Postdoctoral Research Associate in Invertebrate Symbiosis & Evolution
Location: Athens Area. Employment Type: Employee. Anticipated Start Date: October 1, 2026. Contact: Michelle Watts (lmw96928@uga.edu).
About the role
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine. The Postdoctoral Research Associate interested in the ecology and evolution of animal-microbe symbioses, with an emphasis on nematodes and other microscopic marine invertebrates. The successful candidate will contribute to an interdisciplinary research program integrating evolutionary biology, genomics, microbiology, and bioinformatics to investigate the diversity, evolution, and functional significance of host-associated microbial lineages.
Responsibilities
- Conducting bioinformatics data analysis – analyze genomic, metagenomic, and phylogenomic datasets (40% time)
- Executing molecular wet lab protocols – generating DNA extractions, library preparation, and submitting material for sequencing (40% time)
- Writing up research results and preparing manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals; other duties as assigned (20% time)
Qualifications
- Microbial symbioses or host-m