Postdoctoral Associate Position in Biosocial Science

About this position

• Postdoctoral researcher position available for outstanding candidate in
• the Human Nature Lab (HNL) of Professor Nicholas Christakis, MD, PhD.
• Applicants with background in physical or life sciences who are
• interested in the relevance of biological processes to
• social-behavioral phenomena are sought to strengthen HNL’s research
• portfolio in biosocial science. HNL offers the opportunity for a
• flexible research agenda with strong mentorship in social, biological,
• and computational sciences. A primary area of focus will be the role
• of olfaction in social behavior. Competitive candidates will have
• demonstrated interest in the relationship between basic biology and
• behavior and some experience processing or analyzing organic compounds
• in a laboratory setting. Other areas of interest could include
• biological bases of human sociality; the role of the microbiome in
• human social phenotypes; the impact of social interactions on
• microbiome evolution; the biology and genetics of mate choice and
• social tie formation; and similar topics. A good scholarly record and
• demonstrated ability to conduct challenging and innovative work are
• more important than specific content area within the biological
• sciences. The ideal candidate is one with a strong research background
• that has provided some preparation for examining the role of olfaction
• in human social behavior and who is interested in the lab’s program of
• research in this area. Must have a Ph.D. in biochemistry, chemistry,
• molecular biology, genetics, evolutionary biology, zoology, systems
• biology, environmental science, physics, or other relevant field; be
• able to undertake full-time research (in our fully provisioned lab);
• have a solid record of independent research; and have working
• knowledge of relevant wet lab techniques (e.g., GC-MS). Strong
• analytical background and interest in interdisciplinary research are
• required. Demonstrated experience in a relevant field, including (but
• not limited to) chemosignaling, computational biology, behavior
• genetics, or related areas is desirable. Candidates with interests
• that complement ongoing projects at HNL (https://humannaturelab.net/)
• will be given particular attention. Position is currently open and
• start date is flexible. Those interested in starting in the spring
• through fall of 2027 or earlier are encouraged to apply. Applications
• will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Include cover letter describing
• interests, CV, and at least two letters of recommendation.