Postdoctoral Researcher

Position Overview

The post‑doctoral researcher will conduct and develop oviposition site‑selection bioassays in the lab and in the field. An important responsibility will be the expansion of an existing sand fly colony, which is essential for the production of sand flies for these bioassays. The research will be conducted under the supervision of Dr. Gideon Wasserberg at UNC‑Greensboro in collaboration with Drs. Coby Schal and Loganathan Ponnusamy from North Carolina State University, focusing on chemical ecology and microbial ecology.

• PhD in Ecology, behavioral ecology, entomology, or related areas.

• Highly motivated post‑doc with broad skills in behavioral entomology (preferentially in medical entomology) or related fields.
• Experience in conducting behavioral choice bioassays using olfactometers and/or wind tunnels, and field testing.
• Experience in laboratory rearing of hematophagic insects (desired but not required).

• Oversee the maintenance and productivity of the sand fly colony.
• Schedule and supervise student tasks related to colony upkeep, conduct regular blood‑feeding to sustain breeding populations, and monitor colony health, emergence rates, and mortality.
• Troubleshoot issues related to colony website performance, implement best practices for rearing and environmental control, and maintain detailed records of colony status and procedures.

• Develop and conduct laboratory and field‑based behavioral bioassays using free‑flight cages, linear and Y‑shaped olfactometers, and design and construct mid‑ to large‑scale wind tunnel olfactometers.

• Collect and analyze data from colony growth experiments and behavioral assays, validate data quality, and securely back up on external hard drives and cloud storage.
• Calculate preference indices, conduct time‑series analyses, and apply generalized linear models (GLMs) to evaluate behavioral and growth responses.

• Prepare annual project reports, peer‑reviewed manuscripts, and grant proposals with the Principal Investigator.
• Present research findings at national and international conferences, participate in departmental seminars, and assist in preparing outreach or educational materials when appropriate.

• Mentor undergraduate and graduate students in laboratory and field techniques, including behavioral bioassays, sand fly colony maintenance, and data collection procedures.
• Guide students in experimental design, troubleshooting, documentation, data analysis, and foster development in scientific writing, presentations, and manuscript preparation.
• Manage journal clubs, discussion groups, and regular lab meetings to promote critical thinking and effective communication.

Recruitment Range: $57,000
FTE: 1.00
Type of Appointment:
Time Limited (End Date: 02/28/2029)
Percentage of Time across responsibilities: 30% managing colony, 15% bioassays, 10% data analysis, 10% scholarly writing, 10% mentoring.