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 a postdoctoral position in biological physics/ quantitative biology 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:

Are you a quantitative biologist, biophysicist, or bioengineer interested in pursuing a career at a liberal arts college? - Then this may be the right opportunity for you! This NSF-funded postdoctoral position will allow you to both develop an independent research program that is well-suited for primary undergraduate institutions and provide teaching opportunities to gain the experience you need for being a competitive candidate for faculty positions at undergraduate institutions.

You will work on a project aimed at investigating the role of cell-cell interactions for extreme tissue deformations in vivo, using Hydra as an experimental system. Hydra is fairly easy to maintain in the laboratory and uniquely suitable for in vivo biomechanics studies due to its simple anatomy, optical transparency, and amenability to chemical, physical, and genetic perturbations. Due to the interdisciplinary nature of the project, there will be ample opportunity for creativity and cross-disciplinary approaches. The postdoctoral fellow will 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 other faculty, postdocs, and undergraduate students across departments at Swarthmore College, and 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 and working at an undergraduate institution. 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. Demonstrated teamwork ability and experience in mentoring are required.

 What you bring:

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated experience with cellular and molecular biology work
• Demonstrated experience working with cells or biochemical assay
• Demonstrated experience with microscopy
• Demonstrated experience mentoring student researchers

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong computational skills
• Experience with instrumentation
• Experience with interdisciplinary research

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!

PA Criminal Required

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

Review the 2024 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.

Swarthmore Benefits Guidebook

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.