Job Description Summary

Organization's Summary Statement: The Economo Lab (www.biodivlab.org) at the University of Maryland, College Park is seeking a postdoctoral researcher to work at the interface of biology and computer science using large-scale 3D phenotypic data of animals acquired via micro-CT and related modalities. There are exciting opportunities for large-scale image datasets to supercharge the study of the evolution and ecology of traits, probe the connection between genomic and phenomic variation, and discover new bioinspired design principles. The work will build upon recent advances in high-throughput imaging, including but not limited to the Antscan project (Katzke et al., 2026, Nature Methods), to address biological questions using AI-powered segmentation and comparative methods.

The postdoc will be based at the University of Maryland, but work closely with members in the Biodiversity and Biocomplexity unit (also led by Economo) at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Japan. The hired individual will join a collaborative environment on the UMD campus with opportunities to interact with the Predictive Biology Hub, the Immersive Visualization Research Center, the Maryland Center for Robotics, the University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computing Sciences, and the Artificial Intelligence Institute of Maryland. The Washington, D.C. region has additional opportunities for interaction in the biodiversity space with a wide range of institutions, non-governmental organizations, and universities.

Strong computational skills are required as well as the ability to work in a team in a professional and collegial manner.

Physical Demands: Visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data and presentations. Ability to lift and carry 25 pounds. Regularly required to operate a computer

Preferences: • PhD in biology, bioinformatics, computer science, or a related field within the past 5 years (or expected before starting the position)
Experience with 3D image data, segmentation, and/or comparative morphological analysis preferred

Duties and Responsibilities for this position include:

• Conduct independent and collaborative research within the lab's phenomics and comparative biology program
• Contribute to grant writing and proposal development
• Mentor junior lab members, including graduate students and research staff
• Contribute to lab management
• Foster a collegial and respectful working and learning environment

Additional Job Details

Required Application Materials:

Please submit a cover letter describing your background and interest in the position, along with a full CV by August 30. For inquiries, please email (economo@umd.edu) with the subject line “Postdoc inquiry”.

Best Consideration Date: 8/30/2026

Posting Close Date: NA

Open Until Filled: Yes

Financial Disclosure Required

For more information on Financial Disclosure, please visit Maryland's State Ethics Commission website.

Department

CMNS-Entomology

Worker Sub-Type

Faculty Regular

Salary Range

$60,000 - $75,000

Benefits Summary

For more information on Regular Faculty benefits, select this link.

Background Checks

Offers of employment are contingent on completion of a background check. Information reported by the background check will not automatically disqualify anyone from employment. Before any adverse decision, the finalist will have an opportunity to provide information to the University regarding disclosable background check information. The University reserves the right to rescind the offer of employment or otherwise decline or terminate employment if the information reported by the background check is deemed incompatible with the position, regardless of when the background check is completed.

Employment Eligibility

The successful candidate must complete employment eligibility verification (on Form I-9) by presenting documents that establish identity and work authorization within the timeframe required by federal immigration law, and where applicable, to demonstrate renewed employment authorization. Failure to complete employment eligibility verification or reverification within the timeframe set forth by law may result in suspension or termination of employment.

EEO Statement

The University of Maryland, College Park is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment. Please read the University’s Equal Employment Opportunity Statement of Policy.

Title IX Non-Discrimination Notice

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Post Doctoral Associate