Postdoctoral Researcher in Plant Systematics: The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) at Fort Worth Botanic Garden (FWBG) is seeking a motivated individual for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The fellowship will involve working collaboratively with an international team based at BRIT and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew to advance research goals in support of a grant-funded project entitled “NSFDEB-NERC: Subtribal classification and generic delimitation among Eastern Hemisphere ironweeds (Vernonieae, Compositae).”
Designation: Postdoctoral Researcher
Research Area: Plant Systematics
Location: Botanical Research Institute Of Texas – Fort Worth, TX
Eligibility/Qualification:
- Ph.D. in Biology, Botany, Evolution, Plant Science, Systematics, or related field awarded prior to the start date
- Experience leading independent research in plant evolutionary biology, systematics, and/or plant taxonomy
- Experience collecting plants in the field and depositing voucher specimens into a herbarium
- Detailed understanding of plant anatomy for descriptive taxonomy, particularly among plants in the daisy family, Compositae
- Fluency in English, both written and verbal
- Record of research accomplishment, as demonstrated through peer-reviewed publications, presentation of research findings at national and international conferences, and/or receipt of awards, fellowships, or grants
- Experience with comparative phylogenetic and/or phylogenomic methods
- Experience contributing to and curating large, online databases
Job Description:
The selected candidate will be responsible for the following:
- Utilize phylogenomic sequence data for large-scale comparative phylogenomic study in Vernonieae to resolve evolutionary relationships at the sub-tribal level
- Gather morphological trait data from specimens in the field, herbarium, and laboratory to advance integrative taxonomic priorities
- Leverage data in an integrative way to advance taxonomic priorities for Vernonieae in the Eastern Hemisphere
- Assist with specimen curation in herbaria at BRIT, Kew, and other herbaria
- Contribute collected specimen data to large, online public databases including, but not limited to GenBank, Morphobank, PalDat, and the Global Compositae Database
- Help develop science outreach and communication activities to share broader impacts of this work
- Disseminate research findings through presentations at national and international conferences
- Prepare research findings for publication in relevant, peer-reviewed publications
- Maintain strong communication and interpersonal skills with PIs, students, and other project collaborators
- Supervise and mentor students in the field, laboratory, and herbarium environment to support their academic training and development
- Participate in the planning, preparation, and filling of employee roles for various public events/exhibits hosted by the FWBG
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are required to upload their CV/resume and a cover letter as PDF files through the career section of the organization’s homepage at FWBG Career Page.
Last Date for Apply:
Application review will begin on July 31 and continue until the position is filled. The expected start date is September 3, 2024, but the actual start date is negotiable.
