Postdoctoral Scholar - Macroevolution/Phylogenetics, University of Chicago

Seeking a postdoctoral scholar to participate in an ongoing collaborative research project (D. Jablonski-K. Roy-J. W. Valentine-R. Bieler) on the origin and maintenance of taxonomic, trait, and functional diversity in time & space. Marine bivalves will be used as a model system due to their excellent fossil record, ecological diversity, highly resolved taxonomy and increasingly refined phylogenies. The immediate research goal is the construction of a supertree for Bivalvia from existing molecular phylogenies, and time-calibrating that tree using paleontological data.

The postdoctoral scholar will take the lead on construction of a higher-level phylogeny of bivalves (using supertree and/or super matrix methods) and its subsequent time calibration, and participate in research supported by the resulting phylogeny, with the opportunity to take the lead on some new research projects. Experience in tree construction/alignments required.

One-year appointment, although collaboration will likely extend beyond that time; we will also be applying for further funding but cannot guarantee success. Starting date negotiable but prefer early fall 2019. Requires either Ph.D. in hand or dissertation submitted and approved for degree. Under certain circumstances, the work could be done remotely, with frequent (~weekly) Skype sessions with Jablonski and other group members.

Please email in a single pdf a 1-2 page letter documenting research interests and experience, a CV, and the email addresses of at least two references to Dr. David Jablonski (djablons@uchicago.edu) at the University of Chicago. Applications required by August 31, 2019 for full consideration.

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Postdoc (Fish Morphology & Macroevolution), UC Davis, California

Closing Date: 7 August 2017

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher to work on an NSF funded project on the ecological and environmental drivers of body shape evolution across teleost fishes and we are keen to find someone with a good background in morphometrics. 

It is a collaborative project between Samantha Price, at Clemson University, and Peter Wainwright, at the University of California, Davis; the postdoc will be based at Clemson. Research involves the generation and analysis of ecomorphological databases of linear measurements and geometric morphometric descriptions of fish shape taken from museum specimens, as well as environmental and ecological data collated from existing sources. These data are analyzed using phylogenetic comparative methods in a high performance-computing framework. The postdoc will assist in data collection and analysis, as well as supervising undergraduate researchers and will be expected to write and publish scientific papers.

Research in the Price lab is broadly focused on phylogenetic approaches to macroevolution and biodiversity, with the aim of identifying repeating themes and general principles governing the evolution of vertebrate diversity. We study both living and fossil animals and use data and techniques from across evolutionary and organismal biology, palaeobiology and data science.

It is a one-year appointment renewable for one or more additional years conditional upon performance. Applicants should have completed a Ph.D. or expect to do so prior to starting in the position. Starting date negotiable but strongly prefer Jan 2018.

Review of applications will begin on Aug 7th 2017 and the position will remain open until filled.

A successful applicant will have:

- A doctoral degree in a relevant subject.
- One or more of the following skill sets: geometric morphometrics, phylogenetic comparative analyses, functional morphology, fish diversity and natural history.

- Experience collecting, collating and analyzing large morphometric and ecological datasets and working in museum collections.
- A solid track record of scientific publications and international conference presentations.

Interested candidates should email (1) an application letter summarising research interests, goals and qualifications as well as experience mentoring undergraduate research, (2) a CV and (3) contact information for at least two references to Samantha Price saprice@ucdavis.edu. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you wish to discuss the position prior to applying. Review of applications will begin on Aug 7th 2017 but the position will remain open until filled.

Samantha Price, Ph.D.
Dept. Evolution & Ecology
UC Davis
Davis, CA 95616
USA
Website: www.evovert.com