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Current Opportunities

Spring 2026 update:

Undergraduate students and recent graduates: We are hiring a research assistant for summer 2026! Read the job posting and apply by April 6 to ensure consideration.

Graduate students: I do not expect to recruit any graduate students for enrollment in 2026. Fill out this form if you would like to be notified about future graduate student opportunities in my group.

If you want more opportunities: Check out the How to Find Research Opportunities section below to learn about more places to search for open positions in oceanography and environmental sciences.

Undergraduate Students and Recent Graduates

Are you interested in researching how seagrass can combat environmental pollution and developing laboratory skills in chemical analysis?

We are hiring an undergraduate UConn student or recent graduate to work on a project investigating how seagrass and other marine plants contribute to reducing nitrogen pollution (eutrophication) beginning in May 2026. Read the job posting and apply by April 6 to ensure consideration.

We are hiring a summer research assistant!

Graduate Students

I do not expect to recruit any graduate students for enrollment in 2026. Fill out this online form to be notified when future position advertisements are available.

Application procedure for prospective graduate students:
Students who are interested in applying for an advertised graduate student position in my group should email me with the subject line “Prospective graduate student” and include:
A) a cover letter describing their motivation for pursuing a graduate degree in Dr. Manning’s group and at the UConn Department of Marine Sciences, how their research interests relate to the proposed projects or other topics within the scope of the lab’s research, and their past and ongoing research, academic, and work experiences
B) a CV or resume
C) unofficial transcripts from all degrees completed and in progress

I will respond to applicants who may be a good fit for the research group to set up a video call. Students encouraged to apply after completing an interview will be offered an application fee waiver.

More information on the graduate program and application procedure can be found on the UConn Department of Marine Sciences website.

For more perspectives and advice on applying to graduate school, check out:
So, you want to go to graduate school? Nail the inquiry email (Gill, 2013)
Prof. Casey Fiesler’s YouTube channel (lots of videos with advice for prospective and current graduate students)
Ten simple rules for choosing a PhD advisor (Jabre et al., 2021)
Thoughts on applying to graduate school (for prospective students and their mentors) (Duffy, 2013)
PhD advisor questions (Kuznetsov et al., 2019)

The very happy biogeochemistry sampling team after sampling the Baffin Bay Bottom Water in 2019!

Postdoctoral Researchers

I do not currently have any funded projects available to hire postdocs. Please fill out this form if you want to be notified of future funded opportunities.

Additionally, I encourage you to contact me if you are interested in applying for fellowship opportunities that would allow you to work with my group. Please email me with the subject line “Prospective Postdoctoral Researcher” and include:
A) a message introducing yourself and describing why you are interested in working in my group and the funding sources you plan to pursue

B) a CV 

UConn Department of Marine Sciences

The UConn Department of Marine Sciences is located on the Avery Point campus in Groton, adjacent to Long Island Sound. The department’s graduate and undergraduate programs offer the intimacy and support of a small campus, coupled with the resources of a large, research-intensive public university.

Check out the video below to learn more about our department!

The Unlearning Racism in Geoscience pod in our department has recently created a new student resources guide and a resource map through Google maps that may be helpful to new and prospective members of the department.

How to Find Research Opportunities

I recommend the following websites and email lists to find graduate positions and jobs related to oceanography and environmental sciences. You may have seen an opportunity in my group posted to one of these resources!