Postdoctoral Scholar, Morphological Consequences of Hybridization in Primate and Human Evolution: A Macaque Model

We invite applications for a one-year postdoctoral position (with the possibility of extension for another six months) funded by a National Science Foundation grant (1720128), “Morphological consequences of hybridization in primate and human evolution: a macaque model”. More information about the grant can be found here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1720128&HistoricalAwards=false. The goal of the project is to use data collected on a large, multigenerational sample of Indian-Chinese macaque crosses from the California National Primate Research Center to better understand the relationship between morphology and admixture proportion and to develop criteria for detecting morphological evidence of admixture in the human fossil record.

We seek a creative and self-motivated researcher to join the Evolutionary Wing of the Department of Anthropology at the University of California, Davis, and an international team of scholars working to use methods and theory from evolutionary quantitative genetics to investigate primate morphological variation and the human fossil record. The responsibilities of the position will include assisting with analyses, contributing to scientific publications and presentations disseminating the results of the project, coordinating data collection with the California National Primate Research Center and maceration with the UC Davis Museum of Wildlife and Fish Biology, training undergraduate students to process CT scans and collect morphometric data, and data management. Beyond a background in biological anthropology and evolutionary biology, we are particularly interested in applicants with experience in processing CT scans, geometric morphometrics, evolutionary quantitative genetics, programming (Matlab, R), and/or the human fossil record.

The start date for the position is flexible, but it could be as early as January 2018.

UC Davis and the Department of Anthropology are interested in applicants who are committed to the highest standards of scholarship and professional activities, and to the development of a campus environment that supports equality and diversity.

QUALIFICATIONS:
Applicants should have a doctoral degree (PhD, DPhil) in biological anthropology, evolutionary biology, or a related discipline and a record of original research and scientific publication.

HOW TO APPLY:
Applicants should submit (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) a letter of interest, and (3) the names and email addresses of three references by email to Tim Weaver (tdweaver@ucdavis.edu). The position will remain open until filled, but to ensure consideration, applications should be received by 1 December 2017.