Post-Doctoral Research Associate: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - UTK

University of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN

3d • Onsite

About The Position

This NSF-funded project examines choice overload, a phenomenon in which decision-makers become overwhelmed by the number or complexity of available options, resulting in suboptimal decisions, delayed decisions, or failure to choose at all. The project will investigate three proposed drivers of choice overload: decision task difficulty, assortment complexity, and preference uncertainty. Using bumblebees as an experimental system, the postdoctoral researcher will conduct behavioral experiments that test how nectar rewards and other biologically relevant floral traits influence foraging decisions and decision quality. The successful candidate will work closely with Dr. Claire Hemingway and project collaborators while contributing to experimental design, data collection, quantitative analyses, and dissemination of findings. This work is expected to advance understanding of animal decision making, behavioral ecology, cognition, and pollinator biology. The anticipated start date is 11/1/2026 or as soon as possible thereafter. Funding is available for 2.5 years, contingent upon satisfactory performance and continued availability of funding. The initial appointment will be for one year and will serve as a probationary period, with continuation subject to successful performance review.

Requirements

• PhD in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Entomology, Animal Behavior, Neurobiology, Environmental Science, or related discipline. ABD candidates will be considered if all degree requirements are completed before the start date.
• Experience conducting biological research and quantitative data analysis.
• Strong analytical and statistical skills
• Experience using R, Python, MATLAB, or similar software for data analysis
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively
• Ability to communicate scientific findings effectively
• Ability to manage research projects
• Ability to contribute to a positive laboratory environment

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with pollinators, insects, or other invertebrate study systems
• Experience conducting behavioral assays and animal choice experiments
• Experience with animal cognition, decision-making, sensory ecology, or behavioral ecology research
• Strong quantitative background, including mixed modeling, experimental design, or computational approaches
• Experience managing independent research projects from conception to publication
• Interest in developing independent research questions related to animal decision making, cognition, and behavioral ecology

Responsibilities

• Collaborative experimental design, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation, and participation in the development of external funding proposals.
• Lead experiments examining decision-making and choice overload in bumblebees, including studies of how decision task difficulty, assortment complexity, and preference uncertainty influence foraging behavior and decision outcomes.
• Developing and conducting behavioral experiments.
• Managing and analyzing data using reproducible research practices.
• Publishing findings in peer-reviewed journals.
• Presenting research at scientific conferences.
• Provide mentorship to undergraduate and graduate researchers in the lab.
• Contribute to maintaining a collaborative, productive, and positive research environment.
• Participate in project outreach activities focused on animal behavior and decision-making science.

Benefits

• UT Benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Principal
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree