Postdoctoral Researcher in Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics of Human-Altered
Environments at Penn

The Comerford Lab, newly established in the Department of Biology at the
University of Pennsylvania, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral
Researcher to join our team in the Summer of 2026. This is a foundational
role in a brand-new lab. The successful candidate will not only lead
cutting-edge research but will also play a key role in the "unboxing" and
development of our physical lab space and the cultivation of an inclusive,
high-achieving lab culture.  Together, our lab will investigate how
plant-insect ecology and evolution respond to human-altered environments.
We utilize a full-stack holistic approach that combines large-scale field
experiments, molecular genomics, and theoretical modeling in order to
better understand the rules of life in a changing world. The Postdoc will
help to lead two primary initiatives:

1. Diet Breadth & Resilience: Investigating the role of insect herbivore
diet breadth in tolerating and adapting to environmental perturbations
(e.g., extreme weather, host shifts).

2. Mechanistic Spatial Sorting: Utilizing controlled lab-based microcosm
experiments to elucidate the underpinnings of spatial sorting; a critical
but under-described evolutionary driver in the wake of anthropogenic
disturbance.

Required Qualifications

Education: A Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, or a related
discipline.

Expertise: Demonstrated aptitude in plant-insect interactions and the
design/implementation of complex field or lab experiments.

Technical Skills: Proficiency in molecular techniques or computational
modeling (e.g., R, Python) is highly preferred.

Mindset: We are looking for a scientist who is excited by the prospect of
building something from the ground up, someone who is as comfortable
designing a genomic pipeline as they are helping to set up a new microcosm
array.

Position Details

Start Date: Summer 2026 (preferred), with some flexibility.

Duration: Initial 1-year appointment, with the potential for extension
contingent on performance and funding.

Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.

Applicants will be considered starting March 10th  and continue until the
position is filled

How to Apply

Interested applicants should submit the following materials as a single PDF
to mattheauc@gmail.com with the subject line "Postdoc Application - [Your
Name]":

Please include:

Curriculum Vitae

Research Statement (1-2 pages): Detailing past achievements and how your
interests align with the Comerford Lab's goals of testing eco-evo dynamics
in a human-altered world.

Publications: 2-3 representative reprints.

References: Contact information for three professional references.

For more information on our research and philosophy, please visit:
mattheaucomerford.weebly.com or our Penn Faculty Page
https://www.bio.upenn.edu/people/mattheau-s

Mattheau Comerford <mattheauc@gmail.com>

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