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
Learn more about working at NCEAS on our Welcome Website >
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.
Current Job Openings
Review Begins: 2/20/2026
Expected Salary: $69,073 - $82,836.
Apply: https://recruit.ap.ucsb.edu/JPF03026
The Gulf Ecosystem Initiative is a partnership designed to engage the Gulf research community in tackling pressing scientific and societal challenges focused around three emerging research themes: fisheries; climate change; and the ecological impact of management actions.
Located at NCEAS, this postdoc position will offer you opportunities to not only conduct your own independent research, but also participate in the research of one or more funded synthesis science working groups currently being solicited (to be awarded by May 2026). You will split your time (50/50) between supporting and collaborating with one or more working groups and developing your own independent synthesis project focused on a specific challenge facing the Gulf. Your proposed independent research project should focus on leveraging and reusing existing data to develop synthesis products around one or more of the initiative’s three key research themes.
This position will give you significant opportunities to maximize the impact of your research and to work at the interface of ecological synthesis science and applied management solutions. As a postdoc at NCEAS you will be welcomed into the vibrant and inclusive community at NCEAS and will be well supported by a community of postdocs and resident researchers.
Benefits of Working at NCEAS
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.
NCEAS Culture
In addition to doing work with positive impact, some of the perks that NCEAS employees enjoy are:
- An open door environment
- Terrace lunches
- Networking with visiting researchers
- Art & science collaborations
- Beautiful workspaces
Our Commitment
At NCEAS, we're committed to:

- A collaborative & encouraging work environment
- An inclusive, diverse community
- Work-life balance
- Impactful work
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. Any positions that are open to remote work will be advertised as such.
Negotiations
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. You are welcome to negotiate the following after the job offer: job title, start date, percentage time, and, if appropriate, hybrid schedule.
Learn more in our Negotiation Policy Document