Postdoctoral Research Position in Evolutionary Ecology A postdoctoral position is available in the laboratory of Dr. Brian Langerhans, in the Department of Biology at North Carolina State University. The labs research focuses on the importance of major ecological factors (e.g., predation, competition, abiotic agents) in driving predictable (and unpredictable) phenotypic evolution and speciation. While the lab primarily centers on the evolutionary ecology of fishes and lizards, the selected postdoc will have great latitude in selecting their specific research foci. Rather than being tied to a particular project, the goal of this postdoctoral position is to recruit a strong, innovative researcher to investigate any research topic closely aligned to the focus of the Langerhans Lab.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to contribute to a variety of projects (including both lab and field work), and will be encouraged to develop an independent research program related to the central topic of better understanding the causes, consequences, and predictability of phenotypic evolution. Research could be empirical (e.g., lab or fieldwork on Gambusia fishes or other study organisms), theoretical (e.g., statistical or computational inquiries and developments), or both. Requirements: The postdoctoral researcher should have a Ph.D. in evolution, ecology, behavior, or a closely related field, demonstrate a record of successful publications, possess excellent analytical and communication skills, and excel at both independent and collaborative research. Specific skills required for this position depend on the research topics chosen by the applicant, but might include ecological/evolutionary experiments in aquatic systems, geometric morphometrics, biomechanics, multivariate analyses of phenotypic selection, population genetics, theoretical modeling, or quantitative genetics. Research Topics: The successful candidate can investigate a wide range of topics under the umbrella of evolutionary ecology, including ecological speciation, evolutionary consequences of anthropogenic impacts, morphological and locomotor evolution, predictability of phenotypic evolution, functional morphology of locomotion, predator-prey coevolution, genital evolution in livebearing fishes, phylogeography, phenotypic plasticity, neutral genetic diversity and adaptive potential, adaptive constraints of gene flow, sensory bias, evolution of sexual dimorphism, and links between locomotor, feeding, and life history evolution. Start Date / Position Details: The position will begin approximately September 1st, 2010 (negotiable), and continue for 24 months. Salary will be highly competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications (~$40K). The position will also include research funds ($3000 per year), health insurance, and benefits. Application: To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, two letters of recommendation, and pdfs of up to three relevant papers to Dr. Langerhans ([email protected]). In the cover letter, please include a general description of the proposed research topic(s), and how the work would fit into the overall focus of the lab. Review of applications will begin immediately, and continue until filled. Location: North Carolina State University is located in Raleigh, North Carolinas state capital. The campus is home to a vibrant research community, with faculty members studying related topics within numerous departments (e.g., Biology, Plant Biology, Genetics, Entomology, Statistics), and multiple integrative research centers (e.g., Keck Center for Behavioral Biology, Bioinformatics Research Center). The university is also conveniently located within a 30-minute drive of UNC Chapel Hill, Duke University, the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent), Research Triangle Park, and the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. Raleigh is a culturally diverse city with excellent restaurants, parks, museums, and theaters. The city is conveniently located approximately 2 hours from both the ocean and the mountains. More information on research in the lab can be found at: http://faculty-staff.ou.edu/L/Randall.B.Langerhans-1/ More information on the Department of Biology at NCSU can be found at: http://harvest.cals.ncsu.edu/biology/
