Postdoctoral Fellow

Postdoctoral Fellow: Widow spider and parasitoid invasion genomics

City University of New York, York College

PI Monica Mowery at the City University of New York (York College and the CUNY Graduate Center) has an opening for a postdoctoral researcher to begin in October 2025. This position will be for one year. Our lab investigates the ecology, evolution, behavior, and genomics of urban and invasive species, focusing on insects and spiders. Funded by the Binational Science Foundation, the postdoctoral fellow will work on a project to sequence and annotate a reference genome for a widow spider (genus Latrodectus) egg sac parasitoid wasp, Philolema latrodecti. The postdoctoral fellow will additionally analyze nuclear genomic data using ddRAD sequencing and mitochondrial data for the invasive brown widow spider, Latrodectus geometricus, and the associated parasitoid wasp sampled globally to identify the native and invasive ranges of L. geometricus and P. latrodecti by comparing the nucleotide diversity and phylogeographic structure across populations. There will be opportunities to analyze sequenced libraries from museum specimens of the parasitoid wasp. The postdoctoral fellow will be on a collaborative team with Dr. Jessica Garb at University of Massachusetts Lowell and Dr. Michal Segoli and Dr. Yael Lubin at Ben-Gurion University.

Applications will be accepted until May 1, 2025. Applicants must submit materials electronically through the Research Foundation website:

• a resume/CV that documents all applicable required and preferred qualifications,
• a cover letter (1-2 pages) that briefly (1) describes their relevant training and research accomplishments, (2) explains their reasons for applying for this specific position, (3) describes their career aspirations and how this position will advance their goals, and (4) clarifies any of the required or preferred job qualifications listed on the official posting that the candidate may meet but are not clearly indicated on their CV.
• Three names and contact information for references

Queries regarding this position can be made by email to: mmowery@york.cuny.edu

Required Qualifications:

• Ph.D. by the time of the start date in integrative biology, evolutionary biology, population genetics, or a closely related field.
• A record of publishing research in peer-reviewed scientific journals

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience generating, analyzing, and/or integrating large datasets – whole genome sequencing, RAD sequencing, and/or transcriptome sequencing.
• Experience sequencing and assembling reference genomes
• Experience in programming in R, Python, or a similar programming language
• Experience using computational methods to assess historical population and invasion dynamics
• A demonstrated commitment to fostering an inclusive and equitable research environment

The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY’s research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY’s services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society’s most pressing challenges.

RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY’s research and sponsored programs.

The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.