Postdoctoral Fellowship in Hominin Craniofacial Evolution

The Baab Lab in the Department of Anatomy at Midwestern University (Arizona) invites applicants for a Postdoctoral Fellow position. The initial appointment is for one year, renewable annually up to two more years with an anticipated start date of July 1, 2021. Midwestern University is a nonprofit healthcare university located in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The faculty of the Department of Anatomy includes several biological anthropologists and vertebrate paleontologists.

The Postdoctoral Fellow will work on an NSF-funded project to investigate craniofacial adaptation in Plio-Pleistocene hominins related to chewing biomechanics and brain expansion using evolutionary quantitative genetics. The project is a collaboration between Midwestern University (Karen Baab, PI), Washington University St. Louis (David Strait, collaborator) and University of Calgary (Campbell Rolian, collaborator).

Responsibilities: The position will include domestic and international data collection followed by data analysis in the Baab Lab. Anticipated responsibilities include travel for data collection, data analysis, attending lab meetings, presenting research at professional meetings, preparing findings for publications and coordinating communication among the project participants. The position includes training in cranial biomechanics at the Strait Lab and viability selection modeling at the Rolian Lab. There will also be opportunities to participate in the service and teaching mission of the Department of Anatomy.
Requirements: The ideal candidate must have experience performing morphological data collection (3D scanning, measurement acquisition from 3D models) and/or a background in biological anthropology. The Postdoctoral Fellow will be motivated to tackle new challenges, work independently and assist in training and coordinating research technicians and students. Expertise in one of the following areas is desirable: skeletal biomechanics, primate (including human) cranial anatomy or quantitative genetics. Preference will be given to candidates with a record of data analysis and publication (peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations, contributions to public data archives). A Ph.D. in a related discipline such as anthropology, paleontology or other related biological sciences is required.

Application Process: Salary and benefits are competitive. Midwestern University and the project leaders are committed to diversity and inclusion. We strongly encourage applicants from underrepresented groups in science to apply for the Postdoctoral Fellow position. Review of applications will begin April 30, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. Questions can be directed to Karen Baab, Ph.D. at kbaab@midwestern.edu.
Application must be submitted through Midwestern University:
• Go to midwestern.edu
• Click on Quick Links+
• Select Employment at MWU
• Click on View Current Job Openings
• Select the position you’re interested in, and click on “Apply now” on the top right to submit an application

Your application packet must include the following information in attachments:
1. Cover letter
2. CV
3. Contact information for 3 references

Midwestern University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer that does not discriminate against an employee or applicant based upon race; color; religion; creed; national origin or ancestry; ethnicity; sex (including pregnancy); gender (including gender expressions, gender identity; and sexual orientation); marital status; age; disability; citizenship; past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services; genetic information; or any other protected class, in accord with all federal, state and local laws, including 41 C.F.R. 60-1.4(a), 250.5(a), 300.5(a) and 741.5(a). Midwestern University complies with the Smoke-Free Arizona Act (A.R.S. 36-601.01) and the Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/). Midwestern University complies with the Illinois Equal Pay Act of 2003 and Arizona Equal Pay Acts. Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities.