Post Doc AD- Byers
Posting Number:
G/R32063P
Working Title:
Post Doc AD- Byers
Department:
Ecology-Odum School of Ecology
About The University Of Georgia:
Chartered by the state of Georgia in 1785, the University of Georgia is the birthplace of public higher education in America and is the state’s flagship university (https://www.uga.edu/) . The proof is in our more than 240 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly established School of Medicine.
Employment Type:
Employee
Anticipated Start Date:
07/01/2026
Posting Date:
02/02/2026
Open Until Filled:
Yes
Special Instructions To Applicants:
• Full consideration will be given to applications submitted by April 1, 2026.
• A letter of introduction can be submitted to jebyers@uga.edu with subject header: “YourLastName-Biogeography-PostDoc”
• Applicants can arrange for four confidential letters of recommendation to be sent directly by the letter writers to jebyers@uga.edu with subject header: “ApplicantLastName-PostDoc-RecLetter”
Location of Vacancy:
Athens Area
EOO Statement:
The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR ( hrweb@uga.edu ).
USG Core Values Statement:
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653 .
Duties/Responsibilities:
Develop biogeographic databases to be used in analyses
Percentage Of Time:
65
Duties/Responsibilities:
Produce at least two first‐author manuscripts and contribute to a third.
Percentage Of Time:
15
Duties/Responsibilities:
Mentor junior scientists in the lab and contribute to lab group activities.
Percentage Of Time:
5
Duties/Responsibilities:
Participate in biweekly meetings with project collaborators.
Duties/Responsibilities:
Design and analyze empirical field project on ecological interactions
Duties/Responsibilities:
Handle tasks with autonomy with the use of independent judgment, with periodic input from PI.
Classification Title:
Post-Doctoral Associate AD
FLSA:
Exempt
FTE:
1.00
Position Summary:
Unraveling the Oceanographic Drivers of Marine Biodiversity and Invasion Risk This project investigates a central question in marine ecology and biogeography: How do ocean currents and life history traits interact to shape species’ geographic boundaries, connectivity, and capacity to invade new habitats? Marine organisms with planktonic larvae disperse across vast and dynamic seascapes, and the interaction between their life histories and coastal ocean circulation determines where species can establish, persist, or fail to invade. Despite its ecological and conservation relevance, the mechanistic understanding of these processes remains limited. This interdisciplinary project combines ecology, oceanography, and computational modeling to quantify the forces that maintain or shift marine species boundaries across the world’s coastlines. Specifically, the project will address three key questions: 1. What oceanographic and biological factors drive the origin and location of biogeographic boundaries? 2. How connected are coastal populations across spatial and temporal scales? 3. Which coastlines are most susceptible to marine species invasions under current and future oceanographic regimes? The postdoctoral fellow will play a central role in developing a global database of species’ range boundaries and larval traits (e.g., planktonic duration, spawning season, depth preferences), drawing from public repositories such as the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and Smithsonian databases, as well as the scientific literature. These biological data will be integrated with high-resolution physical oceanographic models, developed in collaboration with my close physical oceanographer colleague Dr. Jamie Pringle (University of New Hampshire), to simulate larval transport under varying current regimes. Simulations will test hypotheses about larval delivery, retention, and exposure to “physical adversity” — oceanographic conditions that limit successful colonization. Performance Benchmarks:
• Produce at least two first‐author manuscripts and contribute to a third.
• Present work at a major scientific conference annually.
• Mentor junior scientists in the lab and contribute to lab group activities.
• Participate in biweekly meetings with project collaborators. This appointment is expected to conclude on or before 6/30/2028 unless otherwise extended, or shortened, based on funding availability and/or departmental need. This position does not carry an expectation of continued employment beyond the specified term.
Preferred Qualifications:
Relevant/Preferred Education, Experience, Licensure, Certification in Position:
• Programming experience (R or Python)
• Background in biogeography
Is this a Position of Trust?:
No
Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? :
No
Does this position require a P-Card? :
No
Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? :
No
Is driving a requirement of this position?:
No
Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care?:
No
Does This Position Have Security Access (e.g., Public Safety, IT Security, Personnel Records, Patient Records, Or Access To Chemicals And Medications):
No
Background Investigation Policy:
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website .
Contact Details:
For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.
Recruitment Contact Name:
Hanna Crawford
Recruitment Contact Email:
hanna.dockery@uga.edu
Online Audio and Video Media
Research, Analyst, and Information Technology
Full-time