Postdoctoral Position: Ecological Influences on Locomotor Performance in Free-Ranging Primates

The Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) invites applications for a postdoctoral research fellow position beginning June 1, 2020. The position will be awarded for two years, subject to review after one year.

The postdoctoral fellow will work on an NSF-funded project to investigate the kinematics of quadrupedal locomotion and leaping in Old World monkeys and lemurs moving in their natural habitats. This project is a collaborative effort between Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED; Jesse Young, PI and Tobin Hieronymus, Co-PI) and the University of Texas at Austin (Liza Shapiro, PI). The position will entail field work in Uganda and Madagascar, followed by laboratory analyses of data at the Young Laboratory at NEOMED. The postdoctoral fellow should operate highly independently and may hold the responsibility of supervising lower level project participants (e.g., high school, undergraduate, medical, and graduate students). Other key skills and characteristics include:

1. Ability to independently produce, analyze, and present scientific data (as evidenced by an existing publication record in peer-reviewed scientific journals)
2. Good oral communication skills (as evidenced by previous poster/podium presentations at professional scientific conferences)
3. Conceptual understanding of the primary research questions (see http://www.younglaboratory.org/research.html?scrollto=wildprim for more detail)
4. Technical expertise in collecting kinematic and ecological data (i.e., collecting 2D/3D video for motion analysis, collecting quantitative data on animal behavior in the wild)
5. Sufficient physical fitness to follow study animals in a difficult and hilly terrain, off-trail
6. Ability to cope with a difficult environment (humidity, heat, rain) and tropical animals (snakes, spiders, ants, leeches, mosquitoes)
7. Mental fortitude, emotionally maturity, and resistance to social and psychological stress
8. Strong social skills, flexibility and sensitivity to other cultures

Professional qualifications: Ph. D. in Biological Anthropology, Ecology and Evolution, Organismal Biology, or an associated field

Evaluation of candidates will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

Application materials include a cover letter, CV, writing sample (preferably published), and the names and contact information of three references. Please submit materials to Jesse W. Young (jwyoung@neomed.edu).

Background check conducted on applicant selected.
NEOMED is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.