Fisheries Collaborative Program Project Scientist Pool

University of California - Santa Cruz • Santa Cruz • $76.70k - $201.90k / year • 1d ago

Position overview

Position title: Fisheries Collaborative Program Assistant Project Scientist, Associate Project Scientist, and Project Scientist

Salary range: Commensurate with qualifications and experience. The posted UCSC Salary Scales set the minimum pay determined by rank and step at appointment. See the scales titled, Represented Project_(E.G., Scientist) Series Fiscal Year and Non-represented Project (E.g., Scientist) Fiscal Year. A reasonable estimate for represented positions is $76,700 - $201,900 and for non-represented, supervisor positions a reasonable estimate is $77,100 - $204,700.

Percent time: Full-time (100%)

Anticipated start: Appointments are contingent on the hiring unit's need and the availability of funding. This recruitment is valid for initial appointments to the Project Scientist title series made from February 2026 through February 2027. Initial appointments made outside this period must be made through other recruitments.

Position duration: Initial appointment will be for a minimum of one year. Reappointment may be considered contingent upon the availability of work and appropriate funding.

Application Window

Open date: December 18, 2025

Most recent review date: Monday, Jan 19, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.

Final date: Friday, Dec 18, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Fisheries Collaborative Program (FCP) in the Institute of Marine Sciences (IMS) at the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC) invites applications for an ongoing pool of project scientists who may be appointed to support research on the conservation and management of California's living marine resources in one or more of the following areas:

Salmon ecology (including biophysical ecology, modeling, acoustic telemetry, and landscape and seascape ecology)
Fisheries assessment (including habitat and groundfish ecology and assessment modeling)
Molecular ecology and genetic analysis
Ecosystem forecasting
Salmon life history
Climate and ecosystems
CoastWatch /PolarWatch
Fisheries resources (including advanced survey technologies, oceanography, and coastal pelagic and highly migratory marine species).

The FCP fosters research collaborations between National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) scientists, UCSC faculty, IMS researchers, and students. The research activities of the FCP include field studies and laboratory experiments, modeling, and computational studies, involving marine and freshwater species and habitats. Comprehensive studies are being conducted on the ecology and life history of Pacific salmonids and other fishes. FCP research supports the conservation of coastal biodiversity and the sustainable management of fisheries resources.

Under the direction of an assigned UCSC IMS academic supervisor and NOAA Science Advisor(s), the FCP project scientists will contribute high-level skills to make significant and creative contributions to various research projects by designing and implementing field or laboratory based studies; managing and analyzing large and complex datasets; and, contributing to presentations, agency reports, and peer-reviewed publications (as a co-author or in some cases lead author). Some senior FCP project scientists supervise research personnel and/or serve as grant/contract Principal Investigators (PIs) with the permission of the divisional dean and Office of Research.

Applicants with expertise in any of the following areas are strongly encouraged to apply: population modeling, analysis of animal movement, tagging and tracking of aquatic species, species interactions, habitat analysis, predator-prey relationships, impacts of climate on marine organisms, computer programming (e.g., MATLAB, R, etc.), database management, and/or statistical analysis.

The hiring unit will not sponsor employment-eligible immigration statuses for this position.

The Fisheries Collaborative Program: https://fisheries.ucsc.edu/

Institute of Marine Sciences: https://ims.ucsc.edu/

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at the time the application is submitted)

Ph.D.; or a M.A./M.S. degree, plus four years' research experience (achieved post award of M.A./M.S. ). Degrees must be in fisheries sciences and management, marine biology and biological oceanography, ocean/marine sciences, oceanography, ecology, evolutionary biology, environmental science, biology, or a related field. Equivalent foreign degrees will be considered.
Experience contributing to field or laboratory studies (may have been obtained while completing your degree) in the areas of fisheries biology, marine science, oceanography, climate variability, natural resources management, or related field.

Your application must demonstrate (e.g., in your C.V. or cover letter) that you meet all of the basic qualifications when you submit your application. There are no exceptions to this requirement.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter - Letter of application that briefly summarizes your qualifications and interest in the position.

Apply link: https://recruit.ucsc.edu/JPF02019

Help contact: innes@ucsc.edu

About UC Santa Cruz

As a condition of employment, the finalist will be required to disclose if they are subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct.

"Misconduct" means any violation of the policies or laws governing conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies or laws prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment or discrimination, as defined by the employer.
UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
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APM - 035: Affirmative Action and Nondiscrimination in Employment

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, protected veteran status, or other protected categories covered by the UC Anti-Discrimination Policy.

If you need accommodation due to a disability, please contact Disability Management Services at jobaccommodations@ucsc.edu or (831) 459-4602.

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UCSC is a smoke & tobacco-free campus.

The University of California offers a competitive benefits package and a number of programs to support employee work/life balance.

As a University employee, you will be required to comply with all applicable University policies and/or collective bargaining agreements, as may be amended from time to time. Federal, state, or local government directives may impose additional requirements.

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