OPPORTUNITIES

Posting snapshot:

 

Postdoctoral associate opportunity - spatiotemporal deep learning models of mosquito borne viruses and the environment

Remote applicants welcome.

Position Summary. Applicants are invited to apply for a postdoctoral associate position focused on spatiotemporal deep learning models of arbovirus surveillance data. This 1-year position is part of a multidisciplinary project aimed at predicting zoonotic arbovirus transmission hazard across different environments in Florida and is supported through funding from the University of Florida Research Opportunity Seed Fund. The project is a cross-college collaborative effort between Dr. Rob Guralnick (PI) Florida Museum, Dr. Lindsay Campbell (coPI) Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory and Department of Entomology and Nematology, and Dr. Whit Schroder (coPI) Florida Institute of the Built Environment Resilience and Department of Anthropology.
The incumbent has the option of working remotely or at the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory (FMEL) in Vero Beach, Florida. Research responsibilities will include applying, troubleshooting, and evaluating deep learning models using time series of arbovirus surveillance and environmental data to predict West Nile virus and eastern equine encephalitis virus transmission in sentinel chickens for the purpose of improved and targeted surveillance.

Expectations

The initial appointment is for 12 months, with renewal based on additional funding availability.
Expected salary is ~ $60,000/year, fringe benefits. The position start date will begin in fall of 2023.

Required Degree

Doctorate - ecology, biology, computer science, biostatistics, geography, or related fields.
 

Minimum Requirements
● The candidate must have a Ph.D. in ecology, biology, computer science, biostatistics, geography, or related fields.
● Experience in deep learning approaches with environmental spatial, temporal, and/or spatiotemporal modeling is required.
● Demonstrated experience in geographic information systems (GIS).
● Demonstrated experience in Python and/or R programming languages.
● The candidate must have demonstrated effective written and oral communication skills in science.
● Demonstrated success working as part of a team.
Preferred Qualifications
● Experience with remotely sensed environmental data.
Additional desired qualifications include:
● Strong organizational and communication skills.
● Interest and experience with mentoring graduate students.
 

Professional Development Opportunities
 

Opportunities to engage in professional development activities that will enhance their experience and better prepare them for careers in academia, government institutions, or industry. These opportunities include but are not limited to grant proposal writing, mentorship of graduate students, and science communication.
Required Application Materials
Candidates should submit a cover letter describing research experience and career goals and how they fit this position, a curriculum vitae, and names and contact information for three references to Lindsay Campbell (lcampbell2@ufl.edu).
 

Special Instructions
Review of applications will begin on September 3, 2023 and continue until the position is filled.

 

We are striving continuously to build and sustain an equitable and inclusive environment. Applicants from historically excluded groups are encouraged to apply.

 

The final candidate will be required to provide an official transcript to the hiring department upon hire. Degrees earned from an education institution outside of the United States are required to be evaluated by a professional credentialing service provider approved by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services (NACES), which can be found at http://www.naces.org/. The University of Florida is An Equal Employment Opportunity Institution dedicated to building broadly diverse and inclusive employees. Hiring is contingent upon eligibility to work in the US. Searches are conducted in accordance with Florida's Sunshine Law.

Search Committee

Lindsay P. Campbell (chair), PhD, FMEL, UF; lcampbell2@ufl.edu
Rob Guralnick, PhD, Florida Museum, UF; rguralnick@flmnh.ufl.edu