Swarthmore College is a highly selective liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, whose mission combines academic rigor with social responsibility. Swarthmore has a strong institutional commitment to inclusive excellence and nondiscrimination in its educational program and employment practices and encourages candidates who will further advance the goal of fostering a diverse and inclusive community. As one of the nation’s finest institutions of higher learning, Swarthmore College is global in outlook and draws students from around the nation and world. The 425‐acre campus is a designated arboretum, complete with gardens, rolling lawns, a creek, wooded hills, and hiking trails in the Crum Woods.

Who We Are:

We invite applications for an experimental & theoretical research postdoctoral position in biological physics to work in the group of Associate Prof. Eva-Maria Collins in the Biology Department at Swarthmore College. The Collins lab is an interdisciplinary group of undergraduate students, postdocs, and research staff that thrives on teamwork and welcomes diverse candidates to join us.

The opportunity:

This NSF-funded position is for a research project aimed at investigating how short-range forces generate long-range order in extreme tissue deformations during regeneration and in physiological behavior using Hydra as an experimental system. Hydra is uniquely suitable for in vivo biomechanics studies due to its simple anatomy, optical transparency, and amenability to chemical, physical, and genetic perturbations. The project offers ample opportunity for creativity and cross-disciplinary approaches.

The postdoctoral fellow will be encouraged to lead the project, collaborate with the PI and undergraduate students on high-impact publications, and present at key conferences in the field. The position provides plenty of opportunities to interact with faculty, postdocs, and undergraduate students in other departments at Swarthmore College, with colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania (only a 20 min drive away), and national and international collaborators. This is a limited term position and is on an annual renewal basis.

Who you are:

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with a PhD in bioengineering, biophysics, quantitative biology, molecular biology or closely related field, who is passionate about interdisciplinary research. Applicants with strong molecular skills and an interest in instrumentation are especially encouraged to apply. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills and a keen interest in developing leadership and mentoring skills. The successful candidate will work closely with undergraduate students at Swarthmore College. Therefore, demonstrated teamwork ability and experience in mentoring is required.

 What you bring:

Required qualifications:

• Demonstrated experience with cellular and molecular biology work
• Demonstrated experience with microscopy
• Demonstrated experience mentoring student researchers

Preferred qualifications:

• Strong computational skills (Python, Matlab)
• Experience with instrumentation
• Experience with interdisciplinary research
• Experience working with animals or cell culture

What You Will Get:

You’ll work at one of the world's most renowned liberal arts Colleges, with incredible benefits, a stunning 420-acre campus and collaborative work environment. Come join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

Notice to Applicants - Covid-19 Vaccination Requirement

Review the Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook, we offer benefit plans starting at $0 per month! Upon benefit eligibility, the College contributes 10% of an employee’s salary to their retirement account. Employees are 100% vested in their accounts on the date participation begins.

Swarthmore Benefits Flyer

Paid Time Off (Staff) 

Holiday Schedule

For full consideration, candidates should submit their application materials, including a Cover letter, CV, most relevant publications, and email addresses of three references. Applications will be considered immediately and on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Please feel free to contact Eva-Maria directly with any questions. This is a limited term position and is on an annual renewal basis.

If you are excited about this role, we want to hear from you!

Swarthmore College actively seeks and welcomes applications from candidates with exceptional qualifications, particularly those with demonstrable commitments to a more inclusive society and world. Swarthmore College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.