Important Info
Please send a single PDF to andresdeloera@stanford.edu with the subject line "Ocean Policy Lab Postdoc." Applications received by December 1st, 2026 will receive full consideration.
Position description
The Ocean Policy Lab seeks a postdoctoral scholar in economics or a related quantitative social science to collaborate on research projects on ocean governance, marine resources, and the blue economy. We ask applicants to propose the project they want to pursue with us. Proposals may build on one of the lab's current research themes or open a new line of inquiry; the common thread is rigorous social science on how people, firms, and governments make decisions about the ocean, and what policies or institutions could improve those decisions.
About the lab
The Ocean Policy Lab is part of the Oceans Department at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. We pursue social science research that can inform business and policy decisions around the ocean and clarify the tradeoffs among competing uses of marine environments and resources. The lab applies tools from the natural and social sciences to understand strategic behavior and government interventions in this setting.
Research themes
Our work is spread across many diverse issues in ocean social science, described in more detail at https://oceanpolicy.stanford.edu/research. Proposals in any of these existing lines of inquiry are welcome, as are proposals in new research areas — for example, ocean-based climate interventions, offshore energy, shipping and ports, marine protected areas, aquaculture, coastal adaptation, or the political economy of ocean management.
What the position involves
- Collaborate on the proposed research project with the faculty sponsor, from design through data work, analysis, and publication, with the goal of co-authored papers aimed at leading economics and interdisciplinary journals.
- Contribute to ongoing lab projects or priorities based on the scholar's interests and skills.
- Spend time on an independent research agenda within ocean social science.
- Participate in the intellectual life of the lab and the Oceans Department, including seminars, reading groups, and engagement with scholars from many disciplines.
- Where relevant, contribute to grant proposals that extend the postdoctoral project or the lab's broader agenda.
- Mentor graduate and undergraduate research assistants.
What we offer
The lab is new and growing, and the postdoctoral scholar will have a real hand in shaping its direction. We are committed to the scholar's development as an independent researcher: the expectation is that both time spent on the proposed project and time allocated to the scholar’s independent projects advance their academic portfolio. The Doerr School and the Oceans Department offer an unusually rich environment for interdisciplinary collaboration, including ocean scientists from a wide range of disciplines and experts across economics, law, and policy.
- A Ph.D. in a relevant field, such as economics, other social sciences, environmental studies, marine science, public policy, or other relevant areas, completed by the start date.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and expertise in ocean social science and policy, or closely related literatures, with the ability to work across disciplines.
- Demonstrated ability to carry an independent research project through to a finished paper.
- Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively with researchers, practitioners, and funders across diverse disciplines and backgrounds.
- Candidates should also demonstrate intellectual curiosity, dedication to learning and service, and the ability to work independently.
Please combine the following into a single PDF:
- A curriculum vitae.
- A one-page description of the proposed project.
- Names and contact information for three references.
- One writing sample, such as a working paper, published article, or dissertation chapter.