2-year postdoc available in AI and geospatial approaches to observing reef healtH

Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship in AI, Remote Sensing & Quantitative Conservation Ecology

The Marine Conservation Innovation Group (https://www.himb.hawaii.edu/lab/marine-conservation-innovation-group) and the Elizabeth Madin Laboratory (www.oceansphere.org) at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s Hawai‘i
Institute of Marine Biology (https://www.hawaii.edu/himb) is seeking to recruit a postdoctoral fellow in the area of quantitative conservation ecology, with emphasis on geospatial and machine learning approaches, to join our lab. The position will be funded by two recent private philanthropic awards focused on decoding seascape-scale vegetation patterns on coral reefs to understand ecosystem health.

The successful candidate will design and lead research investigating human impacts on coral reefs through the use of new and emerging tools capable of rapidly advancing coral reef science and conservation. Specifically, the postdoc will take a leadership role in 1) the application of novel machine learning algorithms for automated detection and measurement of reef halos from high-resolution satellite imagery, and 2) developing/executing their own broadly-related research questions. Additionally, the postdoc will be actively engaged in mentoring of graduate students/interns and possibly teaching of graduate students.

HIMB provides unparalleled research opportunities, in particular due to its unique location on Moku o Lo‘e (Coconut Island) surrounded by coral reefs in Kāne‘ohe Bay on the windward side of the island of O‘ahu (~24 km from the main university campus in Mānoa).

The Marine Conservation Innovation Group provides a supportive and stimulating research environment with a group of highly collegial scientists who are committed to informing marine policy, scientific outreach, open science, and enhancing diversity in STEM. We offer a family-friendly, flexible work environment where work-life balance is encouraged.

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000 / year

Duration: Two years initially, with possibility of renewal pending performance and funding availability

Application due date: July 31, 2026

Position start date: Flexible, but ideally no later than September 2026 

Application link: https://shorturl.at/rLdM0 (search job ID# 226387)

Questions: PI Elizabeth Madin (madin@hawaii.edu)