Applications are currently being solicited for a post-doctoral research associate in the area of Modeling Social and Cultural Evolution at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary community of researchers in social, cultural, and biological evolution and will work directly with Professor Sergey Gavrilets (www.http://volweb2.utk.edu/~gavrila/) on a project focusing on understanding the dynamical emergence of new cultural authorities across social media. The project, which is funded by the John Templeton Foundation, is a collaboration with Professor Neil Johnson’s group  (https://donlab.columbian.gwu.edu/) at George Washington University.

The lab is affiliated with the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, the Department of Mathematics, the Center for the Dynamics of Social Complexity (DySoC), and the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis (NIMBioS). The candidate will be welcome to participate in any/all of these communities.

The position is a 12-month 100% research appointment with the potential for renewal for one or two years if things work out well. The preferred start date: early 2023.

Requirements:

• A PhD in a relevant field (applied mathematics, economics, cultural evolution, theoretical biology, etc).
• Experience and publication record in mathematical/computational modeling of social or  biological systems.
• Fluency in mathematical programming.
• The ability to write clearly and scientifically (e.g. to produce drafts of papers for publication in scientific journals).
• Ability to work/communicate with a multidisciplinary team.

To apply, send an email to Sergey Gavrilets (gavrila@utk.edu) containing a cover letter explaining your fit and interest in the position, a CV, and the contact information for three references. Applications will be reviewed as they arrive. In addition, an employment application must be submitted at: (https://ut.taleo.net/careersection/ut_knoxville/jobsearch.ftl?lang=en). Presubmission inquiries are welcome.

The University of Tennessee at Knoxville is the flagship university in the Tennessee state higher education system. Knoxville is a diverse medium-sized city in the Tennessee Valley with a relatively low cost of living. The area is rich in natural beauty (mountains, lakes, rivers).