Job Opportunity
We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated researcher to join our team as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Taxonomy and Systematics. This is an exciting opportunity for an early career researcher to work on a cutting-edge project, developing their skills and expertise in taxonomic revisions, morphology, molecular laboratory work, and phylogenetic analyses.
The successful candidate will have the lead role in carrying out an integrative taxonomic revision of Australian Heliozelidae moths, which will involve the use of molecular, morphological, and biological data. They will also be responsible for generating vouchered DNA reference sequences for all species and utilising them for eDNA surveys to identify heliozelid caterpillars in flowers for co-evolutionary studies and to uncover hidden diversity.
This project offers a unique opportunity to work in a team environment, using state-of-the-art equipment at CSIRO, fieldwork, and presenting results at international conferences. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to develop their leadership skills, working closely with lepidopterists, botanists, molecular systematists, and bioinformaticians.
Key responsibilities include:
* Examining moth specimens at natural history collections, making loans as needed
* Recording specimen metadata
* Travelling both domestically and internationally
* Documenting the habitus with high-resolution images
* Making and documenting microscope slide presentations of wings and genital structures
Requirements for this role include:
* A doctorate (or will shortly satisfy the requirements of a PhD) in a relevant discipline area, such as biology, entomology, evolution and systematics
* Experience with taxonomic revisions
* Experience with the study of morphology
* Experience with molecular laboratory work
* Experience with phylogenetic analyses
The ideal candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment. They will also have strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think critically and creatively.
Candidates must have no more than 3 years (full-time equivalent) of postdoctoral research experience. This is a specified term position for 3 years, and applicants must meet the essential qualifications listed above.