Aurora

Employment & Opportunities

Postdoctoral Research Assistant in Oceanography and Palaeoclimatology - Oxford University

The post holder will join the Physical Oceanography and Palaeoclimate groups in the Department of Earth Sciences and perform numerical model data analysis relevant to two projects: MEZCAL and PalaeoGradPhan. Both projects focus on the relationship between ocean circulation and surface ocean properties, and use numerical models to understand what we can and cannot infer from imperfect observational data. The PDRA will explore the relationship between ocean circulation, sea surface temperature (SST) and atmospheric forcing in ocean state estimates and numerical simulations of current and past climate.

The post holder will combine adjoint-derived information about the sensitivity of the Atlantic overturning circulation to surface fluxes (as a function of position and lead time) with surface fluxes from a range of ocean state estimates and coupled climate models to reconstruct recent AMOC variability. They will also explore the role of ocean circulation (including the overturning circulation) in setting and responding to equator-pole temperature gradients over much longer timescales, using a series of 109 climate model simulations, 5 million years apart, over the entire Phanerozoic. 

Responsibilities include calculating relevant ocean and climate diagnostics; applying a range of statistical tools; developing, testing and refining hypotheses; and collaborating in the preparation of research publications. The postholder will be expected to manage their own academic research and administrative activities and to collaborate with MEZCAL, PalaeoGradPhan and other colleagues.

About you

The successful candidate will hold or be close to completion of a PhD/DPhil in ocean or atmospheric dynamics (thesis must be submitted before an offer is made). The ideal candidate will have relevant experience in analysing numerical ocean or climate model data. They will have an understanding of ocean and climate dynamics and a demonstrated ability to design and conduct numerical analysis of large data sets to test hypotheses.

The postholder should have excellent communication skills (both written and oral), along with the ability to meet deadlines and produce publishable research. 

This is a fixed term post until 31 March 2027 with the possibility of an extension. The deadline for applications is 17 April 2026. Interviews will be provisionally held on 5 May 2026.

You will be required to upload a CV and a Supporting Statement as part of your application. Please do not attach any manuscripts, papers, transcripts, mark sheets or certificates as these will not be considered as part of your application.

Applications are particularly welcome from women and black and ethnic minority candidates, who are under-represented in research posts in the Department. 

Observational Air-Sea Interactions - Assistant Professor at Scripps Institution of Oceanography

The Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO, https://scripps.ucsd.edu) at the University of California San Diego invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professorship in ObservationalAir–Sea Interactions. We seek outstanding candidates pursuing innovative research activities in Ocean-Atmosphere Interactions, with a preference for candidates with expertise in observational approaches. 

View details of the position online.

To ensure full consideration, applications should be submitted before Monday, March 30, 2026.

News & Events

Join us at WEST 2026: Registration and Call for Abstracts Open Now!

Calling All Water and Environmental Researchers,

We are excited to invite you to the Water and Environment Student Talks (WEST) 2026 conference “Flowing Forward: Shaping Water's Next Chapter”, happening June 10th (online) and June 11th (in-person) at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver campus.

The WEST Conference is organized by a committee of graduate students from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria. We aim to create a platform that brings together water and environmental researchers from diverse disciplines, providing a space for learning and fostering collaboration. This annual event is known for its inclusive atmosphere, encouraging innovation, and the exchange of ideas between students across the Pacific Northwest and internationally.

We are inviting both attendees and student presenters to join us for this exciting event! This is an incredible opportunity to be part of an interdisciplinary and international forum. Secure your spot today and contribute to shaping the future of water research! Students can benefit from presentation sessions, keynote speakers, industry night networking, and panelist conversations. Registration is FREE for all.

Register today via THIS LINK

Additionally, the call for abstracts is now open! Student presenters have the opportunity to win cash prizes in each presentation category. Submit your abstract via the registration link. We are accepting abstract submissions in the following session categories (detailed descriptions are available within the registration form):

• Hydrology and Environmental Systems
• Water Access, Sanitation, and Hygiene
• Innovation and Technology for Future Water
• Predicting and Mitigating Human Impact on Water

Conference Format & Venue:

• June 10th, 2026 – Virtual via Zoom
• June 11th, 2026 – In-person at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada

Important Dates & Registration:

• Abstract Submission Deadline: March 27th, 2026
• Registration Deadline: May 31st, 2026

Further details about conference events including  keynote speakers and panel discussions will be released soon on our official conference website.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to info@west-conference.ubc.ca. We look forward to hearing from you and learning about your research!

Student Opportunity - This Month at UBC Office of Regional and International Community Engagement (ORICE) 

As we approach the end of the term, there are still plenty of opportunities to learn, connect, and build community. Over the next two weeks, our student groups are hosting four events designed to help you do just that! Additionally, we will be hosting the second annual ORICE showcase.

