Job Description

Three positions are available in the New York University Department of Anthropology for a longitudinal study of the rhesus macaques of Cayo Santiago, Puerto Rico, as part of a new U19 award from the National Institute on Aging. All positions are initially for one year, potentially renewable for up to five years.

Post-Doctoral Associate 2 (Area: Osteology, health, and aging)

The PDA will focus on variation in skeletal health and morphology across the lifespan, assessing indicators of skeletal health and aging to understand how social, environmental, and life-history factors shape the adult skeletal phenotype. Working closely with Prof. Susan Antón, and in collaboration with Profs. Cassandra Turcotte (University of Calgary), Scott Williams, and James Higham, the PDA will utilize and further develop systematic skeletal collections housed at NYU (the CPRC-NYU collection) and the CBRU’s long-term somatoskeletal databank, with a focus on assessing pathological conditions in gross morphology and imaging including quantitative and qualitative assessments of variation, physical age, and health. Together, these approaches provide an opportunity to investigate how individuals differ in growth, condition, functional capacity, and aging, and how these differences are shaped by their social and ecological environments. The position offers extensive opportunities to lead and collaborate on multiple ongoing and planned research studies, develop a distinctive area of research expertise, and engage in national and international dissemination of findings through publications and conferences. The scholar will also have opportunities to develop independent research questions within the broader theme of skeletal variation in health and function. Based in New York, the scholar will also spend sustained time in Puerto Rico and at imaging facilities in the U.S. where they will collect data and imaging, develop and participate in public science programs, and supervise students and may assist with animal handling and maceration. The position is for one year, renewable for up to five years.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the collection, organization and assessment of imaging (surface and microCT scans) of skeletons across the lifespan from the CPRC-NYU collection.
• Participate in the curation and supervision of curation of the CPRC-NYU collection.
• Expand and develop gross pathological assessment of bone to characterize health variation across age, sex, social status, and environmental context.
• Expand quantitative assessment of microCT imaging of bone health and disease to understand changes in skeletal frailty with age and sex.
• Integrate skeletal data with existing somatic, life-history, and health data to investigate variation in skeletal health, skeletal frailty, mortality, and aging.
• Establish publicly available training material (virtual imaging and workshops) to support public engagement of science
• Work with existing longitudinal anatomical, morphometric, and life-history data collected by the CBRU.
• Contribute to the preparation of grant applications and peer-reviewed manuscripts.
• Present research findings at academic conferences and institutional meetings.
• Aid in the training and mentorship of more junior CBRU members.

This position is based in New York and the selected candidate will be expected to work onsite as of their effective start date.

We welcome applications from international candidates; however, please note that NYU is not an E-Verify employer and therefore unable to support STEM OPT extensions.

In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is $60,000-65,000 per year. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) the specific grant funding and the terms of the research grant when extending an offer.

Qualifications

PhD in Biological Anthropology, Anatomy or related field. Expertise in primate osteology and gross visual assessment of pathological conditions in bone. Experience in 2D and 3D methods of collecting data from the skeleton including digital imaging (microCT) required. Background in museum skeletal curation and experience conducting skeletal maceration highly desired. Demonstrated experience with quantitative methods and statistical analysis including working with longitudinal and/or multidimensional biological datasets. Strong record of peer-reviewed publications and scholarly presentations. Enthusiasm for and record of building pathways to science including through publicly engaged science or science outreach required. Ability to work independently, collegially, and collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team required.

Application Instructions

Applicants should submit a one-page cover letter, a CV, and the names and addresses of 3 referees, via Interfolio. We will begin reviewing applications immediately on receipt.

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