Job Details

Postdoc Research Associate


Job Identification: 20071
Posting Date: 04/09/2026, 08:03 PM
Job Schedule: Full time
Locations: 101 Bagby Avenue, Waco, TX, 76706, US
Degree Level:

Job Description:
A humble college founded before Texas was a state, Baylor now stands as one of the premier institutions of higher education in the world. Baylor has continued to invest in research and doctoral education, both solidifying and elevating its unique status as a preeminent Christian research university. Baylor is among 187 R1 institutions, just 52 of which are private universities.

Since 2011, Baylor has been named as one of the nation's "Great Colleges to Work For". Great Colleges to Work For is one of the country's largest and most respected workplace recognition programs. Each year, Great Colleges recognizes the colleges and universities that get top employee ratings regarding workplace practices and policies across 10 areas. This recognition is based on faculty and staff responses to a related annual survey. The survey, conducted by ModernThink, is a way for colleges and universities to gain a deeper understanding of how their employees experience and view various aspects of the institution. This continued recognition further affirms Baylor as a rewarding place to build a career.

What We Are Looking For

Baylor University seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Associate to join an NSF-funded project examining how feeding morphology and functional performance shape macroevolutionary and macroecological patterns in echinoids (sea urchins). This 18-month position will focus on components of the project that characterize the paleoecological and biogeographic distribution of both fossil and extant echinoids, with a focus on different feeding modes, and evaluate how these distributions inform broader evolutionary dynamics within the clade.

This position is based at Baylor University in Waco, Texas USA. The postdoctoral associate will work closely with Dr. Elizabeth Petsios and the Baylor Invertebrate Paleontology Lab, as well as a larger collaborative international team including evolutionary biologists and paleontologists.

The ideal candidate will possess strong quantitative skills, including expertise in statistics, programming, spatial and ecological analyses, and paleobiological/biological databases (PaleobioDB, GBIF, etc.). They should also demonstrate a strong capacity for collaboration and mentorship. Prior experience with echinoid biology is NOT expected.

A Doctoral degree is required.

Required qualifications include:

• Ph.D. in paleobiology, ecology, evolutionary biology, geosciences, or related field (by start date)
• Demonstrated experience with large ecological or paleobiological datasets
• Strong quantitative skills, particularly in R or similar programming environments

Preferred qualifications include:

• Experience with spatial data, macroecological analyses, or database integration
• Experience working with biodiversity databases (e.g., PBDB, GBIF, OBIS)
• Experience integrating ecological and evolutionary datasets across time scales
  
  

Project Context

The NSF-funded project "Unlocking New Horizons - How Feeding Morphology and Performance Impacts Adaptive Expansion in Deep Time", seeks to examine how variation in echinoid feeding morphology relates to ecological diversification and niche occupation across deep time. By integrating morphological data, functional performance metrics, environmental distributions, and phylogenetic frameworks, the project aims to test whether adaptive performance drives macroevolutionary patterns of diversification and ecological expansion. The selected candidate will contribute to the component of the project focused on establishing the ecological and geospatial context for previously developed morpho-functional patterns, synthesizing these data to reveal broader trends in echinoid niche evolution.

What You Will Do

• Compile and curate a comprehensive global database of echinoid occurrences (modern and fossil)
  
• Combine morphology, functional performance (e.g., FEA outputs), and ecological data within a phylogenetic comparative framework and contribute to broader data synthesis. This includes synthesizing results into multiple peer-reviewed manuscripts
  
• Contribute to research mentoring of graduate and undergraduate students
  
• Contribute to science outreach efforts within the lab, department, and more broadly within the community
  
• Perform all other duties as assigned to support Baylor's mission
  
• Ability to comply with university policies
  
• Maintain regular and punctual attendance
  

A complete application will contain the following documents:

• Up-to-date CV
  
• Contact information for two professional references
  
• Cover letter detailing research background and interest in the position
  

What You Can Expect

As part of the Baylor family, eligible employees receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, and vision insurance, generous time off, tuition remission, and outstanding automatic retirement contributions. Baylor has a comprehensive benefits plan that supports you and your family's wellbeing and allows you to be a part of the life of a vibrant and active college campus. To learn more, go to Baylor Benefits & Advantages.

Explore & Engage

Learn more about Baylor and our strategic vision, Baylor in Deeds. Also, explore our great hometown of Waco and the many opportunities to engage locally. If you are new to Central Texas, This is Waco!


About Us:
Baylor University, a private not-for-profit university affiliated with the Baptist General Convention of Texas, is committed to compliance with all applicable anti-discrimination laws, including those regarding age, race, color, sex, national origin, military service, genetic information, and disability. Baylor complies with statutory Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity requirements. Baylor's full official Notice of Non-Discrimination may be read online.


To apply, visit https://ejof.fa.us2.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/BaylorCareers/job/20071







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