Temporary Researcher

Job Summary

The Peleg Lab at the Bio Frontiers Institute is seeking a Temporary Researcher to help develop and test computational models of collective information processing in animal groups. Building on the lab's work on fireflies and honeybees, the project investigates whether properties usually associated with individual cognition – integrated information processing, perception, and decision‑making – can also emerge at the level of the group.

The researcher will help translate these questions into precise, quantifiable concepts, implement them in computational and agent‑based models, and use those models to generate testable predictions that can be evaluated against real behavioral experiments.

At the University of Colorado Bio Frontiers Institute, researchers from the life sciences, physical sciences, computer science, and engineering work together to uncover new knowledge at the frontiers of science and partner with industry to transform discoveries into new tools. The Institute is uniquely defined by its excellent faculty, research, and leadership and by the scientific and geographical ecosystem that empowers our work.

Bio Frontiers has a frontier culture that allows researchers to explore new areas of bioscience by maximizing resources and talents across the Institute and the university system. The Institute integrates faculty members from eleven academic departments, allowing them to work across fields, driving innovation without boundaries.

• Develop and formalize concepts related to group‑level (collective) information processing into precise, quantifiable definitions and metrics (for example, information‑theoretic measures such as Lempel–Ziv complexity).
• Implement these concepts in computational and agent‑based models, writing clean, well‑documented code.
• Use the models to generate concrete, testable predictions that can later be validated against behavioral experiments on collective systems such as fireflies and honeybees.
• Run simulations, analyze model output and behavioral data, and iterate on the models based on results.
• Contribute to literature review, experiment‑design discussions, and documentation of methods and findings.

• A candidate has already been identified for this position, but all applications will be reviewed and considered before a final hiring decision is made.
• This is a hybrid role: a mix of on‑site work at the Jennie Smoly Caruthers Biotechnology Building and remote work, with the balance arranged with the PI.
• This role is primarily computational (modeling and coding), with opportunities to connect the modeling to the lab's experimental efforts.
• We offer a flexible schedule (about 10–15 hours per week). Training and all required materials will be provided.

$20 per hour.

Temporary positions at the University of Colorado are not benefits‑eligible; however, all positions are eligible for paid sick leave.

• Bachelor's degree in physics, computer science, applied mathematics, or a closely related field.

• Academic background in both physics and computer science.
• Demonstrated ability to code (building, running, and analyzing computational models).
• Comfort with mathematical and computational modeling.
• Strong organization, reliability, and ability to work independently.

• Background or interest in philosophy, especially philosophy of mind or theories of cognition.
• Experience with scientific computing, numerical or agent‑based modeling, dynamical systems, information theory, or complex systems.
• Interest in interdisciplinary research spanning physics, computer science, biology, and cognition.

• Current resume/CV
• Cover letter

Apply by July 20, 2026 for consideration.

Note:

Application materials will not be accepted via email. For consideration, please apply through CU Boulder Jobs.

CU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.