Postdoc – Social environments, genomics, and aging

Submitted: 10/09/2026
Submitted By: Amanda Lea
Department: Biological Sciences
Institution: Vanderbilt University
Job type: Postdoc
Apply by: 10/31/2026
Application Email:
Application URL: https://www.vanderbilt.edu/postdoc/prospective-postdocs/current-opportunities/?id=947

DESCRIPTION: The Lea Lab at Vanderbilt University is recruiting a postdoctoral researcher to study how social environments shape biological aging across the life course. The position is part of a newly funded, collaborative NIH U19 focused on understanding heterogeneity in aging using rhesus macaques as a model.

A major goal of the project is to understand why individuals experiencing greater social adversity—including social isolation, low social status, and early-life adversity—experience greater age-related disease and mortality risk. The project takes advantage of a unique non-human primate model, the free-ranging rhesus macaques of Cayo Santiago, where detailed longitudinal can be integrated with genomic, molecular, and physiological measures of biological aging. Initial work will focus on how current and early-life social environments predict variation in aging across tissues and biological domains. The project will also leverage extensive longitudinal data to identify when during the life course individuals are most vulnerable to social adversity.

The postdoc will be embedded in a genomics-focused research group and will have substantial opportunities to work with genomic and other high-dimensional molecular datasets. Depending on the postdoc's interests and expertise, this could include integrating behavioral and social data with DNA methylation, gene expression, proteomic, or other molecular data generated through the broader U19. We therefore particularly welcome candidates interested in bridging questions about the social environment and life course with genomic mechanisms of health and aging. The postdoc will have substantial opportunities to shape the scientific direction of this work, develop new questions using the rich Cayo Santiago dataset, collaborate across projects within the broader U19, and pursue related research aligned with their interests.

The Lea Lab studies questions at the intersection of genomics, evolutionary biology, and human and non-human primate health. Our work uses genomic, behavioral, and other biological datasets to understand how environmental and evolutionary processes shape gene regulation, physiology, and aging. More information about our research can be found at lea-lab.org/research and lea-lab.org/publications.

The lab strives to provide a supportive and inclusive research environment that fosters interdisciplinary training, scientific independence, and collaborative exchange. The lab is based in Vanderbilt's Department of Biological Sciences and is affiliated with the Vanderbilt Genetics Institute and Vanderbilt Evolutionary Studies Initiative.

This position will also provide opportunities to interact extensively with investigators across the larger U19 consortium, which brings together expertise in geroscience, non-human primate biology, behavioral ecology, functional genomics, and statistical genetics.

DETAILS: Candidates should have a Ph.D. in evolutionary biology, biological anthropology, genomics, behavioral ecology, or a related field by the position start date. We are particularly interested in candidates with strong quantitative and computational skills and experience analyzing complex biological data.

Experience with one or more of the following would be especially valuable:
longitudinal and repeated-measures data analysis
causal inference
genomic or other high-dimensional molecular data, including DNA methylation or gene-expression data
integration of behavioral, environmental, physiological, and molecular datasets
aging, life-course, or health-related research
statistical programming and data analysis in R, Python, or similar languages

We do not expect candidates to have expertise in all of these areas, and we are particularly interested in applicants who are excited to expand their expertise across disciplines. Prior experience with non-human primate datasets is not required. The position will be primarily computational, although opportunities for fieldwork with the Cayo Santiago rhesus macaques will be available.

Applicants should have excellent organizational and communication skills, intellectual curiosity, and an interest in working as part of a large, interdisciplinary, and collaborative research team.

The anticipated start date is in the next 1-2 months, although the timing is flexible. The initial appointment will be for one year, with extension for multiple years possible and contingent on satisfactory progress and continued funding. Applications will be reviewed beginning immediately and will close on October 31. Informal inquiries are welcome.

To apply, please upload the following as a single PDF with your name in the title:
Cover letter (maximum 1 page) describing relevant research experience, scientific interests, fit with the position, and longer-term career goals
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Contact information for 2–3 professional references
The upload link is:https://vanderbilt.app.box.com/f/ac38ae9a64e242e383cc5869fd9bf8a7