Research Postdoctoral Scholar in Bee Phenomics and Functional Traits
The Cheadle Center Director, Katja Seltmann, is offering a postdoctoral position as part of the Big-Bee project (http://big-bee.net), a newly funded US National Science Foundation Advancing Digitization of Biodiversity Collections initiative to understand bee declines via specimen image digitization and trait analysis. Over the course of three years, we will create over one million high-resolution 2D and 3D images of bee specimens, representing over 5,000 worldwide bee species, including most of the major pollinating species. We will develop tools to measure bee traits from images and generate comprehensive bee trait and image datasets to measure changes through time. The Big-Bee network of participating institutions includes thirteen US institutions and partnerships with US government agencies. We will develop novel mechanisms for sharing image datasets and datasets of bee traits that will be available through an open, Symbiota data portal called the Bee Library.
Topics that we are seeking to develop include:
quantitative prediction of bee phenology using large datasets;
systematics and taxonomy of bees using morphological and DNA approaches;
bee trait assessments from images, including pilosity and coloration;
trait analysis and morphometrics from 3D bee images for species discovery or population variation;
photogrammetry and 3D reconstruction;
methods for ML image recognition in bees and 3D reconstruction;
ecological assessments of bee ecology and drivers of bee population declines;
biodiversity informatics methods for sharing image datasets using open publication platforms (i.e., Zenodo) and improved attribution for contributors (via ORCid);
genotype/phenotype responses to climate or other factors as found in museum specimens.
Other topics are available and I welcome the candidate’s personal research preferences. The Big-Bee Postdoctoral Scholar will be provided funding for professional meetings, publications and will be encouraged to pursue additional grants for their own research.
Includes annual salary of ca. $56,000, including full benefits and health insurance. The initial contract is for one year with high likelihood of extension for up to three years. The position is based at the University of California, Santa Barbara but can include cooperation with colleagues at other institutions. International applicants are welcome.
Application deadline: Until filled.
Big-Bee Research Postdoctoral Scholar positions:
Send an email of inquiry to seltmann@ucsb.edu and include 1) Cover Letter, 2) CV, and 3) a personal statement.
