The Department of Mathematics at the University of Arizona (UA) welcomes applications for Postdoctoral Research Associate I. Subject to the continuation of funding, this is a three-year postdoctoral position (non-tenure eligible) with an appointment beginning in the Summer or Fall 2023. Review is on-going, and the position will remain open until filled. The salary will be based on the current National Research Service Awards (NRSA) stipend levels. For current rates, see https://www.ninds.nih.gov/funding/preparing-your-application/preparing-budget/salary-cap-stipends-training-funds

The successful candidate will be involved in a highly interdisciplinary project to understand how the upside down jellyfish, Cassiopea, is expanding its geographical range. In recent decades over 50% of living coral reefs have been lost due in large part to climate change and other anthropogenic factors. In contrast, some jellyfish are overpopulating part of the oceans with an increased rate of blooms since 1950. Mucus produced by these animals may allow jellyfish to colonize new locations, thrive in warm environments, and provide glycoproteins for the surrounding community. Although there has been significant work exploring the role that mucus plays in vertebrate animals and how mucus affects microorganisms swimming at the microscale, our understanding of the mechanical properties of jellyfish mucus, which may be up to tens of centimeters in thickness, is extremely limited. The broad goal of this project is to determine if the success of the jellyfish Cassiopea and related species is due in part to their significant production of mucus and, associated with it, venom within stinging cells released by the jellyfish in structures called cassiosomes.

The work will primarily be carried out at the University of Arizona in Tucson. The successful candidate will be housed within the Department of Mathematics at the University of Arizona and mentored by Laura Miller (https://sites.google.com/site/swimflypump/). Postdoctoral Research Associates benefit from a robust program of professional development, see http://postdoc.math.arizona.edu for details. The candidate will also receive mentoring from all of the NSF co-PI’s and senior personnel (Monica Medina, Penn State; William Fitt, University of Georgia; Allen Collins, NOAA Fisheries & Smithsonian). The candidate will be expected to travel to field sites during the summer (see list of duties below).

Review of applicants will begin on 03/15/2023. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU (ASU-Arizona State University; NAU-Northern Arizona University)  tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities. Tucson, home to the UA, has all the advantages of a midsize city, Sonoran desert landscape surrounded by high mountains (5,000-9,000 feet elevation; 1500-2800 meters), and a day’s drive to the Grand Canyon, beaches, skiing, and more. The University of Arizona has been recognized on Forbes 2015 list of America’s Best Employers in the United States and has been awarded the 2015 Work-Life Seal of Distinction by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress! Furthermore, the UA is one of the world’s elite research institutions, according to Times Higher Education, ranking number 104 overall in 2020. The UA is home to a school of data science and interdisciplinary research institutes, including the Data Science Institute, NSF CyVerse for cyberinfrastructure and computing, the Data7 institute, the Bio5 institute, and the Institute for Energy Solutions. For more information about working at the University of Arizona, please visit http://www.whyua.com/

Accepting a new position is a big life step. We want potential candidates and their families to be able to make informed decisions. Candidates who are considering relocation to the Tucson or Phoenix area, and have been offered an on-site interview, are encouraged to use the free services offered by Above & Beyond Relocation Services (ABRS). Ask your department contact to be introduced to ABRS prior to your visit.

At the University of Arizona, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. We translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues and constituencies. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we encourage diverse candidates to apply, including people of color, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities. We also note that this position is open to non-U.S. citizens. As an Employer of National Service, we also welcome alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service programs and others who will help us advance our Inclusive Excellence initiative aimed at creating a university that values student, staff, and faculty engagement in addressing issues of diversity and inclusiveness.

Duties & Responsibilities. 

The successful candidate will be deeply involved in experimental research that includes the use of

1. eDNA, traditional sampling, and the literature to benchmark how Cassiopea spp. distributions are changing

2. Nanopore eRNA sequencing to characterize the venom and other mucus proteins of interest and how their expression changes over time and with seasonal temperature fluctuations.

3. Kinematic analysis of swimming plankton and rheological measurements of mucus

Although the position is based in Tucson, AZ, a large part of the project will include field work. As such, the successful candidate will also be able to

• travel during the summers to Penn State University, Key Largo, Smithsonian, Japan, and Brazil

• attend the Annual Cassiopea Workshop in Key Largo. We have a strong preference that the candidate attend this year’s workshop, May 8-16, 2023

If the candidate is interested in the use of theoretical tools, training is also available for the use of mathematical models to characterize the physical properties of the mucus and the motility of plankton and cassiosomes within it.

Minimum Qualifications. 

Applicants should hold a PhD in a related field (biological sciences, oceanography, etc.) by the time of appointment.

Preferred Qualifications. Applicants should have a strong interest in combining experimental tools from a variety of disciplines (molecular techniques, field work, tools from functional morphology and biomechanics, etc.). Interest in learning some tools from mathematical modeling is also encouraged.