International Marine Wood Borer Network jobs and careers

About International Marine Wood Borer Network

The International Marine Wood-Borer Network (IMWBN) is a global community of researchers, practitioners and enthusiasts dedicated to the organisms that live in, eat and transform wood in the sea. These include shipworms, piddocks, xylophagaids, gribbles, chelurids, sphaeromatids and related taxa – animals that tunnel through submerged wood using specialised shells, mandibles and microbiomes to digest lignocellulose. Marine wood-borers have long shaped human history and marine ecosystems. They recycle vast amounts of terrestrial carbon entering coastal seas, prevent ports and estuaries from becoming clogged with drifting timber, and create complex burrow networks that boost biodiversity. They have also damaged fleets, piers and underwater cultural heritage, with economic costs reaching billions worldwide. Today, these organisms sit at the centre of several emerging research frontiers. Shipworm symbionts provide novel enzymes, antibiotics and bioactive compounds. Naked clams – farmed shipworms – are gaining attention as ultra-fast-growing blue-foods capable of converting wood waste into high-value protein. Fossil borings extend their influence deep into geological time, informing reconstructions of past climates and ecosystems. Despite their importance, no global network has previously existed – and awareness of their ecological and biotechnological value remains limed. The IMWBN supports people working on marine wood-borers across biology, ecology, palaeontology, microbiology, aquaculture, conservation, engineering and heritage science. Our aims are to connect a global community, raise the profile of wood-borer research, synthesise annual advances, celebrate excellence and support early-career researchers while building shared resources that strengthen communication across the field. The IMWBN provides a dedicated home for marine wood-borers – and the people who study them – ensuring this field is visible, connected and globally impactful.