Postdoctoral Researcher in Statistical Ecology / Spatial Distribution Modeling of Microbiomes
Bill Fagan’s ecology lab at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, has a new opening for a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Statistical Ecology / Spatial Distribution Modeling of Microbiomes. This dynamic lab group, which currently includes one associate research scientist, seven postdocs, four graduate students, and numerous undergraduates, is pursuing a wide variety of research projects in ecology. Much of this work is explicitly spatial in nature, drawing upon GIS, mathematical modeling, and statistical analyses. For examples, see http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/faganlab/ This advertisement is for a postdoctoral position on a DoD / MURI-funded project in collaboration with Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, and Duke University. The project focuses on the analysis of the human skin microbiome, with a particular emphasis on developing multi-scale models for understanding and predicting spatial variation in microbiome composition. The candidate should have expertise in species distribution modeling and/or the statistical analysis of spatially structured presence/absence and abundance data. In addition, very strong computational skills with knowledge in various programming languages (e.g., R, Python, Matlab) are required. Experience in microbial ecology and familiarity with sequencing data are highly desirable. Experience working with large datasets and/or hierarchical spatial models would be particularly helpful. The successful candidate will have a PhD at the time of appointment, likely in quantitative ecology, microbial ecology, statistics, or a related field. Prior postdoctoral experience is beneficial, but not required. The initial appointment will be for one year, but funding is already in place for up to two additional years pending good performance. Efforts to secure substantial long-term support via collaborative grant proposals would be encouraged and, when successful, could lead to appointment at the level of assistant/associate research scientist. Benefits are included and pay will be commensurate with experience. The start date is negotiable, but could be as early as March 2018. Review of applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position has been filled. To apply for the position, please email a CV, reprints, and the names and email addresses of three references to: Bill Fagan Professor and Chair Department of Biology University of Maryland College Park, MD 20742 [email protected]
