Postdoctoral Researcher

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.

The opportunity:

We are searching for a post-doc or research technician who is passionate about both teaching and research.

In the Davidson lab, we explore cardio-vascular evolution and development. One of our current projects focuses on heart growth and in particular how signals modulate cardiac stem cell division dynamics. Another focuses on how signaling receptors are trafficked in dividing cells to generate asymmetric induction of a cardiac progenitor lineage. A third focuses on the evolutionary acquisition of novel immune-related functions in blood cells. We study these questions in the invertebrate chordate, Ciona robusta. Due to extremely low cell numbers, both of embryonic cardiac progenitor cells and of juvenile cardiac stem cells, we are able to conduct high resolution, in vivo analysis of cell behaviors and interactions. The ease of generating transgenic Ciona embryos and juveniles make this an excellent model organism for undergraduate research.

This is a limited term position and is on an annual renewal basis.

Essential Responsibilities

• Establish a productive, independent research program tailored to your interests.
• Intensive focus on undergraduate mentoring, ensuring that students from diverse backgrounds feel empowered to pursue independent projects and fully enabled to do so in a supportive, positive and encouraging environment.
• Responsible for helping to create a productive research environment, ensuring that equipment is functioning correctly and the lab is well-stocked.

Who you are:

• Interest and expertise in computational approaches
• Excellent communication skills and a commitment to undergraduate mentoring

What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• PhD in a relevant subject area or near completion of a PhD
• Experience with molecular cloning or confocal microscopy preferred.

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 a collaborative work environment. Join a team of passionate, creative people who work hard and have fun supporting the College students, faculty, and staff.

We want to hear from you if you are excited about this role! For full consideration, submit applications with an uploaded resume, including a cover letter. A cover letter indicating how your qualifications and experience have prepared you for this position. If you have experience that meets any of the preferred qualifications, please include a detailed explanation of any such experience in your cover letter and how it meets the preferred qualification(s).

PA Criminal Required

Swarthmore College requires a PA Criminal background check for all staff positions prior to the start of employment.

Education Verification Required by Position

An education verification is required for this position because a college degree is a required qualification for this position.

Preview our Benefits Flyer. We offer benefit plans starting at zero cost! 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.

2025 Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

Retirement Plans

Tuition Grant Program

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Paid Time Off (Staff)

Holiday Schedule

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.