Title: Postdoctoral Researchers – Honey bee health (2 positions)
Type of appointment: Faculty – Non-Tenure Track
Application deadline: 6 March 2023
Start date: Negotiable, but ideally 1 May 2023 or soon thereafter
Project description and responsibilities: The Auburn University Bee Lab is recruiting individuals for two available post-doctoral researcher positions:
Position 1: Honey bee nutrition – potential research topics include: understanding the role of Chinese tallow (Triadica sebifera) for honey bee health; supplemental feeding by beekeepers; and interactive effects of nutrition, parasites, and pesticides on honey bee health.
Position 2: Parasitic mite management – potential research topics include: developing novel miticide products or application regimes against Varroa destructor; developing best management practices for Varroa destructor that incorporate cultural and chemical controls; studying biology and management of Tropilaelaps mercedesae.
For both positions, the selected candidates will have the opportunity to develop their specific research projects based on regional research priorities and the candidate’s skills and interests. Collaborative research with the USDA-ARS is expected, especially with the Pollinator Health in Southern Crop Ecosystems Research Unit. Publication of results in quality peer-reviewed scientific journals is also expected.
The selected candidates will be encouraged to take on leadership roles, including mentoring project personnel, supervising graduate students, writing grant proposals, and communicating results to stakeholders.
Duration: Contracts are for one year with the possibility of annual extensions dependent on performance and funding for up to four years.
Starting salary range: $50,000 – $60,000 per annum, depending on experience.
Required qualifications: A doctoral degree in Biology, Ecology, Entomology, Botany, or related field from an accredited institution in the United States or an equivalent institution abroad. Experience performing insect health research. The selected individual must meet eligibility requirements to work in the United States at the time of appointment.
Desired qualifications: Experience performing bee health research, especially concerning nutrition, parasitology, toxicology, and beekeeping. Publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals, leadership and mentorship experience, stakeholder writing and presenting skills.
Application description: Complete applications must include: 1) one-page cover letter that addresses your experiences and goals with respect to this position and how you meet the required and desired qualifications; indicate which position you are applying for; 2) curriculum vitae; 3) contact information for three references; and 4) copies of all post-secondary transcripts.
Application submission: All materials should be compiled as a single PDF document and submitted to Geoff Williams (williams@auburn.edu). Please include ‘Postdoctoral Research Fellow’ in the email subject line.
The University: Classified as a Carnegie R1 university, Auburn University is a public flagship land-grant institution with a student enrollment of more than 30,000. The University provides instruction in approximately 70 academic departments, and performs graduate research and public service across a variety of program areas. The University is located in the city of Auburn in east-central Alabama, near the metropolitan areas of Birmingham, AL, and Atlanta, GA, as well as scenic escapes like the southern Appalachians and the Gulf of Mexico.
The Department: The Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology is administered by the University’s historic College of Agriculture. It houses over 20 faculty, 5 support staff, and more than 50 graduate students, all of whom work towards executing the University’s tri-partite research, instruction, and extension mission. Additional information can be found at http://enpp.auburn.edu.
The Laboratory: The University’s Bee Lab, known as AU-BEES, currently consists of five graduate students supported by one faculty member, two post-doctoral research fellows, one laboratory manager, three technicians, and multiple undergraduate students – and features strong connections with stakeholders. Alongside our collaborators from across the globe, the AU-BEES team works toward promoting the health of bees through various research, instruction, and extension activities. Additional information can be found at http://aub.ie/bees.
