Opportunities in the ELME Lab: The Early Life and Microbial Evolution Lab (ELME) in the Earth Science Department at UC Santa Barbara is seeking passionate individuals to join our team. Our research focuses on computational analysis and the recovery of genomic data from cool environments, aiming to unravel the origin and evolution of microbes. We are particularly interested in incorporating cutting-edge computational strategies and molecular biology techniques to explore fundamental questions in microbial evolution.
Designation: Postdoctoral Researcher / Graduate Students
Research Area: Microbial Evolution, Computational Biology, Genomics
Location: UC Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California, USA
Eligibility/Qualification:
Postdoctoral Researcher:
- PhD (or close to finishing) in Biology, Bioinformatics, Geobiology, Computational Biology, or related fields
- Experience with bioinformatics and/or phylogenomics is advantageous
- Enthusiasm for the origin and evolution of microbes
- Strong research experience and interests aligned with the lab’s goals
Graduate Students:
- Enthusiastic individuals seeking PhD and/or MS positions
- Experience in genomics, phylogenomics, machine learning, and/or molecular biology (advantageous but not mandatory)
- Alignment of research interests with the lab’s future goals
Job Description: Postdoctoral Researcher: We are looking for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join our lab. The selected candidate will be involved in projects related to assessing the phylogenetic placement of early-branching clades of Bacteria and Archaea, developing pipelines for phylogenetic tree reconstruction, and exploring the environmental context of life’s diversification on Earth. The starting salary is $65,000 per year, with a starting date as early as September 2024.
Graduate Students: We are recruiting two passionate graduate students (PhD and/or MS) to start in the Fall of 2025. Students will have the opportunity to contribute to exciting research projects in microbial evolution. Previous experience in relevant fields is advantageous but not mandatory.
How to Apply: Interested candidates should email their CV, cover letter (including a brief description of research experience and interests), and three references (for postdoctoral applicants) to [Insert Email Address]. Please specify the position you are applying for in the subject line of the email.
Application Deadline: The first review of applications will be in early February 2024.
About Santa Barbara: Santa Barbara, located on the Pacific coast of the United States, is known for its stunning natural beauty and pleasant weather. Ranked as the number 1 city in the United States for weather in 2018 by U.S. News & World Report, Santa Barbara offers a diverse cultural scene and a variety of outdoor, arts, and sports activities. Join us in the vibrant community of Santa Barbara and contribute to groundbreaking research at UC Santa Barbara’s ELME Lab.
