Mote Marine Laboratory (Mote) is seeking candidates for a Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Marine Reef Fisheries Ecology in the Florida Keys.

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:

This Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellowship position will focus on establishing an independent Mote research program with emphasis on fisheries directly related to coral reef restoration and artificial reef creation in the Florida Keys. Such a research program would be expected to build upon applied research knowledge on anthropogenic and global ocean impacts to the Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem, with research leading to fisheries resource management decisions. This position will complement current research activities within the Mote Fisheries Ecology and Enhancement Research Program, the Mote Fisheries Habitat Ecology and Acoustics Research Program, and the Mote Coral Reef Restoration Research Program, as well as coordinate closely with federal, state, and local government and resource managers to achieve tangible results. The postdoctoral fellow will work with Mote fisheries and coral research and restoration teams to better understand fisheries population dynamics as well as independently lead, design, and conduct laboratory and field-based experiments that test and provide options for improvements in fish habitat. Over the next several years, Mote will be undertaking significant cross-cutting evolution of several existing research programs to assist this specific research fellowship.

Research Interests may include:

Marine reef fisheries community ecology associated with natural and artificial reefs Connectivity between nearshore nursery habitat and offshore reef habitat Mark-recapture techniques, notably with acoustic or passive integrated transponder tags Video surveys for species identification

Location:

The Fellowship will be primarily based at the Mote's Elizabeth Moore International Center for Coral Reef Research and Restoration at 2422 Overseas Highway, Summerland Key, FL 33042, however, the position will coordinate office and lab space across all of Mote's campuses.

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 300 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 Marine Reef Fisheries Ecology 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. The position also affords the opportunity for hosting visiting scientists, interactions with researchers from multiple disciplines at Mote, and oversight of student interns and volunteers. 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 (2023 and more recent) 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, leaves for holidays, illness, and vacation, and other benefits. To apply, please submit the following to jmartin@mote.org : 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