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

University of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN

4d • Onsite

About The Position

The Tanner Lab (Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Department of Psychology & Neuroscience) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) is seeking up to two motivated postdoctoral research associates to conduct acoustic communication research in non-human animals. The successful candidate will contribute to broad research themes in the lab, including the evolution of acoustic signals by sexual selection and decision-making in complex natural contexts. Current efforts in the lab explore how pre- and post-copulatory sexual selection shape sexual signals; choice overload and its consequences for decision making in animals; constraints to the expression of mating preferences, especially the effects of noise; and the causes and consequences of within-individual variation in acoustic signaling. The Tanner lab has two large (3.9 m length x 3.4 m width x 2.6 m height) state-of-the-art, temperature-controlled, semi-anechoic chambers available for studies of acoustic communication behaviors. We work primarily in frogs native to our location in East Tennessee, especially gray and green treefrogs (Dryophytes chrysoscelis and D. cinerea), but also with field crickets (Gryllidae). We are open to candidates excited about working in any of these systems, and potentially in more than one. The preferred start date for this position is June 1, 2026 or as soon as possible. Funding is available for up to two years, contingent upon start date, performance, and the availability of funding. Extensions beyond June 2028 would require the acquisition of additional external funding. Salary will be competitive, commensurate with experience, and inclusive of benefits.

Requirements

• A PhD in ecology, evolution, and behavior; integrative or organismal biology; neuroscience and behavior; or a closely related field. Applicants who are ABD will be considered, provided that all PhD requirements are completed by the start date.
• Experience in collecting and scoring animal behavior data.
• A strong record of publication appropriate to career stage demonstrating the ability to bring projects to completion.
• Availability to work flexibly during hours that will include nights and weekends during the field season in order to collect and/or study nocturnally behaving animals in the field.
• A valid driver’s license and ability to drive at night.
• Ability to contribute to the development of external funding proposals.
• Ability to design reproducible experiments and analyze data using coding environments such as R, MATLAB, and/or Python.
• Interest in mentoring student researchers and contributing to a collaborative laboratory environment.
• Must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred experience in either pre- or postcopulatory sexual selection.
• Preferred experience working with sound and acoustic signals, though candidates whose experience is in other modalities will be considered.
• Preferred skill in working with live animals, especially frogs and/or insects.

Responsibilities

• Collaborative experimental design, data collection and analysis, manuscript preparation, and participation in the development of external funding proposals.
• Provide mentorship to undergraduate and graduate researchers in the lab.
• Contribute to maintaining a collaborative, productive, and positive research environment.
• Conduct controlled laboratory and field experiments.
• Frequent field collection of wild animals.
• Conduct research outdoors at night.
• Conduct seasonal but regularly-occurring night and weekend research effort during experiments.
• Drive a vehicle to and from field sites at night.

Benefits

• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience
• Inclusive of benefits

What This Job Offers

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