Job Description

Position Details

Title Postdoctoral Fellow, Biology Smith Lab Appointment Status Non-Tenure Track Department IU Bloomington Biology Location Bloomington Position Summary

The department of Biology is a large, unified department with strong undergraduate degrees, nationally-ranked graduate programs, and world-class research spanning the breadth of biological questions and experimental systems — from ecosystems to microbiology and developmental biology, from evolution to cell biology, from molecular biology to systems biology, bioinformatics, and genomics. It is always an exciting time for Biology — enormous advances in global genome analysis coupled with unprecedented developments in interdisciplinary research have made the 21st century the Century of Biology. For more information about the department, you can find it here:About: Department of Biology: Indiana University Bloomington.

The Department of Biology at Indiana University Bloomington invites applications for a post-doctoral research position under the supervision of Dr. Chris Smith Home | Chris Smith. Our lab studies spatial population genetics, using simulation-based inference and machine learning to infer the evolutionary and ecological processes that shape genetic variation. The Postdoctoral Associate will conduct research exploring new inference techniques, applying cutting-edge tools to address biological questions, advancing deep learning models, or other topics discussed with the PI. We use publicly available and simulated genomic data.

Core job duties include: (1) Building computational pipelines for simulation experiments and analyzing genomic sequencing data; (2), designing, implementing, and overseeing research projects focused on methods development for understanding genetic variation within and between populations; and (3) writing scientific publications and presenting findings at conferences.

Other general responsibilities include: Actively participating in lab meetings and discussions.

Education and experience required: Ph.D. in population genetics, computational biology, bioinformatics, computer science, or a related field. Demonstrated experience leading computational research projects is required for the proposed research.

Basic Qualifications

Required skills:

· Experience with scientific computing

· Development of reproducible analysis pipelines

· Strong time management and organizational skills

· Ability to work effectively as a team

· Excellent written and oral communication

· Dependability, initiative, and professionalism

Preferred skills:

· Python

· Experience with population genetics.

· Experience with deep learning libraries (e.g., PyTorch, TensorFlow) and development.

Working conditions/demands: The role requires the ability to move about within an office environment.

Department Contact for Questions

To apply: Please submit (1) a cover letter describing your research and educational background, career goals, why you are interested in the position, and the date you are available to start; (2) a current CV; (3) the names and contact information for two references. This can be submitted at the following link: https://indiana.peopleadmin.com/postings/34487

For questions about the position contact Chris Smith (chriscs@iu.edu).

Timing and compensation: Applicants will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. The starting date can be adjusted to suit the candidate. The initial appointment is for one year, with potential reappointment for additional years contingent upon satisfactory performance and funding availability. Salary will be commensurate with experience and full benefits are included.

Additional Qualifications Salary and Rank Special Instructions For Best Consideration Date 10/10/2026 Expected Start Date 11/01/2026 Posting Number IU-101707-2026