Workers at the James Hutton Institute will discover whether their jobs have been axed just before Christmas.
It is understood that up to 25 people at the publicly-funded research body could be forced to leave their jobs as the centre attempts to fill a £2.5 million funding shortfall due to cuts.
More than 600 staff are employed at the institute’s two main sites at Mylnefield, Invergowrie, and Craigiebuckler in Aberdeen.
Management announced a voluntary exit scheme earlier in the summer with the objective of shedding 70 posts.
Despite extending the redundancy scheme deadline, it now appears that only 45 people have agreed to leave voluntarily and the gap could have to be filled with compulsory layoffs.
Managers met workers on Monday to break the news.
In a letter sent to staff, chief executive Professor Iain Gordon accepted it was a “hugely difficult” time for all of those at the institute.
He said: “Unfortunately we have not achieved the savings required through voluntary exit and voluntary redundancy and so I am writing to advise you all that we will be moving to compulsory redundancies.
“During this process we are continuing to look for volunteers from across the organisation and to seek redeployment options wherever possible.
“It is disappointing that we have reached this point and I appreciate that this is a hugely difficult and worrying time for everyone.
“We have arranged outplacement and career transition support and HR can put you in contact with other support organisations…”
The exact number of posts to be shed should be decided by November 13, with all those facing compulsory redundancy being informed by December 20.