News FeedPosition: Postdoctoral/Bioinformatics Scientist- Biodiversity and Bioinformatics of Megadiverse Taxa
Description: The Biodiversity Synthesis Center at The Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago invites applications from postdoctoral scholars or bioinformatics experts at other career levels for a Postdoctoral/Bioinformatics Scientist position in Biodiversity and Bioinformatics of Megadiverse Taxa. Candidates should have a strong background in biodiversity science, in the areas of phylogenetics, biogeography, computer science, bioinformatics, taxonomy of megadiverse and understudied species groups and/or conservation biology. Positions require participation in Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) and Synthesis Center programs, with particular emphasis on building working groups and promoting synthesis of ideas. In addition, the analysis of biodiversity data sets as flagship examples of the use of phylogenetics and bioinformatics in the context of the EOL is encouraged.
Positions are full-time, two years in duration, with possibility for renewal. Salary is in the range of $35-45,000, depending on experience, with the opportunity for obtaining grant supplement to the base salary.
Duties: This position will help to develop EOL content on megadiverse groups that are under-represented in current online resources. Primary role will be coordination of synthesis meetings on megadiverse taxa (examples such as beetles, nematodes, fungi, protists) and helping synthesis groups to integrate taxonomic data with other kinds of biodiversity and phylogenetic datasets in the EOL.
Responsibilities will include: (a) organization of, participation in, and preparation of reports from taxonomic synthesis meetings for some of the major under-represented groups that may be primed for inclusion in the EOL, (b) communication and cooperation with biodiversity colleagues and taxonomic groups, projects, societies and organizations in the US and abroad, (c) synthesis of taxonomic databases and integration of new lists of species names and synonymies for megadiverse groups, (d) aiding review and coordination of content editing for new sets of EOL pages on large, diverse taxa, (e) collaborative grant writing, publication and other efforts that involve the EOL.
Qualifications: PhD in a relevant scientific field such as biology or evolution; previous experience in taxonomy of organisms, computer programming and/or database experience; excellent organizational skills and attention to detail; interest in group leadership and synthesis of ideas from multiple disciplines.
Instructions: Required application materials include CV, cover letter of application detailing interest and qualifications, and names of three references. Please apply by email attachment or request additional information by contacting Mark Westneat (mwestneat@fieldmuseum.org).
Deadline: Applications are currently being accepted, with target dates for review on the first day of each month, with review beginning Sept. 1, 2007 until the position is filled.