We hope to see you at one, two, or all! Learn more and register below.

Artivism Week (March 16th – 20th)

Capturing Academic Freedom Art Exhibit

Date: Wednesday, March 18th, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM (Drop-in Anytime!)

Location: Place of Many Trees, Liu Institute for Global Issues, 6476 NW Marine Dr, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z2, Canada

Across the world, scholars are being silenced for asking questions and producing knowledge that challenge oppressive power structures. This event uses art as a form of advocacy and solidarity-building by highlighting the stories of targeted academics and the power of expression. Join us for an evening of music, visual arts, poetry, and resistance. Refreshments will be provided, drop-in anytime!

Register for the art exhibit here!

Beyond the Frame: Solidarity in Action Art Workshop

Date: Thursday, March 19th, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location: Room 120, C.K. Choi Building, 1855 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2

Join the Human Rights Collective in a consciousness-raising art workshop around women in resistance. Using sustainable materials, we will create a collective art piece while engaging in critical dialogue about the disproportionate gendered impacts of climate change and intersections with broader resistance and solidarity movements. 

Register for the art workshop here!

Knowledge in Motion Week (March 23rd – 27th)

Academic Freedom Panel Discussion

Date: Wednesday, March 25th, 2026

Time: 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Location: Dodson Room, IKB, 1961 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada

A discussion panel with 3-4 professors and scholars with research and/or lived experiences speaking on academic freedom (what it looks like under threat, why it occurs, how we can take action). Panelists will be adjacent to ongoing cases in Iran, Belarus, and China.  

This event will be public and open to all students and faculty. It is designed to foster lifelong learning and student academic success by creating a forum where attendees can gain a deeper understanding of how knowledge production, access to information, and scholarly expression are shaped by social, political, and institutional forces. We hope students will learn about ongoing cases of wrongfully imprisoned scholars, while also engaging with respectful dialogue and taking action to further academic freedom.

Register for the discussion panel here!

Pathways for Centering Community in Research: A Conversation on Knowledge Translation with the Public Scholars Initiative

Date: Thursday, March 26th, 2026

Time: 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Location: Room 351, C.K. Choi Building, 1855 West Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z2

This 2-hour session invites graduate students and early career researchers into a conversation about knowledge translation and exchange, exploring what it means to share research ethically and responsibly, with community, and across public channels. 

This session will be held in collaboration with the Public Scholars Initiative (PSI) at UBC focusing on its guiding frameworks, success stories, and the lessons it offers researchers just beginning to think about the public dimensions of their work. The session will include facilitated discussion, opportunities for peer reflection, and space to consider how these frameworks apply to your own research context to ensure it goes beyond the academic paper and into the community and beyond. Snacks and refreshments will be provided.

Learn more about the speakers here!

Register for this conversation here!

Showcase Week

ORICE Year-End Showcase: Global Community Engagement in Action

Date, time, and location TBA.

Over the past year, more than 40 UBC students have engaged in ORICE’s Global Experiential Education Program (GEEP) by participating in seven different co-curricular engagementships. Five student teams worked on projects designed and led by global community partners, providing them with valuable hands-on learning opportunities. While two student teams worked on activating and engaging campus through the Human Rights and Gender+ in Research Collectives. As these impactful projects come to a close, students will showcase their work at the second annual ORICE Year-End Showcase: Global Community Engagement in Action. Whether you’re a student planning for your upcoming academic year, a faculty member eager to learn about the students’ contributions, or a member of the UBC community with an interest in experiential education, we invite you to join us for an afternoon of sharing, learning, and celebration!

Register for the Showcase here!

Call for Submissions: Under the Lens Microscopic Image Contest

We are excited to announce Under the Lens: An Evening of Microscopic Image Art, taking place on April 24, 2026, 4–6 pm (Location TBA). Hosted by Characterization@UBC, the BioImaging Facility, and the Botany and Zoology Graduate Student Associations (BGSA & ZGSA), this is your chance to showcase your micrographs (and arts) and win prizes! 

We are currently accepting submissions for two categories:

• Scientific Micrograph: Authentic (or altered) research images;
• Visual Art: Artistic pieces derived from scientific observation.

Event and contest details:

• Open to all UBCV/O students, staff, and researchers;
• Deadline to enter the contest: Monday, April 13, 2026;
• Selected works will be professionally printed and exhibited, with prizes awarded for People’s Choice and Sponsor’s Choice.

Submit your entry here!

Note: ALL attendees (including those not entering the contest) must register via the above form.

For full contest details and eligibility, please visit here.