Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Conservation Ecology

Summary:

The Conservation and Restoration Division at the Missouri Botanical Garden seeks to hire a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow to join a collaborative research team working at the intersection of conservation genomics, plant evolution, and plant conservation. The successful candidate will work with MBG scientists and collaborators on research projects that use genomic, evolutionary, ecological, phenotypic, spatial, and collections-based data to inform the conservation of plant species and the restoration of natural ecosystems.

This position is intended to strengthen collaboration between conservation genetics research based in St. Louis and other departments and divisions at MBG, including MBG's long-term international programs, especially in Bolivia. The Postdoctoral Fellow will focus primarily on the evolution and conservation genetics of two threatened plant groups: imperiled Bolivian species in the genus Puya and threatened North American members of the genus Physaria. For Physaria, the Postdoctoral Fellow will contribute to ongoing genomic analyses, including work with whole-genome DNA sequencing data, to assess evolutionary history, genetic diversity, and population structure to inform conservation. For Puya, the Postdoctoral Fellow will help develop and conduct similar genomic and evolutionary analyses in collaboration with the Herbario Nacional de Bolivia and relevant partner institutions, with the goal of informing ongoing conservation efforts.

The successful candidate will conduct independent and collaborative research; analyze genomic and related ecological, phenotypic, spatial, or collections-based datasets; prepare manuscripts for publication; contribute to grant proposals, technical reports, and conservation outputs; participate in scientific meetings and outreach activities; and engage with collaborators at MBG and partner institutions internationally. The position may also involve mentoring graduate and undergraduate students, interns, volunteers, and/or early-career collaborators.

The position will be based in St. Louis and will advance the mission of the Conservation and Restoration Division by integrating research, collections, and collaborations to support the conservation of plant diversity. A central goal of the position is to help build stronger scientific connections among MBG teams locally and internationally, while producing high-quality research products that contribute to conservation decision-making, capacity strengthening, and long-term collaborative programs.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Takes a leadership role in implementing research projects at the intersection of conservation genomics, plant evolution, and applied plant conservation, with primary focus on imperiled Bolivian Puya and North American Physaria.
• Conducts phylogenomic, population genomic, and conservation genetic analyses involving RAD-seq, whole-genome DNA sequencing data or other genetic data, phenotypic data, spatial, ecological, collections-based, and/or other relevant datasets.
• Contributes to ongoing genomic analyses of imperiled Bolivian Puya species and North American Physaria, including work with whole-genome DNA sequencing data, to assess evolutionary history, genetic diversity, and population structure to inform conservation.
• Applies appropriate computational, statistical, bioinformatic, population genetic, phylogenetic, comparative genomic, or landscape genomic approaches to address research questions relevant to plant conservation.
• Prepares and submits peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts as lead author and contributes to collaborative publications, grant proposals, technical reports, presentations, and other research outputs.
• Fosters strong relationships with MBG staff, international collaborators, and partner organizations involved in plant conservation, biodiversity research, restoration, and botanical collections.
• Supports stronger integration among MBG teams in St. Louis and internationally, especially by helping connect laboratory, analytical, field-based, collections-based, and applied conservation work.
• Participates in workshops, scientific meetings, seminars, outreach activities, lab meetings, journal clubs, divisional meetings, and MBG seminar activities.
• May provide leadership, direction, training, or mentorship to graduate and undergraduate students, interns, volunteers, visiting researchers, and/or early-career collaborators.
• Reviews scientific papers and grant proposals as requested.
• Demonstrates the highest level of professional and ethical conduct.
• Ensures that all applicable safety standards are followed; informs employees/students/volunteers of safety guidelines, methods to reduce hazards. Reports all accidents, injuries and near-miss accidents immediately.
• Meets expected attendance guidelines.
• Follows and adheres to established policies and procedures, including but not limited to Employee Handbook, Garden Safety Guidelines and Department Policies.
• Behaves and communicates in a manner that promotes and fosters a culture of teamwork and cooperation within our division and throughout the Garden, with co-workers, supervisors/managers, volunteers, visitors and employees.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: This position has no staff supervisory responsibilities; the position may lead and direct undergraduate students, interns or volunteers.

Core Competencies:

Communication - Listens to others and asks questions for clarification; Writes clearly and presents information accurately; Speaks professionally and responds well to questions; Supports positive visitor relations.

Collaboration - Demonstrates teamwork and promotes respect in the workplace; Engages in problem solving and group initiatives; Cooperates in implementing procedures and process improvements; Strives for positive visitor experiences.

Accountability - Demonstrates commitment to responsibilities and adaptable to changes; Effectively prioritizes, troubleshoots and takes appropriate actions; Follows policies and procedures, meets deadlines, quality, and safety standards; Strives to proactively, address visitor and internal colleagues' concerns.

Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems; Includes supervisor before taking action as necessary; Recommends solutions, demonstrates creativity and resourcefulness; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment in decision making process; Includes appropriate people in making decisions.

Stewardship - Promotes and adheres to sustainability, safety and security protocols; Fosters a culture of respect, diversity and inclusion; Demonstrates effective and prudent use of Garden resources; Maximizes contributions during work hours.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Strong background in one or more of the following fields: population genetics, evolutionary biology, plant systematics, quantitative biology, statistics, bioinformatics, genomics, botany, and/or conservation science.
• Strong analytical, statistical, computational, and bioinformatic skills required.
• Experience integrating genomic, ecological, evolutionary, phenotypic, spatial, and/or collections-based data to address biodiversity questions with conservation applications highly desirable.
• Experience with one or more of the following highly desirable: analysis of neutral and adaptive genetic variation, whole-genome or reduced-representation genomic data, RAD-seq data, population genomic analysis, landscape genomics, phylogenomic or comparative genomic analysis, species delimitation, spatial analysis of phenotypic or genomic data, or conservation applications of genomic data.
• Interest in plant conservation, especially conservation of threatened or endangered species and/or restoration of natural ecosystems.
• Prior experience writing scientific papers, grant proposals, and reports.
• Experience synthesizing, interpreting, and communicating scientific information.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; professional, speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; responds well to questions; is tactful and treats others with respect.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively at all levels; working with diverse teams, including international colleagues, required.
• Ability to travel locally, domestically, and internationally as needed, including occasional overnight travel.
• The Garden is committed to the safety and wellbeing of our employees, volunteers and guests. All staff are strongly encouraged to receive all vaccinations as recommended by your healthcare provider prior to hire date. The Garden reserves the right to require future proof of current vaccination status, based on local health department guidelines. When international travel is necessary for Garden business, staff must be able to obtain required travel clearances, driving permits, and vaccinations for all countries where travel is required.
• The requirements and duties listed above are representative and do not constitute an exhaustive list of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilities required.

Education and/or Experience:

• Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology, botany, population genetics, restoration science, conservation science, or related discipline required.
• An equivalent combination of skills, education, and experience may be considered.

Computer Skills:

• Advanced proficiency in R required; proficiency in Bash and experience with Python, Julia, or other programming languages used in reproducible genomic analysis desirable.
• Experience developing scalable, automated, and reproducible workflows for large genomic datasets desirable.
• Experience with bioinformatics, phylogenomic, and population genomic tools or workflows for variant calling, genomic data filtering and curation, and evolutionary or population genomic inference, such as Stacks, ipyrad, ANGSD, IQ-TREE, STRUCTURE, or similar tools, highly desirable.
• Ability to use e-mail to communicate with MBG staff in order to answer questions and service their needs.

Other Skills and Abilities:

• Exceptional public speaking skills required.
• Ability to work across laboratory, computational, collections-based, and field-oriented research contexts.
• Experience developing or applying statistical, Bayesian, likelihood-based, hierarchical modeling, or machine-learning approaches for ecological, evolutionary, demographic, or conservation inference desirable.

Language Skills:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English, orally and in writing.
• Spanish-language skills, or willingness to work in bilingual English-Spanish collaborative settings, highly desirable.

Mathematical Skills:

• Advanced college math aptitude - requires the ability to use algebraic equations, addition, subtraction, multiplication and division; calculate percentages and decimals, etc.
• Ability to work with advanced statistical analysis and computationally solve multi-objective optimization problems.
• Ability to analyze budgets.

Reasoning Ability: Requires ability to conduct independent research and to actively participate in team work; apply facts and principles for developing approaches and techniques to problem resolution; represent the interests and projects a positive image of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Physical Demands:.

• Ability to walk up to three miles on uneven terrain and on and off trails.
• Must be able to work in high heat/humidity.
• Ability to lift 15 lbs. and over.
• Manual dexterity to use lab equipment to generate scientific data or a computer keyboard for the purpose of accurately communicating, writing, and managing research data.
• Operates copier, printer, fax, and computer.
• Ability to walk about facility frequently throughout work day, and sit for extended periods of the work day (may sit up to 50% of work day).
• Ability to travel independently for long periods on airplanes, trains and other conveyances both domestic and international.
• Ability to walk, stand, kneel, or climb as required and move about for extended periods of time in both indoor and outdoor environments.
• Physical fitness necessary for field studies in difficult terrain.
• May be required to perform tasks at varying heights and at high altitudes.
• Ability to understand field safety protocols and wear Personal Protective Equipment, as needed.

Work Environment:

• Indoor and outdoor greenhouse/plant nursery in St. Louis.
• Indoor office and laboratory environment.
• Occasional exposure and handling of laboratory chemicals according to MSD guidelines.
• Occasional field work, outdoors in temperatures of (100F or more), humid conditions, as well as temperatures below 30F, in rain, snow and other inclement weather conditions and some uncomfortable conditions (i.e. wet, mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers, etc.) as needed.

Contacts with Individuals/Organizations inside/outside the Missouri Botanical Garden:

• Garden employees and volunteers
• Collaborators, Guests and International Scientists
• Professional Organizations
• Governmental Officials
• Colleges/Universities

Supervisor (title not person): Director - ECS