Postdoctoral Researcher – Population and Landscape Geneticist – wildturkeyDNA
 
Job Description and Position Summary: We seek a Postdoctoral Researcher in population and landscape genetics, who will be mentored by Dr. Philip Lavretsky in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), and co-mentored by Dr. Michael Chamberlain in the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia (UGA). Researcher will work primarily on all aspects of wildturkeyDNA (https://wildturkeydna.com), a state-of-the-art, citizen-assisted research project launched in 2025. The project was created through a partnership between the Wild Turkey Lab at UGA, the Lavretsky Lab at UTEP, the National Wild Turkey Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and the Low Country Game Bird Foundation. The researcher will collaborate with a team of researchers at both UTEP and UGA to study population genetics of wild turkeys at multiple spatial scales using the most comprehensive genetic dataset ever collected on the species. Specific objectives of wildturkeyDNA on which the researcher can focus include: 
1. Assess population structure within and between wild turkey subspecies.
2. Evaluate population genetic connectivity within and among states
3. Calculate levels of hybridization, with particular interest in regions where multiple subspecies were translocated during restoration activities.
4. Assess levels of standing genetic diversity, inbreeding coefficients, and effective population sizes within and among states.
5. Continue determining the origin of odd plumage traits and the prevalence of genetics linked to domestic and domestic x wild turkey crosses in wild populations.
Beyond the aforementioned project objectives, the researcher will be given ample opportunity to pursue research topics of interest to them. The rich dataset now includes thousands of samples with each sample accompanying metadata (i.e., date, location, plumage, movement data) that has the potential to answer important questions spanning across evolutionary, ecological, and conservation biology.
 
ABOUT UTEP: Located in one of the largest binational communities in the world, The University of Texas at El Paso is unique among R01 research institutions, with an enrollment of >25,000 students today. The Department of Biological Sciences, with doctoral programs in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and Bioscience, is among the most productive departments on campus. Core facilities in the NIH sponsored Border Biomedical Research Center include capacities for genomic sequencing, bioinformatics, and statistics; Biodiversity Collections, multiple vivaria, and the ~45,000 acre Indio Mountains Research Station provide research opportunities. More information is available at the Department of Biological Sciences website.
Essential Job Duties: The postdoctoral fellow will lead wildturkeyDNA research objectives as part of the Lavretsky Lab at UTEP. The fellow will coordinate day-to-day wildturkeyDNA efforts with respective staff and doctoral students to ensure continuous samples collection and processing. The fellow will have ample opportunity to mentor at the undergraduate and graduate levels, including building their own research foci as they relate to wildturkeyDNA and other projects currently going on at the Lavretsky lab (https://www.utep.edu/science/lavretskylab/). The fellow will not only work alongside Lavretsky to ensure that ancestry analyses are done timely for the project but will be tasked to generate peer-reviewed publications. The fellow will need to demonstrate an ability to communicate regularly with project PIs, but also effectively to constituents and the public through various popular media outlets.
 
Minimum Qualifications
- PhD in genetics, conservation genetics, or a related discipline
- Experience in handling large genomic datasets, including essential bioinformatic pipelines and subsequent methods to attain summary statistics, genetic ancestry, population connectivity, etc.
Preferred Qualifications
- Understanding of landscape and wildlife ecology
- Strong quantitative and/or modeling skills
- Experience working on collaborative research projects
- Strong communication, project, and time organizational skills
- Demonstrated ability to interact successfully with an interdisciplinary team and with project partners, including state and federal agencies, along with non-governmental conservation organizations
- Experience with analysis and software such as ADMIXTURE, vcftools/bcftools, Plink, and/or other similar tools required for bioinformatics and post-processing genomic datasets for various questions.
Location of Position: The researcher will be located in El Paso, Texas and housed in the Department of Biological Sciences at UTEP. Periodic travel to the Athens, Georgia area will be required and all travel expenses will be covered. The position is re-evaluated annually with the potential of up to 3 years of funding from the initial date of employment. 
 
Deadline for Application: Applications will be accepted until an ideal candidate is identified.
 
Salary: $65,000 plus full benefits associated with being an employee of the University of Texas at El Paso. Employee will be eligible for health insurance and other benefits, such as the ability to participate in a retirement plan as dictated by UTEP policies.
 
Required Application Documents: To apply, please email a cover letter, current resume or curriculum vitae, and contact information for 3 references to both Dr. Philip Lavretsky (plavretsky@utep.edu) and Dr. Michael Chamberlain (mchamb@uga.edu).
 
Employee Benefits: Employment at UTEP is contingent upon completion of a background investigation demonstrating the candidate's eligibility for employment. Employment at UTEP is subject to verification of your identity and eligibility for employment as required by the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 as amended. Upon employment, full benefits will be provided.
 
The University of Texas at El Paso is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.  The University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity in employment or the provision of services.

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