Moore Postdoctoral Fellowship

Position Overview

Position title: Moore Postdoctoral Fellow

Salary range: $69,073 – $71,632 (off‑scale salaries may be offered to meet competitive conditions.)

Position will begin Spring/Summer 2026 in the Environmental Fluid Dynamics Lab, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, UC San Diego. The fellowship is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and focuses on machine learning‑based ocean state estimation. The successful candidate will develop and implement data‑driven tools, underpinned by scientific machine learning and reduced‑order modeling, for ocean state estimation with quantified uncertainties, increasing efficiency and accuracy of near‑field prediction of physical and biological conditions for marine operations, including marine carbon dioxide removal and aquaculture.

The role includes collaborative work with investigators at partner institutions.

Initial appointment is for two years with possible extension. Total postdoctoral service may not exceed five years. Salary commensurate with qualifications and experience, in line with the UCSD Postdoc Salary Scale.

• Develop and apply reduced‑order modeling approaches using spatiotemporal decompositions of large high‑resolution simulation datasets.
• Develop and train machine learning architectures using reduced‑order predictions together with heterogeneous observational data.
• Integrate data‑driven methods into a framework for uncertainty‑aware ocean state estimation.
• Apply and validate the framework using datasets at experimental sites.
• Publish research in peer‑reviewed journals and present results at national and international conferences.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students.

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

• Doctoral degree in engineering, oceanography, or a related field, with relevant background in data‑driven modeling, machine learning, and/or fluid mechanics.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

• Experience in numerical fluid dynamics or ocean model application, validation, and analysis.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a team environment.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills.

Preferred qualifications

• Publication record in peer‑reviewed journals related to the minimum qualifications.
• Ability to pursue research independently.

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae (most recently updated)
• Cover Letter
• Statement of Research
• Summary of Doctoral Dissertation – one‑page summary (abstract)

Reference requirements

• 3–5 references (contact information only)

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 status under state or federal law.

San Diego, CA