Postdoctoral fellowships in theoretical ecology are available to work with PI James O'Dwyer on projects centering around the theme of "Macroecology for Microbes". Our primary goal is to develop new ecological theory to understand what drives universal behavior in large-scale, spatial and temporal patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity. A second focus of these projects will be to identify which macroecological patterns are more indicative of taxon-specific differences and ecological mechanism.
The O'Dwyer lab (http://publish.illinois.edu/odwyerlab/) at the University of Illinois is highly interdisciplinary, drawing from mathematics, physics, and bioinformatics, while the collaborative environment here at UIUC provides an opportunity for postdoctoral fellows to bridge multiple fields, across different departments and institutes. We are closely affiliated with the UIUC Program in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (http://sib.illinois.edu/peec/) and the Institute for Genomic Biology (http://www.igb.illinois.edu/research-areas/biocomplexity).
We are seeking enthusiastic and talented individuals to join the lab, and the specific project will be determined in collaboration with the PI. We welcome candidates with training in theoretical ecology, and also in other quantitative fields. Start date is flexible, and funding is available for multiple years, contingent on satisfactory progress. To apply, send a CV, a one page statement of research interests, a representative paper, and contact information for three references to James O'Dwyer at jodwyer@illinois.edu. Applications will be considered as they arrive, and informal inquiries are welcome.
