The Beyond Center for Fundamental Concepts in Science at Arizona State University is seeking postdoctoral candidates to join Professor Sara Walker's interdisciplinary ELife lab . The Beyond Center at ASU fosters collaborative and innovative thinking on some of the biggest questions in science and the Walker lab team conducts theoretical research aiming to uncover fundamental principles that explain life, ranging from current biological and technological examples to synthetic life and the potentialities for alien life on other planets. The research seeks to answer the question "What is Life?" by identifying universal laws that describe living systems and in turn using these to inspire new insights into life’s origins and how we might recognize life. We anticipate hiring multiple postdocs with expertise/interests including, but not exclusive to, the following areas: cheminformatics, bioinformatics, geochemistry, planetary science, alien life detection, artificial life, artificial intelligence, planetary futures, theoretical physics, mathematics, data science, software development, and computer science. Postdoctoral fellows will be supervised by Professor Sara Walker, engaging primarily in theoretical and computational work with connections to experiments and practical applications.

Details:

• Initial one-year appointment with expected annual renewal for up to two years based on performance.
• Funding for the position is available immediately but the start date is flexible.
• Competitive salary based on candidate’s experience.
• Specific areas of research are open, and subject to agreement between the candidate and the PI, but these must align with the vision and goals of the lab .

Minimum Qualifications:

• Highly motivated and creative candidates holding a PhD in a field relevant to an area of research in the Walker lab are encouraged to apply, relevant areas include, but not limited to: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Computer Science, Mathematics, or Planetary Science.
• Evidence of strong communication skills and the ability to disseminate scholarly findings in peer reviewed publications.
• Candidates should have strong computational skills and/or strong foundations in mathematics or data science.
• Candidates must have demonstrated interest to conduct and publish research at the edge of disciplinary boundaries and a willingness to work in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research team.

Desired Qualifications:

• Strong computational skills and/or strong foundations in mathematics or data science.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research at the edge of disciplinary boundaries and a willingness to work on in a highly collaborative, interdisciplinary research team.

Interested Applicants should send a curriculum vitae; a letter of interest including a statement of research interests that fit within the vision of the Walker lab; and contact information for two

references including email addresses. Application materials should be sent to beyond.admin@asu.edu with subject line: “Walker lab postdoctoral fellowship applicant”. Applications will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis for a reserve pool. Applications in the reserve pool may then be reviewed in the order in which they were received until the position is filled.

Inquiries ONLY should be emailed directly to Professor Sara Walker (sara.i.walker@asu.edu ).

A background check is required for employment.

Arizona State University is a VEVRAA Federal Contractor and an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by law. ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses, and certifications.

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