Postdoctoral Fellow - PMB

Join the HJF Team!

HJF is seeking a Postdoctoral Fellow who is responsible for initiating and carrying out research projects in collaboration with a research team. Pursuits research along a focused line of inquiry and has a manuscript in development.

This position will be in support of the Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics department at the University Services University of the Health Sciences located in Bethesda, MD.

The Postdoctoral Research fellow will be working on a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded project that aims to build the first integrated phylogenomic, morphological, and ecological framework of the entire Anopheline mosquito subfamily. Mosquitoes are the deadliest animals on Earth, and anopheline mosquitoes alone transmit the malaria parasites responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths every year. Their ranges are shifting in unpredictable ways under climate and land-use change, yet fewer than 75 of the nearly 500 known Anopheline species have ever been tested for their ability to transmit human pathogens; and most lack even a basic evolutionary or ecological framework.

The Postdoctoral Research Fellow will lead genomic assembly and phylogenomic inference, contribute to 3D morphometric trait extraction and environmental niche modeling, and co-lead peer-reviewed manuscripts across multiple aims. This is an unusually broad, integrative opportunity for a scientist who wants to work at the intersection of phylogenomics, functional morphology, ecology, and public health entomology, with the training, publications, and network to launch an independent research career.

The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing military medicine. We serve military, medical, academic and government clients by administering, managing and supporting preeminent scientific programs that benefit members of the armed forces and civilians alike. Since its founding in 1983, HJF has served as a vital link between the military medical community and its federal and private partners. HJF's support and administrative capabilities allow military medical researchers and clinicians to maintain their scientific focus and accomplish their research goals.

• Lead sample preparation, DNA extraction, and library preparation from museum and contemporary specimens.
• Perform whole-genome shotgun, reduced-representation, and long-read sequencing workflows, adapting protocols for archival and fresh material.
• Assemble genomes and recover single-copy nuclear orthologs in a reference-guided framework across specimens.
• Perform locus alignment, gene-tree and species-tree inference, and time calibration using fossil priors.
• Quantify gene-tree discordance and detect introgression.
• Delimit cryptic species and refine complex boundaries using integrated genomic evidence.
• Contribute to micro-CT scanning to downstream 3D segmentation of thoracic musculature and wing architecture.
• Compute Relative Dispersal Capacity (RDC) and related biomechanical traits from micro-CT-derived morphology.
• Build and refine environmental niche hypervolumes, remotely sensed land cover, and curated occurrence data.
• Coordinate weekly with the study collaborators and travel between institutions as needed for training and specimen work.
• Lead and present multiple first-author manuscripts and contribute to integrative synthesis papers.
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate researchers on the project.
• Engage stakeholders in the mosquito-surveillance and public-health entomology community.
• Demonstrate experience with high-throughput sequencing data.
• Proficiency with at least one general-purpose scripting language and comfort working in high-performance computing environments.
• May perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned or directed by the supervisor.

Education and Experience

• Doctoral degree required preferred field in evolutionary biology, entomology, phylogenetics, bioinformatics, computational biology, ecology, or a closely related discipline
• Minimum of 0-5 years experience required

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Experience with mosquito taxonomy, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
• Experience with phylogenomic pipelines or comparative methods.
• Experience with archival or ancient DNA workflows, museum specimen digitization, or historical collections.
• Familiarity with 3D morphometrics, CT segmentation, or biomechanical modeling.
• Demonstrate knowledge of species distribution modeling, GIS, or remote sensing.
• Interest or background in One-Health, vector biology, or bioinformatics.
• Experience mentoring students and contributing to an inclusive, collaborative team environment.
• A track record of first-author peer-reviewed publications appropriate to career stage.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with colleagues across.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a T1 Public Trust background check.

Physical Capabilities

• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks for extended periods, including walking during field collections or working at bench or microscope stations in the museum.
• Ability to stand or sit at a computer or stand in the lab for prolonged periods.

Work Environment

• This position will take place primarily in an office setting.

Compensation

• The annual salary pay range for this position is $52,800-$70,000. Actual salary will be determined based on experience, education, etc.

Benefits

• HJF offers a comprehensive suite of benefits focused on your health and well-being, from medical, dental, and vision coverage to health savings and retirement plans, and more.

Employment with HJF is contingent upon successful completion of a background check, which may include, but is not limited to, contacting your professional references, verification of previous employment, education and credentials, a criminal background check, and a department of motor vehicle (DMV) check if applicable. Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Any qualifications to be considered as equivalents, in lieu of stated minimums, require the prior approval of the Chief Human Resources Officer.