Scripps Postdoctoral Scholar Award - 2026

Position overview

Position title : Postdoc - Employee

Salary range :

A reasonable salary range estimate for this position is $69,073-74,000 / yr.

The posted UC academic salary scales (https : / / www.ucop.edu / academic-personnel-programs / compensation / 2025-26-academic-salary-scales.html) set the minimum pay determined by rank and / or step at appointment. See the following table for the salary scale for this position : https : / / www.ucop.edu / academic-personnel-programs / _files / 2025-26 / represented-oct-2025-scales / t23.pdf

"Off-scale salaries", i.e., a salary that is higher than the published system-wide salary at the designated rank and step, are offered when necessary to meet competitive conditions.

Application Window

Open date : August 27, 2025

Most recent review date : Thursday, Oct 9, 2025 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 : Saturday, Jan 31, 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

Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego in La Jolla, California, invites applications for one or more Institution-wide Postdoctoral positions in any of the major areas of research conducted at Scripps. Scripps Institution of Oceanography is one of the oldest, largest, and most important centers for marine science research in the world. Research at Scripps encompasses physical, chemical, biological, geological, and geophysical studies of the oceans, earth, and atmosphere.

Candidates are required to contact potential SIO mentors and identify mutual research interests prior to submitting their applications. Scripps Postdoctoral scholars are expected to interact with existing programs. Research activities at Scripps can be explored by viewing profiles of the Principal Investigators at Scripps (https : / / scripps.ucsd.edu / people / faculty). The intention of this program is to expose early career postdocs to new research opportunities and the facilities available at SIO / UCSD. Awards are competitive with a major emphasis on independent, creative research that is unique to SIO. The Postdoc positions are for two years and award 24 months of salary with a minimum annual stipend of $74,000 plus benefits and a one-time research allowance of $6,000 (continuation into second year is contingent on performance and adequate progress). Appointees are eligible for health insurance through UC San Diego.

Successful candidates are expected to start before December 1, 2026.

For instructions about the Scripps Postdoctoral Program, Reference Letters, and Mentor Support Letters, go to : https : / / scripps.ucsd.edu / postdocs / program

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)

Candidates are required to be pursuing a PhD degree in ocean, earth or atmospheric sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, environmental policy or a related field.

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)

Candidates are required to have a PhD degree in ocean, earth or atmospheric sciences, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, environmental policy or a related field conferred by November 30, 2026. Candidates are required to have no more than 3 years postdoctoral experience at the time of appointment.

Application Requirements

Document requirements

Please review additional info at : https : / / scripps.ucsd.edu / postdocs / program

Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.

Summary of Doctoral Dissertation - One page summary (abstract) of your doctoral dissertation.

Statement of Research - A concise statement describing your research interests (3 page maximum, references additional), in particular, those interests you'd like to pursue at Scripps as well as more general career plans and how a postdoc position at Scripps would complement your existing experience.

SIO Mentor's Support Letter (primary) - Applicant obtains a mentor support letter from an SIO faculty member which addresses the mentor's willingness to serve as a mentor, provides an assessment of the candidate's training, former work, and suitability for the proposed postdoctoral project and includes access to appropriate facilities. Applicant to upload the mentor's letter into Recruit by application deadline.

SIO Mentor Support Letter 2 - OPTIONAL (if candidate has additional mentor)

(Optional)

SIO Mentor Support Letter 3 - OPTIONAL (if candidate has additional mentor)

(Optional)

Reference requirements

• 2 letters of reference required

If referee contact names are provided by deadline, application is noted as complete. Reference requests are generated automatically by Recruit. There will be one week's grace period to receive letters after the application deadline.

Apply link :

https : / / apol-recruit.ucsd.edu / JPF04348

Help contact : lcosti@ucsd.edu

About UC San Diego

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.

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.

The University of California prohibits smoking and tobacco use at all of its university-controlled properties.

The UC San Diego Annual Security & Fire Safety Report is available online at : https : / / www.police.ucsd.edu / docs / annualclery.pdf. This report provides crime and fire statistics, as well as institutional policy statements & procedures. Contact the UC San Diego Police Department at (858) 534-4361 if you want to obtain paper copies of this report.

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, are currently being investigated for misconduct, left a position during an investigation for alleged misconduct, or have filed an appeal with a previous employer.

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Job location

La Jolla, CA