Open Faculty & Staff Positions
Open Faculty Positions
Open Staff Positions
The Department of Earth Sciences is accepting the following applications for postdoctoral positions to begin Fall 2024/Spring 2025:
Position No. 00053746. The Department of Earth Sciences in Dedman College at Southern Methodist University invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral fellow to work on the biopharmaceutical potential of marine organisms, focusing on invertebrates (i.e., sponges and corals) and their host-associated microbiome. Specifically, this postdoc will work to establish links between biosynthetic potential of environmental samples to the production of marine natural products through the lens of chemical ecology. Priority will be given to those with experience in heterologous expression of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) and/or organic chemistry with experience in structural elucidation of small molecules from environmental sources. The postdoc fellow will be part of a larger working group funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) focused on understanding the structure, diversity, and community dynamics of marine microbiomes found in the deep-sea, mineral-rich habitats off the coast of Southern California. As such, the postdoc will be encouraged to design projects, integrate and coordinate project deliverables, and propose new research ideas with our collaborators at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California, San Diego. Minimum Qualifications: Completed requirements for a Ph.D. in Earth Science, Microbiology, Biochemistry, or related field required by August 1, 2024. Experience with organic chemistry, mass spectrometry, and NMR; and/or Experience in strain cultivation and genetic manipulations. Demonstrated ability to communicate science through presentation at national and international meetings and publication in high-tier journals. Commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts in the lab and the community. Preferred Qualifications: Experience with (meta)genomic data and analyses. Familiarity with marine natural products. Application Instructions: The position comes with a salary of $60,000, health insurance, and conference travel included. Postdoc support is available for at least one year, with the possibility of an extension for a second-year contingent upon continued funding, project needs and deliverables, and satisfactory performance. Applications must be submitted via Interfolio http://apply.interfolio.com/146881 with the following documents: (1) a CV, (2) a cover letter describing your background, your motivation for applying to this position, your long-term career goals and any highlights of your CV, (3) a research statement (2-page max) summarizing research interests and expertise, and (4) a list of names and contact information of three professional references. Review of applications will begin immediately. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application packet must be received by June 22, 2024, but applications will be accepted and considered until the position is filled. The committee will notify applicants of its employment decision after the position is filled. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Alexander B. Chase.
Earth Sciences. Position No. 00050717. The Shuler Museum of Paleontology in the Department of Earth Sciences at Southern Methodist University invites applications for a two-year postdoctoral fellowship in Paleontology beginning August 1, 2024. The preferred candidate will make use of the significant collections housed in the Shuler Museum and collaborate with the ongoing research of SMU. Excellent facilities are available in the department to incorporate stable isotope work in paleontological research, as well as for analyzing digital image data. There are extensive collections of Early to mid-Cretaceous terrestrial and marine vertebrates from Texas and elsewhere, and of Late Cretaceous marine vertebrates. In addition to Cretaceous faunas and floras, other significant holdings include vertebrates from the Early Permian and Late Triassic of Texas and elsewhere, the Cenozoic of the Gulf Coast and the local Quaternary. Field work that enhances the candidate’s research goals and expands the museum collections is encouraged. Research leading to presentations at national and international meetings and publications in high-tier journals is the primary focus of this position; secondarily, the candidate will participate in upgrading and enhancing the collections database system, and digitization of specimens and existing records. SMU is a nationally-ranked, private, non-sectarian research institution located in one of the nation’s fastest growing metropolitan areas. Our colleagues are part of an inclusive and intellectually vibrant community of internationally recognized scholars across the humanities, social sciences, mathematical sciences, engineering, and business. SMU offers excellent benefits including full same-sex domestic partner benefits. The City of Dallas is one of the nation’s most cosmopolitan commercial and cultural centers, and the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex is the fourth largest in the US. To learn more about Dedman College and SMU, please visit https://www.smu.edu/dedman, and http://www.smu.edu. Qualifications: Educational Requirements: Ph.D. in paleobiology or closely related discipline at the time of appointment. Required qualifications: Demonstrated ability to communicate science through presentation at national and international meetings and publication in high-tier journals. Field experience with fossil collection and locality documentation. Commitment to diversity and inclusion efforts in the lab and the community. Preferred qualifications: Broad knowledge of fossil groups. Experience with databases, especially FileMaker Pro, and porting of data for web access are a plus. Application Instructions: The position comes with a salary of $55,000, health insurance and conference travel included. Postdoc support is available for at least one year, renewable upon satisfactory progress. Applications must be submitted electronically via Interfolio (http://apply.interfolio.com/147895) and should include the following: (1) a curriculum vitae, (2) a letter describing your research interests, experience, and long-term goals - include any highlights of your CV, and (3) a list of names and contact information of three professional references. Review of applications will begin as received. To ensure full consideration for the position, the application must be received by July 15, 2024, but the committee will continue to accept applications until the position is filled. The committee will notify applicants of the employment decision after the position is filled.