Employment
Work with Us at NCEAS!
NCEAS is a research institute affiliated with UCSB, but located ten miles south in downtown Santa Barbara. Note that both staff and academic candidates must apply for jobs through the official UC Santa Barbara websites, provided below for each current job opening. NCEAS is committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice in environmental data science and is especially interested in candidates who can support the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service.
As part of the UC system, NCEAS is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Current Job Openings

Detecting Iceplant from Space Postdocs (2 positions) at NCEAS
Due Date: December 4, 2023
Expected Salary: $65,000 to $77,000
Apply on the UCSB recruitment website
We seek two postdoctoral scholars help lead a newly funded program focused on using remotely sensed imagery to monitor iceplant (Carpobrotus edulis) infestations for biodiversity conservation. Together, this team will work to create an end-to-end machine learning pipeline to analyze large Earth observation data streams and in situ field data to map invasive iceplant. The purpose is to understand iceplant invasion trajectory and impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity. This is a two-year position, with the potential for additional time, and will be based at NCEAS in Santa Barbara, California.

Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator at NCEAS
Due Date: January 3, 2024
Expected Salary: $65,000 to $80,000
Apply on the UCSB recruitment website
We seek a Community Engagement and Outreach Coordinator to support the Arctic Data Center (ADC) at NCEAS in Santa Barbara, California. This position will primarily support a national effort to coordinate community engagement around ADC through written communications, presentations, conferences, webinars, social media, promotional and educational materials. The goal is to generate meaningful engagement of target communities, increase awareness of the project, and solicit feedback. Duties may also include contributions to other NCEAS projects and activities. NCEAS is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching and service.
Gulf Ecosystem Initiative Postdoc (up to 2 positions) at NCEAS
Due Date: March 15, 2024
Expected Salary: $64,480- $77,327
Apply on the UCSB recruitment website
NCEAS seeks up to two postdoctoral scholars to contribute to the Gulf Ecosystem Initiative, a partnership with NOAA's RESTORE Science Program. Proposals should address one or more of the Gulf Ecosystem Initiative's three themes: climate change, fisheries, and ecological impacts of management actions. As a Gulf Ecosystem Initiative postdoc, you will develop an independent synthesis project and collaborate with Gulf Ecosystem Initiative working groups. Co-production of synthesis products with working groups, practitioners, and stakeholders across the Gulf of Mexico is highly encouraged. This is a two-year position with the potential for a third year, located at NCEAS in Santa Barbara, California.
Ocean Health Index Fellows (3 positions)
Due Date: January 26, 2024
Expected Salary: $24 per hour (full range $15.50 - $40 per hour, DOE)
We seek three current UCSB students (undergraduate or graduate) to join our team to conduct the 2024 global Ocean Health Index (OHI) Assessment. Fellows will work as a team and independently to prepare, process and synthesize data in the calculation of OHI scores. Fellows are also responsible for communicating OHI methods and results to a wide audience through the creation of web content, reports, blogs, social media, data visualizations, infographics, etc.
See the full job description for application details.
For more information about OHI, visit oceanhealthindex.org
Applicant Resources
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Remote Work
NCEAS' philosophy generally values in-person over remote work to encourage productive conversation and collaboration. For all employees, we offer flexibility with hybrid schedules and an opportunity to apply for remote work after three years of service.
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No Negotiation Policy
We do not allow salary negotiation during the hiring process. This decision is grounded in our commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable space for all. We will offer all candidates the maximum possible salary that the position will allow given the candidate's skills, experience, and funding available.
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Service Expectations
NCEAS is committed to improving our community. We expect all NCEAS employees to spend the equivalent of one day each month actively contributing to the community during work hours- for example, through committee action, volunteer efforts, or in other creative ways.
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What can I negotiate?
We do not allow salary negotiations. We are also unable to provide support for relocation costs or bonuses. Please see above for more details our salary and remote policies. Benefits, including healthcare, dental, and retirement, are highly competitive and provided by UCSB. Academic positions, including postdocs, accrue two days of vacation and one day of sick leave per month while staff positions get one day of sick time and vacation that scales with length of employment. You are welcome to negotiate the following after the job offer: job title, start date, percentage time, and, if appropriate, hybrid schedule.
Other Positions
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Ocean Health Index Internships
The Ocean Health Index project annually seeks three motivated fellows to work with our team to conduct the annual global Ocean Health Index assessment! This is a paid position working part time from May to June and full time from June to September.
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Postdoctoral Research Fellows
In addition to project specific postdoctoral research opportunities, NCEAS is happy to host postdoctoral fellows through programs like NSF, UC Presidential Fellows, UCSB Chancellor's Postdoctoral Fellows, Smith Fellows and more.
Learn More