Postdoctoral Researcher in Epidemiological Modeling and Quantitative Disease Ecology
Position overview
Application Window
Open date: May 31, 2023
Most recent review date: Tuesday, Aug 15, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications received after this date will be reviewed by the search committee if the position has not yet been filled.
Final date: Monday, Oct 2, 2023 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.
Position description
The Resilience Institute Bridging Biology Training and Research (RIBBiTR) is looking to hire a post-doc focused on epidemiological modeling and quantitative disease ecology to join its research and training team. RIBBiTR is a Biology Integration Institute, funded by NSF to conduct research and training that integrates across sub-disciplines in the biological sciences to better understand how living systems achieve resilience to emerging diseases and other global change stressors. The institute is comprised of researcher/educators from nine universities within the United States, each with expertise in research and training relevant to the group’s focus on resilience to amphibian chytridiomycosis.
The postdoc will work collaboratively with other RIBBiTR team members to contribute to the core research and training missions of the institute. They will receive training and mentorship from institute researchers with diverse skill sets in integrative biology. The post-doc’s homebase will be the Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology Department at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) and they will work directly with PIs on the RIBBITR modeling team (Cherie Briggs, UCSB and Mark Wilber, University of Tennessee).
The overall objective of the position will be to integrate data and models across scales to understand the mechanisms of recovery, persistence, and resilience of amphibian populations and communities following invasion from the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis. The rich data streams across RIBBiTR’s four focal systems offers an exciting opportunity for the post-doc to link multiple streams of field data to models and theory. While the post-doc will have flexibility in how they achieve this overall objective, a key goal of the position will be building, exploring, and fitting models of amphibian disease dynamics that can be used to scale from individual characteristics (e.g., immune defenses) to community-level responses of amphibians following Bd invasion (e.g., community reorganization).
The University is especially interested in candidates who can contribute to the diversity and excellence of the academic community through research, teaching, and service as appropriate to the position.
Qualifications
Applicants must have completed all requirements for a PhD program (or equivalent) except the dissertation in ecology, biology, mathematics, statistics, or a related field.
Ph.D. in ecology, biology, mathematics, statistics, or a related field
- Strong quantitative skills including demonstrated expertise in disease modeling as evidenced by publications and/or projects incorporating mathematical modeling and/or statistical analyses ,
- Expertise in a scientific programming language such as R, Python, Julia, C++, etc as evidenced by the use of a scientific programming language in models/analyses in published works .
- Strong writing skills, and
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively as evidenced by statements by statements from references
- Enthusiasm and interest in disease ecology.
Application Requirements
Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
Cover Letter
Statement of Research Interests/Experiences
Statement of Contributions to Diversity - One-page description of how your past or anticipated scholarly activities (research, teaching, service) demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion. This document is optional but it is strongly encouraged to submit this document.
(Optional)
- 3-5 required (contact information only)
Please provide the name and email address for each reference. Letters of recommendation will be solicited from the top candidates.
Help contact: kaitlynlegros@ucsb.edu
Campus Information
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
As a condition of employment, you will be required to comply with the University of California Policy on Vaccination Programs, as may be amended or revised from time to time. Federal, state, or local public health directives may impose additional requirements.