"Postdoc - Hawaiian arthropod diversity and community metabarcoding - Essig Museum of Entomology"

Position overview

Salary range: The UC postdoc salary scales set the minimum pay determined by experience level at appointment. See the following table(s) for the current salary scale(s) for this position https://www.ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/2025-26/represented-oct-2025-scales/t23.pdf. A reasonable estimate for this position is $69,073-$77,030.

Percent time: 100%

Anticipated start: Spring 2026

Position duration: Two years with the possibility of extension based on performance and availability of funding.

Application Window

Open date: December 18, 2025

Next review date: Sunday, Jan 4, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Apply by this date to ensure full consideration by the committee.

Final date: Monday, Jan 19, 2026 at 11:59pm (Pacific Time)
Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the review date will only be considered if the position has not yet been filled.

Position description

The Gillespie and Roderick Evolab at the University of California at Berkeley is seeking a postdoctoral scholar to conduct research for NSF- and DoD-funded projects that aim to link signatures of arthropod diversity obtained from DNA metabarcoding, across the Hawaiian Islands with broad scale remote sensing.

The postdoc will focus on high-throughput arthropod biodiversity sequencing across two orthogonal gradients set within the same native forest type - the first gradient is a geological chronosequence, from 0-5 million years; the second, intersecting, gradient is a landscape matrix from native to heavily invaded forest habitats on each island. Whole arthropod communities are sampled using genetic signatures from the high-throughput sequencing to test models of community assembly over extended ecological-to-evolutionary time; the models will predict trajectories of assembly and disassembly in the face of rapid biotic change.

The lab's study the ecology and evolution of Hawaiian arthropods in the context of the assembly of communities through evolutionary time, and the impact of non-native species. Recent work involves collaboration with researchers working with vegetation monitoring, and geospatial and remote sensing data.

Within UC Berkeley, the successful candidate will have access to multiple departments, including Environmental Science Policy and Management, Integrative Biology, Geography, the Center for Computational Biology, and the Berkeley Natural History Museums and Field Stations.

Responsibilities:

1. The postdoc will work with the PI to develop a plan for DNA metabarcoding of Hawaiian arthropods and the analysis of molecular data.
2. The postdoc will meet with the PI on a weekly basis to discuss results and progress on manuscripts.
3. The postdoc will work with junior lab members to mentor them on laboratory and field techniques and analyses.
4. The postdoc will contribute to lab duties, which is evenly distributed among all lab members.
5. The postdoc will draft and contribute to manuscripts for submission to appropriate peer-reviewed journals and present research findings at top-tier conferences and local workshops to disseminate results to the scientific community.

Qualifications

Basic qualifications (required at time of application)
PhD (or equivalent international degree) or enrolled in PhD program (or equivalent international degree)

Additional qualifications (required at time of start)
Ph.D. (or equivalent international degree) required by the appointment start date.
No more than three years of post-degree research experience by start date.

Preferred qualifications

• Experience with high throughput DNA sequencing
• Proficiency with bioinformatic pipelines for DNA metabarcoding
• Ability to work with others
• Valid driver's license
• Knowledge of arthropod diversity
• Ability to work in challenging field conditions
• Experience mentoring undergraduate students
• Field experience in Hawaii or other Pacific Islands
• Experience building DNA reference libraries

Application Requirements

Document requirements

• Curriculum Vitae - Your most recently updated C.V.
• Cover Letter

Reference requirements

• 3 required (contact information only)

Name, Email, Institution, and Phone Number

Apply link: https://aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05219

Help contact: gillespie@berkeley.edu

Job location
Hilgard Rm 227, Berkeley, CA