Postdoctoral Research Fellow, CSI-TNC Coastal Sustainability

About the Opportunity

Job Summary

Northeastern University’s Coastal Sustainability Institute (CSI) and The Nature Conservancy’s (TNC) Massachusetts and Global Science programs are partnering to offer a joint Postdoctoral Fellowship Opportunity in Coastal Sustainability.​

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Northeastern University (NU) is a global leader in experiential education and research with expertise in marine and coastal ecology, environmental forecasting and climate adaptation, fisheries and ecosystem-based management, ecological engineering and restoration, environmental sociology, and sustainability science.

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The Nature Conservancy is a world-leading conservation organization with marine priorities currently focused on sustainable fisheries, quantifying the economic benefits of coastal conservation, and the role of ecosystems in protecting societies from coastal hazards and climate change.​

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NU and TNC are active partners in coastal conservation and sustainability science research and practice. As part of this ongoing partnership, NU’s CSI and TNC are excited to announce the fourth round of this Coastal Sustainability Fellows Program for postdoctoral scientists.​

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The CSI-TNC Coastal Sustainability Fellows Program will foster a collaborative, intellectual environment that leverages the interdisciplinary expertise of both CSI and TNC to train postdoctoral scholars and address major challenges facing coastal communities and ecosystems.

Qualifications

The CSI- TNC Coastal Sustainability Fellows Program welcomes applicants from all fields of study focused on understanding and implementing solutions that promote coastal sustainability. Applicants must have earned a doctoral degree in a relevant field of natural science, social science, or engineering.

The 2026 Fellowship competition will prioritize applicants with research interests related to coastal restoration, marsh migration, and community adaptation to flood risk. While not exclusive, specific areas of research connected to these priorities could include:

• Addressing ecological and social barriers and enabling factors for coastal restoration, including salt marshes, oysters, and seagrasses

• Understanding factors that influence land use decisions related to coastal flood risk, including floodplain protection, coastal relocation, restoration potential, and local socio-ecological dynamics

• Identifying and facilitating marsh migration corridors

Fellowship Details & Application Process

Based on funding availability, the fellowship will provide two years of salary ($60,315 per year) and benefits plus an additional $5,000 each year to support travel for meetings and field research. Fellows will be based at NU’s CSI and Marine Science Center in Nahant, MA, and co-mentored by scientists at CSI and TNC. In addition to research, fellows will have opportunities to develop skills consistent with their goals including grant writing / fundraising, teaching, mentoring, and networking with TNC and academic partners.

Initial review of applications will begin on September 21, with an anticipated start date as early as October 2026. Complete applications will include a CV, 2-4 representative publications, names and contact information for 2-3 individuals who can provide letters of recommendation, a 1-page broader impacts statement, and a 2-page research statement that identifies an academic mentor (or mentors) at CSI, and how their research will also link to TNC mentors in the Massachusetts Ocean and Climate programs. Prospective candidates should contact Alison Bowden at TNC and their potential academic mentor at CSI before applying.

We are committed to promoting diversity in conservation and sustainability science and therefore strongly encourage applicants from all historically marginalized groups. The duration of this position is contingent upon the continued availability of funding from this award at its current financial level.

For questions about the fellowship, please contact:

Randall Hughes at rhughes@northeastern.edu and

Alison Bowden at abowden@tnc.org

Position Type

Additional Information

Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer.  

All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

Compensation Grade/Pay Type:

Expected Hiring Range:

With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change.