Postdoctoral Fellow - Plant-Insect Ecology

Job Posting Title:

Postdoctoral Fellow - Plant-Insect Ecology

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Hiring Department:

Department of Integrative Biology

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Jun 01, 2024

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue Until Jun 30, 2025

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Anticipated start date: June or July, 2024

Deadline to apply: April 17th 2024

The initial assignment is one year, with the potential for extensions based on funding and job performance. The position will include a full-time benefits package.

Security sensitive; criminal background check conducted on selected candidate. Hiring decision is contingent upon applicant clearing background requirement.

Purpose

Drs. Shalene Jha (University of Texas at Austin - Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center) and Gabriella Pardee (St. Edward’s University - Wild Basin Creative Research Center) are seeking a postdoctoral researcher to quantify bumble bee diet breath and population structure across historic and contemporary time periods in the southern US, with an emphasis on the state of Texas. The postdoc will carry out this research on 3 target bumble bee species (Bombus pensylvanicus , B. morrisoni , and B. fraternus ) by utilizing a combination of museum collections, field population surveys, and population genomics and metabarcoding tools. The postdoc will be primarily housed at UT Austin, but student mentorship and public engagement at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center and Wild Basin Creative Research Center are highly encouraged.

Responsibilities

• Serve as overall lead for field and lab efforts to characterize historic and contemporary spatial distribution and foraging patterns of three target bumble bee species

• Coordinate field and lab data collection, management, and analysis

• Conduct population genomic/genetic analyses to evaluate changes in population structure over time

• Use DNA metabarcoding to identify floral hosts across both historic and contemporary time periods

• Coordinate and lead communication, research presentation, and publications

• Collaborate with a variety of stakeholders and researchers across the region

• Submit required quarterly reports/receipts to and provide associated brief research updates

• Supervise 1-3 undergraduate technicians on field collection techniques, museum curation, and pollen identification

Required Qualifications

• PhD in biology or related field of study must have been received within the past 3 years

• Experience with molecular techniques, ideally genomics

• Experience working with large datasets

• Strong record of leading multi-collaborator papers and projects

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with insects or entomological collections

• Experience with GIS software

• Experience mentoring students/technicians

• Experience conducting public engagement activities

Driving Required

This job requires a class "C" operator's driver's license. The applicant selected must provide a current three year driving record from the current state of residence. If not currently a Texas resident, a Texas driver's license must be obtained within 30 days of becoming a Texas resident.

Salary Range

$59,000 + depending on qualifications (including health benefits)

Working Conditions

• May work in all weather conditions, especially in extreme heat and humidity

• May work around chemical fumes

• May work around standard office conditions

• May work around biohazards

• May work around chemicals

• May work around electrical and mechanical hazards

• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation

• Use of manual dexterity

• Climbing of stairs

• Lifting and moving

Work Shift

Flexible: 40 hours/week. The majority of the time will be during standard business hours (8:00am-5:00pm), although this may change depending on the project requirements.

Required Materials

• CV

• Letter of interest

• PhD Verification (Examples of official documentation of the degree include: Copy of diploma (preferred) or official English translation of diploma, Copy of a letter of completion on letterhead from the office of the registrar or graduate office confirming completion of degree requirements, Copy of official transcript in English with "degree awarded" information).

• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

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Employment Eligibility:

Please make sure you meet all the required qualifications and you can perform all of the essential functions with or without a reasonable accommodation.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length. This position has the option to elect the Optional Retirement Program (ORP) instead of TRS, subject to the position being 40 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer , complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English) [PDF]
• E-Verify Poster (Spanish) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right To Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031 .

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.