Post Doctoral Research Associate- Ecology & Evolutionary Biology: UTK

University of Tennessee · Knoxville

The successful candidate will develop and apply molecular and computational methods to identify the biological sources of DNA recovered from diverse sample types. The research will include the development of approaches to characterize DNA from complex, degraded, and potentially mixed-source samples. Sample types will include, but are not limited to, sedimentary (sedaDNA) and other ancient DNA recovered from archaeological contexts.

The research forms part of interdisciplinary projects that combine genomic analyses with perspectives from biocultural anthropology, species ecology, and related fields. The successful candidate will help integrate these approaches to investigate past and present relationships between people, other organisms, and their environments.

The candidate will undertake laboratory work in both a state-of-the-art ancient DNA facility and a contemporary DNA laboratory. The position offers opportunities to develop and apply molecular methods, conduct bioinformatic analyses, and contribute to interdisciplinary research using ancient and contemporary DNA.

The anticipated start date is January 19, 2027, or as soon as possible thereafter. Funding is available for two years, contingent upon satisfactory performance and the continued availability of funding. The initial appointment will be for one year and will serve as a probationary period, with continuation subject to a successful performance review. During this time, there will also be opportunities to pursue additional grant funding to support continued appointment. The fellow will be expected to drive projects toward publication, contribute to grant development, and actively engage with the broader EEB community.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine.

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The de Flamingh Lab in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Fellow to join the Wildlife and Integrative Genomics Lab (WIGL). The successful candidate will use metagenomic approaches to identify and characterize the biological sources of DNA in diverse sample types, including ancient DNA recovered from archaeological contexts.

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