Postdoctoral Research Associate

About the role

Postdoctoral Research Associate Posting Number req27038 Department AZ Inst for Resilience Department Website Link Location Tucson Campus Address Tucson, AZ USA Position Highlights The Arizona Institute for Resilience invites applicants to apply to join our team as a Postdoctoral Research Associate. The successful candidate will work on a research project focused on Sansevieria, a plant genus for which phylogenetic and genomic resources are scarce. The candidate will analyze whole-genome shotgun data from approximately 100 samples, with the goal of characterizing features of the species, also in relation to the sister genus Dracaena. The project foresees to establish a reference genome assembly for one focal species, followed by using phylogenomics methods to establish relationships between taxa. Additional analyses may include introgression analyses, demography, and heterozygosity. The successful candidate will be proficient in executing software and commands via the command line, will have worked with long- and short-read sequencing data, and must have a deep understanding of plant phylogenomics. Experience in developing and maintaining pipelines is a plus. The data analyst will work closely with personnel at the Arizona Genomics Institute (AGI), the Desert Laboratory at Tumamoc Hill, and other entities. The position requires interacting with colleagues, collaborators, and customers of varied backgrounds. The supervisor will provide moderate guidance in project planning and execution. A high degree of initiative, resourcefulness, dynamism, and professionalism are necessary. Applicants with no experience in handling DNA sequencing data will not be considered. This role is not eligible for flexible work arrangements. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please click here. Duties & Responsibilities Establish a Sansevieria phylogeny by means of genomic datasets. Will use whole-genome shotgun short-read datasets to identify orthologue loci, execute appropriate software (e.g. Captus, Hybpiper) to generate a phylogeny. Proficiency in performing additional analyses (e.g. time of speciation, mutation rates,...) are welcome. Generate a genome assembly for a focal specimen. In collaboration with AGI, from long-read DNA sequencing data and Hi-C. Will also annotate the genome. Additional genomic analyses enabled by the dataset at hand and by accessing other public datasets (e.g. comparative genome evolution, detecting hybridization or introgression). Summarize work in reports, tables, and one scientific manuscript. Interact with colleagues and external partners to give and receive feedback. Attend meetings and take notes. Reporting, meetings, dissemination.  Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: Extended knowledge of phylogenomic methods and handling of the data. High proficiency of Unix command line, executing software, developing and running workflows. Knowledge of R. Familiar with high-performance computing infrastructure. Experienced in Nextflow/Cromwell or other pipeline tools. Able to critically evaluate the quality of the results and to perform novel analyses as required. Excellent technical writing skills, maintaining and sharing documentation, note taking, and reporting at different audiences. Highly developed communication skills: verbal and digital. Minimum Qualifications PhD in genomics, phylogenetics, (bio)informatics, or related discipline with at least one year of experience in phylogeny. Preferred Qualifications FLSA Exempt Full Time/Part Time Full Time Number of Hours Worked per Week 40 Job FTE 1.0 Work Calendar Fiscal Job Category Research Benefits Eligible Yes - Full Benefits Rate of Pay NIH salary guidelines, Depends on Experience Compensation Type salary at 1.0 full-time equivalency (FTE) Type of criminal background check required: Name-based criminal background check (non-security sensitive) Number of Vacancies 1 Target Hire Date Expected End Date Contact Information for Candidates Elise Gornish | Open Date 9/14/2026 Open Until Filled Yes Documents Needed to Apply Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Cover Letter Special Instructions to Applicant The candidate should apply by submitting a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a cover letter. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide three letters of recommendation. Position to stay open until filled, job starting in early 2027. Notice of Availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety Report In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act (Clery Act), each year the University of Arizona releases an Annual Security Report (ASR) for each of the University’s campuses. These reports disclose information including Clery crime statistics for the previous three calendar years and policies, procedures, and programs the University uses to keep students and employees safe, including how to report crimes or other emergencies and resources for crime victims. As a campus with residential housing facilities, the Main Campus ASR also includes a combined Annual Fire Safety report with information on fire statistics and fire safety systems, policies, and procedures. Paper copies of the Reports can be obtained by contacting the University Compliance Office at