Looking for two postdocs (SOCCOM and InMOS), details below. Both positions now accepting applications!
I am not currently planning to take on new students in Fall 2025.
Seth Bushinsky
- MSB 523
- Phone: (808) 956-4402
- Email: seth.bushinsky@hawaii.edu
Graduate Students
Shannon McClish
Shannon is working toward a PhD in Marine Geology and Geochemistry. She is using observations from biogeochemical profiling floats and satellites to assess the influence of seasonal sea ice on biogeochemical cycling in the Southern Ocean. Shannon is originally from California and received a B.S. in Earth Science from the University of California at Santa Cruz. Google Scholar profile.
Charles Addey
Charles is pursuing a doctorate in Marine Geology and Geochemistry. His research focuses on the physical and biological controls on air-sea carbon and oxygen uptake in the Kuroshio Extension mode water formation region of the northwest Pacific Ocean, using biogeochemical Argo floats and model output data. Charles holds a B.Tech in Marine Science and Technology from the Federal University of Technology in Akure, Nigeria, and an M.Sc in Marine Chemistry from Zhejiang University in China. Google Scholar profile.
Zachary Nachod
Zack is pursuing a PhD in Marine Geology and Geochemistry. His research involves using biogeochemical floats to understand changes in oxygen and carbon cycles in the Southern Ocean. Zack is from Seattle, Washington and graduated from the University of Washington with a B.S. in Oceanography with minors in Data Science, Arctic Studies, and Applied Mathematics. Google Scholar profile.
Postdocs
Daniela König
Dr. Daniela König earned her PhD at the University of Liverpool with a thesis entitled: A model perspective on iron isotope cycling in the global ocean: external sources, internal processing and temporal variability. Here she is working on our NASA funded project investigating the role of Subantarctic Mode Water and Antarctic Intermediate water on global carbon, oxygen, and nutrient cycles. Google Scholar profile.
Mathilde Jutras
Dr. Mathilde Jutras is using BGC-Argo data to distinguish the physical and biogeochemical determinants of oxygen and carbon concentrations in the ocean. She is also interested in how sub-seasonal variability affects these concentrations. Mathilde holds a bachelor in physics from Université de Montréal, and a masters and PhD in oceanography from McGill University. Google Scholar profile.
Undergraduate students
Luna Ogando
Luna is working on 3D visualizations of ocean water mass data and long-term changes in ocean biogeochemistry of those water masses. She is also working in the lab as a technician on oxygen calibrations.
Jenny Joy Macatumbas
Jenny is studying phytoplankton seasonal growth cycles, comparing the timing of phytoplankton blooms captured by profiling floats and satellite observations.
Open postdoc positions. If you are potentially interested in either, I would suggest submitting an application to both. The same application / cover letter is fine.
Postdoc opportunity 1: Southern Ocean Biogeochemical Cycles, SOCCOM3
We invite applications for a postdoctoral researcher interested in chemical oceanography / ocean biogeochemistry to work with Prof. Seth Bushinsky at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and join the recently funded SOCCOM3 project. We are joining the Southern Ocean Carbon and Climate Observations and Modeling (SOCCOM) project in its 3rd iteration of funding. This multi-institutional program has been deploying biogeochemical Argo floats in the Southern Ocean since 2014 and pairing those novel measurements with state estimate and climate model work.
Our group will be investigating a range of topics revolving around the Southern Ocean carbon, oxygen, and nutrient budgets (air-sea gas exchange fluxes, transport, export fluxes). The project will involve the use of biogeochemical profiling float data, satellite observations, and ocean state estimate output. The new postdoc would be joining our group of graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduate students studying biogeochemistry throughout the ocean.
Desired qualifications: PhD in Chemical or Physical Oceanography. Experience working with large observational datasets and model output is preferred. This is up to a 3-year position, subject to annual reviews of continued satisfactory performance. Salary starting at ~$74,000 per year, plus benefits.
Job posting. Applications must be submitted through RCUH. For either link, search for job 224810. Closing Jan. 3, 2025. Please contact me with any questions: seth.bushinsky@hawaii.edu.
HI-CYCLES Ocean Biogeochemistry Group: https://bushinskyoceanlab.org/ ; UH Mānoa Oceanography: https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/
Postdoc opportunity 2: Integrating Models and Observations across Scales (InMOS)
We invite applications for a postdoctoral researcher interested in chemical oceanography / ocean biogeochemistry to work with Prof. Seth Bushinsky at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and join the recently funded InMOS project. InMOS (Integrating Models and Observations across Scales) is a new multi-institution, 5-year project that seeks to improve our understanding of the oceanic budgets of carbon, heat, and oxygen by combining observations, biogeochemical models, and machine learning. This is part of the larger Ocean Biogeochemical Virtual Institute funded by Schmidt Sciences.
Our group will lead the observational-analysis side of this project, developing global datasets to integrate with models and analyzing these data to understand long-term changes to ocean oxygen and carbon. The project will involve the use of biogeochemical profiling float data, mooring data, satellite observations, and model output, among other data types. The new postdoc would be joining our group of graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduate students studying biogeochemistry throughout the ocean.
Desired qualifications: PhD in Chemical or Physical Oceanography. Experience working with large observational datasets and model output is preferred. This is up to a 4.5-year position, subject to annual reviews of continued satisfactory performance. Salary starting at ~$74,000 per year, plus benefits.
Job posting. Applications must be submitted through RCUH. For either link, search for job 224855. Closing Jan. 3, 2025. Please contact me with any questions: seth.bushinsky@hawaii.edu.
HI-CYCLES Ocean Biogeochemistry Group: https://bushinskyoceanlab.org/ ; UH Mānoa Oceanography: https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/
Previous students
Anthony Barro – Global Environmental Science Major, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. Thesis: An Investigation of CO2 Signals Caused by Weather Disturbances in Mamala Bay. 2020.
Udit Basu – Princeton University summer student investigating gas exchange through fractional sea ice. 2019.
Rebecca Barber – Princeton University summer student studying the impact of bubble injection on gas tracer representation in global climate models. 2018.
Information for prospective students and postdocs
I plan to take on new students and postdocs over the next few years, though it obviously depends on funding. Please check back here for updates on funded projects or shoot me an email (and I’ll do my best to respond, but if I don’t feel free to send a second).
In oceanography, grad students typically go to work with a specific advisor. It is important to find someone you can work with over many years and through all of the ups and downs of grad school and research.
It is good to research potential advisors at a school and usually worth it to contact them prior to submitting your application. Not everyone will respond or have time to talk, but it is a good way to communicate interest and if you do talk, you can both get a sense of whether you would be a good fit.
I’ve put together a “Grad Student Agreement” that reflects my thoughts on my responsibilities as an advisor and my students responsibilities. It’s meant to be the starting point for conversations regarding expectations in grad school but should give some insight into my philosophy as an advisor.
Information on how to apply to UH Mānoa: https://www.soest.hawaii.edu/oceanography/grad-school-admission/
Fellowship opportunities
I’m happy to work with prospective students and postdocs on fellowships that could fund work together.
Postdoc fellowships
NOAA Climate and Global Change Postdoctoral Program (do not need to be a U.S. citizen)
NSF Office of Polar Programs Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident)
NSF Ocean Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident)
