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Postdoctoral Associate in Population Genomics and Urban Evolutionary Entomology Virginia Tech in United States
Degree Level
Postdoc
Field of study
Evolutionary Biology
Funding
Restricted postdoctoral appointment with salary information of 53,550-65,029 USD; 40 hours per week.
Country
United States
University
Virginia Tech
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About this position
The Urban Evolutionary Entomology Laboratory at Virginia Tech is seeking a postdoctoral associate to study how pest insects establish, persist, adapt, and potentially go extinct in urban environments. The project sits at the intersection of evolutionary genetics, population genomics, and urban ecology, with an emphasis on understanding the genomic mechanisms that shape highly inbred populations living in anthropogenic landscapes.
The research program includes themes such as the evolution of insecticide resistance across historic and contemporary time scales, population genomics across socioeconomic landscapes, and the heritability of stress-induced epigenetic marks. The work may involve ddRADseq, whole-genome sequencing, targeted sequence capture, and other emerging next-generation sequencing approaches.
The successful candidate will contribute across the full research workflow, from experimental design and molecular laboratory work through bioinformatic analysis, data interpretation, and publication writing. The role also includes opportunities to lead first-author papers, contribute to collaborative manuscripts, help develop grant proposals with Dr. Warren Booth, and pursue independent research ideas.
The postdoctoral associate will be an active member of a collaborative laboratory and broader Virginia Tech research environment with strengths in genomics, evolutionary biology, ecology, entomology, and computational biology. They will interact with researchers across the Department of Entomology, the Fralin Life Sciences Institute, and the Invasive Species Collaborative, while also having opportunities to mentor students, coordinate projects, engage in outreach, and contribute to teaching activities.
Funding details
Restricted postdoctoral appointment with salary information of 53,550-65,029 USD; 40 hours per week.
What's required
Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, molecular ecology, genomics, integrative biology, or a closely related discipline, earned no more than four years prior to the effective date of appointment, with at least one year of eligibility remaining. Applicants should have a strong background in population genomics and evolutionary biology; significant experience with molecular laboratory techniques including DNA extraction, PCR, and genomic library preparation; expertise in next-generation sequencing approaches and genomic data analysis; experience with bioinformatic pipelines and command-line computational environments; and strong scientific writing and communication skills, evidenced by peer-reviewed publications and publication potential. Preferred experience includes urban evolutionary biology, insect evolutionary biology, independent research design and execution, insect rearing, student mentoring, scientific outreach and science communication, and contributing to grant proposals.
How to apply
Submit a one-page cover letter describing your research experience, career goals, and interest in the position, along with a CV and contact information for three references. Informal inquiries may be directed to Dr. Warren Booth at [email protected].
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.
Make your next move.
Prepare your application
Review drafts and confirm requirements with the university.