Plymouth Marine Laboratory is to lose up to 30 of its 160 staff by voluntary redundancy.
The institute, once part of the Natural Environment Research Council's Centre for Coastal and Marine Sciences, has proposed a restructure as a wholly owned company limited by guarantee with charitable status. The NERC might keep a stake, but the lab would be self-sufficient.
Existing staff will remain NERC employees, but future staff will be employed by the new company.