Christina Hicks

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is inviting applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join an interdisciplinary project on the spatio-temporal variability in the nutrient contributions of aquatic foods. The position is based in the Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division and within the Integrated Reef Fisheries Lab led by Professor Jessica Zamborain-Mason. This project addresses an important gap in understanding how the nutrient composition, availability, and consumption of aquatic foods vary across space and time, and how these patterns can be integrated into dietary assessments and future food security scenarios. The work is especially focused on the Red Sea, while also using global and regional datasets to examine broader patterns relevant to nutrition-sensitive food systems. The successful postdoctoral researcher will contribute to research at the interface of marine biogeochemistry, data science, nutritional epidemiology, marine ecology, and human nutrition. Responsibilities include examining variability in nutrient content across time and space, contributing to the design and implementation of a long-term monitoring program, sampling aquatic foods for nutrient analyses, conducting and analyzing food intake surveys, and integrating findings into forward-looking analyses of food security and nutrition futures. KAUST is an international graduate-level research university located in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia, near Jeddah and on the Red Sea coast. The university emphasizes science and technology research with strong facilities and a highly international community. The post includes the benefits often associated with KAUST appointments for expatriate staff, including tax-free salary, relocation, accommodation, and other incentives. Applicants should hold a PhD completed or near completion in marine biogeochemistry, data science, nutrition epidemiology, environmental science, or a related field. Strong quantitative and programming skills, especially in R and other data science/statistical tools, are important, along with the ability to manage and analyze large datasets. The posting also highlights desirable experience in aquatic food sampling, dietary intake surveys, spatial and temporal modeling, and a strong publication record. Candidates should be collaborative, communicative, and comfortable working across disciplines and with diverse partners; fluency in Arabic and English is preferred for stakeholder engagement in Saudi Arabia. Applications should include a CV, a cover letter describing research experience and motivation, details for at least two references, and a sample peer-reviewed publication relevant to the role. The application is submitted via Interfolio.

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is inviting applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join the Integrated Reef Fisheries Lab in Thuwal, Saudi Arabia. This postdoc focuses on developing economic reference points for multispecies coral reef fisheries , building on recent advances in context-specific reference points and extending them to evaluate the economic performance and potential of reef fisheries worldwide. The project sits at the intersection of economics, ecology, fisheries, and food security , with a particular emphasis on the Red Sea . The successful candidate will help establish a long-term, market-based monitoring program designed to generate real-world data that can improve the management of reef fisheries and support more equitable and sustainable outcomes. The work is closely tied to urgent global questions about marine resource use, ecosystem resilience, and the livelihoods that depend on coral reef systems. The position is based in the Integrated Reef Fisheries Lab , led by Professor Jessica Zamborain-Mason . The lab is a new interdisciplinary research group at KAUST focused on advancing the sustainability of coral reef fisheries and aquatic food systems in the Kingdom and globally. The role also involves collaboration with an international network of researchers, including Professors Joshua Cinner (University of Sydney), Christina Hicks (Lancaster University), and Dale Squires (NOAA Fisheries & UC San Diego). Applicants should hold a PhD (completed or near completion) in Fisheries Economics, Environmental Economics, Resource Economics , or a closely related field. Strong quantitative and programming skills are essential, along with experience in econometric and/or bioeconomic modeling and the ability to work with large and complex datasets. Fieldwork experience is desirable, especially in small-scale fisheries contexts. The post also calls for collaborative research skills, strong written and verbal communication, and fluency in both Arabic and English. KAUST describes itself as an international graduate-level research university near Jeddah, offering a multicultural environment, exceptional research infrastructure, and postdoctoral benefits such as a tax-free salary, relocation support, accommodation, and other incentives. The role offers strong potential for high-impact publications and policy-relevant outputs, plus opportunities to engage with stakeholders across Saudi Arabia and beyond. To apply, candidates should submit a CV, a cover letter outlining research experience and motivation, contact details for at least two references, and a sample peer-reviewed publication relevant to the project. Applications are submitted via Interfolio.