Current status:

We do not have funding available for a postdoc.

Recurring opportunities

If you wish to pursue your own independent funding, here are at least three possible opportunities. We always welcome inquiries from prospective postdocs.

First, NSF’s Directorate for Biological Sciences annually accepts applications for postdoctoral fellowships in three areas: (1) Broadening Participation of Groups Underrepresented in Biology, (2) Integrative Research Investigating the Rules of Life Governing Interactions Between Genomes, Environment and Phenotypes, and (3) Plant Genome Postdoctoral Research Fellowships. If you are interested, please read the full NSF announcement, then contact Charles.

Second, UNC annually accepts applications for SPIRE postdoctoral fellows. SPIRE fellows are funded to not only conduct research in a host lab on campus, but also to teach at partner institutions with a large population of underrepresented students. Prospective research advisors have no input into the selection process, so you do not have to notify Charles of your application, but he would be happy to discuss the possibilities. For application details, consult the SPIRE application webpage. ”

Third, it may be possible to write some other type of proposal together. If you have ideas about this, please email Charles.

Philosophy

Postdoctoral positions, to an even greater degree than graduate assistantships, are necessarily transition periods. Postdocs almost always start with residual work from the prior appointment, most commonly dissertation chapters that still need to be published. On the other hand, a wise postdoc always has one eye on the door, and applying for more permanent positions is also an unavoidable part of being a postdoc. As a result, I recognize that postdocs will need to spend some of their time in my group working on these other tasks.

On the other hand, doing a postdoc does have significant value beyond just serving as a transition, including broadening of knowledge, learning new skills, and working more independently. I believe it takes a minimum of two years to realize these benefits. I believe these benefits are quickly compounded with another year or two of time. Finally, I hope that this postdoctoral position initiates a longer-term collaboration that will continue after the postdoc moves on to take a permanent position.

How to apply:

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