PostDoctoral Associate in the Origin & Evolution of Bio-Communication
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Job Summary
The Peleg Lab is seeking a creative, curious, and adventurous postdoctoral researcher to join an exciting project on the Origin of Bio-Communication. Life's diversification into nearly every earthly niche was fueled by the evolution of communication, from primitive cells' chemical exchanges to the depth of human conversation. Yet crucial questions about communication’s evolutionary origins remain: Which signals did ancestral species rely on? How did signaling modalities (e.g., visual, auditory, vibrational) diversify with life’s expansion? And, can universal principles of bio-communication be uncovered across diverse taxa? Using mathematical modeling and physiological measurements (e.g., electroretinography and optical coherence tomography), alongside field observations of species ranging from crickets and fireflies to frogs and woodpeckers, we aim to discern how different organisms perceive and generate signals in their distinct sensory worlds. This project bridges theoretical and empirical approaches, exploring communication’s progression from simpler systems to highly social species such as cetaceans and primates.
Learn more about our lab’s interdisciplinary work at www.peleglab.com. We are located within the BioFrontiers Institute and seeks to understand the behavior of disordered living systems by merging tools from physics, biology, engineering, and computer science, with a focus on honeybee communication (mechanical and chemical). Further information on the BioFrontiers Institute can be found here: https://www.colorado.edu/biofrontiers/
Who We Are
At the University of Colorado BioFrontiers Institute, researchers from the life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, and engineering are working together to uncover new knowledge at the frontiers of science and partnering with industry to transform their discoveries into new tools. The BioFrontiers Institute is uniquely defined both by our excellent faculty, research, and leadership and by the scientific and geographical ecosystem that empowers our work. BioFrontiers has a unique “frontier” culture that allows our researchers to explore new areas of bioscience by maximizing the resources and talents across the Institute and the university system. The Institute integrates faculty members from eleven academic departments, allowing them to work across fields. BioFrontiers drives innovation without boundaries.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Field Data Collection: Conduct fieldwork to record acoustic or visual communication signals in natural habitats and compare real-world observations with laboratory findings.
- Physiological Measurements: Use electroretinography (ERG) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) to measure visual, vibrational, or auditory signal reception (e.g., in fireflies and crickets).
- Mathematical Modeling: Develop or adapt computational models (e.g., information-theoretic, game-theoretic) and integrate empirical data (e.g., physiological thresholds, observed signal variation) to simulate signal evolution.
- Data Analysis & Collaboration: Employ existing AI/ML or statistical toolkits (Python, MATLAB, R) to process and interpret data, and collaborate with an interdisciplinary team (biology, neuroscience, engineering) to synthesize results.
What We Can Offer
- $61,008 - $66,492 per year. Salary will be set in accordance with the NIH scale for Postdoctoral Scholars.
- Relocation assistance is available per department guidelines.
Benefits
Be Statements
What We Require
PhD in a relevant field (e.g., Biology, Evolutionary Biology, Neuroscience, Computational Biology, Physics, or a related discipline).
What You Will Need
Physiology & Experimental Methods
- Experience or strong interest in electroretinography (ERG), optical coherence tomography (OCT), or other sensory measurement techniques.
- Comfort with or willingness to learn field-based experimental protocols to capture communication signals in natural habitats.
Mathematical Modeling
- Familiarity with dynamical systems, agent-based models, or information-theoretic frameworks is highly desirable.
- Ability to integrate empirical data (e.g., from physiology or field observations) into theoretical models.
Data Analysis & Interpretation
- Experience using existing AI/ML or statistical toolkits.
- Strong quantitative skills to extract meaningful biological insights from noisy, real-world datasets.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Background or strong interest in evolutionary biology and/or behavioral ecology.
- Strong problem-solving skills, adaptability, and enthusiasm for working with complex, imperfect, real-world datasets.
- Interest in providing mentorship to junior lab members and students involved in complementary projects.
- Willingness to collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of ecologists, marine biologists, and computational scientists.
Special Instructions
To apply, please submit the following materials:
- Resume/CV.
- Cover Letter.
If you are selected as the finalist, your degree will be verified by the CU Boulder Campus Human Resources department using an approved online vendor. If your degree was obtained outside of the United States, please submit a translated version as an optional attachment.
During the application process you will need to enter contact information for three references. We will request letters of recommendation and additional materials, if needed, as the search progresses.
Note: Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, applications must be submitted through CU Boulder Jobs.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu