Peter Buck Deep Time Postdoctoral felowship

National Museum of Natural History Smithsonian Institution
Washington D.C. U.S.A.

Posting Date: January 16, 2015. Closing Date: February 20, 2012

Applications are invited for a two-year Research Fellowship
(postdoctoral) in paleobiological research relating to the goals of the
Deep Time Initiative at the National Museum of Natural History,
including a 25% time commitment toward advancing science education at
NMNH through direct interaction with our public. This appointment
provides stipend ($48 K/yr), benefits, and a research/travel allowance
($4 K/yr). The successful applicant will be expected to conduct
independent macroevolutionary and/or macroecological research through
the study of systematics, paleoecology, functional biology, field
investigations, etc., and involving NMNH collections. The awardee also
will be expected to be involved in the scholarly activities of the
department and public outreach in the museum. Priority will be given to
proposals that: 1) involve research related to Deep Time over-arching
themes, 2) indicate a high standard of research productivity,
creativity, and interactivity, 3) provide evidence of ability to
communicate science to the public – orally, in writing, through social
media, citizen science, etc.

The Deep Time (DT) initiative is focused on understanding connections
between 4.6 billion years of environmental change, the diversity of
life, and the future of our species on Earth. The four focal themes for
our Deep Time research, exhibits, and outreach include: 1) evolution of
organisms, 2) evolution of ecosystems, 3) earth processes, 4)
connections among these forces including to our human past, present and
future. This is a critical time in the history of our planet because one
increasingly abundant, heterotrophic species has become a global scale
force of rapid environmental and biotic change. Through understanding of
the fossil and geological record, the Deep Time Initiative seeks to
inform and inspire the global community about connections between the
past, present, and future of life on Earth and help create citizens for
a changing planet.

Information about the Paleobiology Department and the Evolution of
Terrestrial Ecosystems (ETE) Program can be found at
http://www.nmnh.si.edu/paleo//index.html [1], the collections at
http://collections.mnh.si.edu/search/paleo/ [2], and the Deep Time
exhibit renovation at http://www.mnh.si.edu/fossil-hall/ [3]

Applicants should have a proven record of research accomplishment and
knowledge of the fossil record. Starting dates for the fellowship are
between April 1 and June 1, 2015, and all formal requirements for a
Ph.D. must be completed before the end of this time interval. To apply,
send: (1) curriculum vitae; (2) pdfs of recent publications (maximum of
three); (3) proposed research for the two-year interval (up to 5
double-spaced pages, 11 point type); (4) a 1-page teaching and outreach
statement of accomplishments and interests, and (5) two letters of
reference submitted separately by the referees.

All application materials should be submitted to Dr. Peter Wagner,
wagnerpj@si.edu, in pdf format by 20 FEBRUARY, 2015. Questions regarding
the fellowship should be emailed to Dr. Anna K. Behrensmeyer,
behrensa@si.edu