The Southwest Fisheries Science Center (SWFSC) is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Fisheries Resources Division in the Aquaculture Genetic Risk Program. This position is central to a five-year initiative aimed at providing expert science advice on the potential impacts from marine aquaculture escapes to wild populations. 

The candidate will work at the interface of population genetics, stock assessment modeling, aquaculture, and regulatory science to help shape the future of sustainable marine farming in the U.S. This role is based in La Jolla, CA, and involves close collaboration with NOAA’s Office of Aquaculture (OAQ) and various regional partners.

The successful candidate will work with the Aquaculture risk assessment team to conduct quantitative analyses using the Offshore Mariculture Escapes Genetics Assessment (OMEGA) model, applying expertise in contemporary stock assessment and recruitment modeling to parameterize the model. The candidate will transition OMEGA’s core simulation engine (including its Monte Carlo and probability management frameworks) to an open-source environment, and will work with the team to develop visualization modules (e.g., using R-Shiny) to create user friendly interfaces for the model and to generate effective figures and graphs for use in agency reports and peer-reviewed publications. The candidate would also present research findings at national/international conferences and publish results in high-quality, peer reviewed journals. 

Preferred Qualifications:

-Quantitative Fisheries Analysis: Demonstrated expertise in parameterizing, error-checking, and interpreting marine fish stock-recruitment models, with a working command of key assessment parameters (e.g., R0, h, S0, M, and F).

-Quantitative Modeling & Programming: Demonstrated proficiency in R or Python, including simulation modeling, data visualization, and the development of reproducible software packages.

-A demonstrated capability to think critically about the practical application of research outcomes in a management context.

Population assessment modeling; quantitative modeling; quantitative fisheries; aquaculture; OMEGA

citizenship

Open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and non-U.S. citizens

level

Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants

Additional Benefits

relocation

Awardees who reside more than 50 miles from their host laboratory and remain on tenure for at least six months are eligible for paid relocation to within the vicinity of their host laboratory.

health insurance

A group health insurance program is available to awardees and their qualifying dependents in the United States.