The Ocean Ecology Lab at the Marine Mammal Institute, Oregon State University (Newport, OR) seeks a postdoctoral research scholar. Starting salary: $61,000. www.oceanecologylab.org

Marine mammal populations were heavily depleted by harvest in the 19^th and 20^th centuries, dramatically diminishing their role in marine ecosystems. As a result of national and international protection, many marine mammal populations have made strong recoveries, in some cases reaching or approaching their historical abundances in recent decades. As these populations have recovered, their role in structuring marine ecosystems has become more apparent. While most modern research on marine mammals was conducted on severely depleted populations, the top-down effects of marine mammals (in particular toothed whales and pinnipeds) as meso- and top-predators in marine systems have become increasingly important in both research and management settings.

Pacific salmon are critical components of ecosystems, indigenous cultures, and fisheries. Climate change poses a significant threat to salmon, particularly through reduced marine survival in warmer seas. However, our current understanding of the mechanisms leading to reduced marine survival is limited, hampering the ability of managers to develop effective strategies to recover salmon populations and support their resilience to rapid environmental change. The early life history of salmon—as they migrate out of freshwater habitats and enter marine systems for the first time—is associated with extraordinarily high (>90%) mortality rates. These outmigration periods are predictable in space and time and bring juvenile salmon through pinch points, making them especially susceptible to predation. However, the relative contributions of mammal, bird, and fish predators to juvenile salmon mortality remains a major and pressing knowledge gap.

This collaboration between Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute and NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center seeks to improve our understanding of how marine mammals and seabirds may shape the early life history of endangered Pacific salmon. We seek to assess the presence, density, and movement of mammal and bird predators during crucial periods for Chinook salmon in the Columbia River plume. Understanding these predator-prey dynamics is essential for formulating strategies to enhance the resilience of salmon populations to environmental changes. The project will use line- and strip-transect surveys, thermal imaging, and AI to estimate the densities of potential predators during salmon smolt outmigration, aiming to inform life cycle models and enhance management tactics for salmon resilience and recovery.

We seek a full-time postdoctoral scholar to conduct research on marine predator-prey dynamics, with a particular focus on avian and mammalian predators' interactions with salmon populations. The ideal candidate will possess a Ph.D. in marine biology, ecology, biological oceanography, or a closely related field, with a proven track record of field research in marine ecosystems. Preference will be given to candidates with extensive experience designing and conducting strip-transect and/or line-transect surveys for seabirds and marine mammals. The successful candidate will design and lead line- and strip-transect surveys in the Columbia River Plume; collect thermal imaging data and develop methods for estimating predator densities from thermal images; lead or collaborate on the development of machine learning tools to automatically detect marine mammals and seabirds in thermal images; estimate environmental drivers of mammal and seabird densities; estimate trends in the density and regional abundance of marine predators; and explore relationships between predator densities and salmon marine survival. In addition to data collected during the study period, the postdoctoral scholar will have access to extensive, long-term marine mammal, seabird, and salmon time series data collected by the NOAA Northwest Fisheries Science Center, and a 30+ year citizen science dataset on the relative abundance of seabirds in southern Washington. The postdoctoral scholar will be encouraged to develop additional projects and outputs that align with their background, expertise and interest in topics related to the primary research objectives.

The successful candidate will join a dynamic team of researchers at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute and NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center, contributing critical knowledge towards the resilience and recovery of endangered salmon populations. This full-time appointment offers a competitive salary, benefits, and the opportunity for significant professional development in a supportive academic setting. The postdoctoral scholar will have field research support from research technicians, graduate students, and undergraduate research assistants, analytical support from collaborators at the OSU Center for Quantitative Life Sciences, and supervision and mentoring from OSU faculty and NOAA scientists.

Required qualifications:

• Ph.D. in Biological Oceanography, Marine Biology, Ecology, or related field.
• Experience designing and conducting line- and/or strip-transect surveys for marine mammals and/or seabirds.
• Experience analyzing line-/strip-transect data.
• Strong statistical and data analysis skills, including advanced abilities in a programming language such as R or Python.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a successful publication record.
• Proven ability to work collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Proven ability to lead complex field research projects.

Additional preferred qualifications:

• Familiarity with or experience studying salmon or other anadromous/marine fishes.
• Experience using imagery tools in a research setting (e.g. photo identification, drone/stereo-video photogrammetry, thermal imagery).
• Experience with or interest in developing machine learning or computer vision tools.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead field research initiatives to collect data on marine birds and mammals in the Columbia River plume.
• Analyze large datasets using advanced statistical software and contribute to the development of AI algorithms for species identification.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams to integrate research findings into salmon life cycle models and management strategies.
• Contribute to peer-reviewed publications and present findings at scientific conferences.

Please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position and how you meet the above qualifications, your CV, 1-3 representative scientific publications, and contact information for three references to joshua.stewart@oregonstate.edu. The first review of applications will be on June 15^th, but further consideration of applications may continue on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The appointment will initially be made for a term of one year, with the possibility for renewal up to 2.5 years based upon a satisfactory performance review. The starting salary for this position will be $61,000. Start date is negotiable but preferably by September 2024. The scholar will be supervised by Joshua Stewart (OSU MMI), David Huff (NOAA NWFSC), and Brian Burke (NOAA NWFSC).