Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

Swarthmore College’s Biology Department is a vibrant and supportive group of teacher-scholars. This project is a collaborative effort between Swarthmore College and University of California Berkeley. The principal investigators of the project are Karen Chan (Swarthmore, Biology), Carr Everbach (Swarthmore, Engineering) and Mimi Koehl (UC- Berkeley, Integrative Biology).

The opportunity:

The postdoctoral fellow will conduct a variety of fluid dynamic experiments at low Reynolds number involving both live microscopic aquatic organisms and dynamically-scaled physical models. The project will include particle image velocimetry, force profile analysis, and robotics. The postdoctoral fellow will work closely with undergraduate students on high-impact publications, and present research results at key conferences in the field. This is a great opportunity for a post-doctoral fellow with an interest in undergraduate teaching and future career at a Liberal Arts College. This position will either be 20 or 21 months depending on level of post-doctoral experience.

Who you are:

• You have experience with biofluiddynamics experimental techniques and/or a strong quantitative background.
• You are excited to work and explore new ideas in a dynamic, interdisciplinary environment
• You are eager to mentor and collaborate with undergraduate students
• You are an effective communicator

What you bring:

• A PhD in a relevant discipline, such as but not limited to Biology, Biophysics, Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, or Ocean Sciences by the time of employment
• Strong quantitative skills and/or lab experience in experimental biomechanics, ecomechanics, or robotics, or experience with computational fluid dynamics
• Experience in working in interdisciplinary research teams
• Experience to mentor and collaborate with diverse undergraduates
• Experience in project management and reporting

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world’s most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus and collaborative work environment. And you will join a team of passionate, creative, and supportive people who work hard and have fun supporting the College community.

Review the Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook, we offer benefit plans starting at $0 per month! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore Benefits Flyer

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

For full consideration, submit applications including resume and cover letter with pay expectations by April 1, 2023. If you are excited about this role, we want to hear from you!

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.