision & Strategic Plan.

Application:

Recent (within last 5 years) PhD graduates are invited to apply. Applicants with a firm expectation of graduation in 2026 will also be considered. This full-time position includes an expected initial annual salary of approximately $70,000 (negotiable depending on experience), health insurance with family options, and other generous benefits including an opt-in retirement plan with employer matching, paid leave for holidays, illness, and vacation, and other benefits. To apply, please submit the following to jmartin@mote.

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Cover letter addressed to Kevin Claridge, Vice President of Sponsored Research and Coastal Policy, of interest including present employment status Academic transcript of doctoral studies Copy of PhD if achieved or expected graduation date Curriculum vitae Two-page essay, excluding references and exhibits, describing intended research focus as a Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellow and proposed mentors internal and external to Mote Three representative journal publications, in press or published Names and contact information for three references For questions regarding this position may be sent to Kevin Claridge, Vice President of Sponsored Research and Coastal Policy Programs at kclaridge@mote.org. Review of applications will begin November 1, 2026 and will continue until position is awarded.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

403(b) Dental insurance Employee discount Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Retirement plan Vision insurance Application Question(s): Did you submit the list of required documents to jmartin@mote.org?

Work Location:

In person