TITLE POST-DOCTORAL position in Butterfly Evolutionary Developmental
Biology: Omics, Computational Science, and AI
TYPE OF CONTRACT Special Appointment
BASIC SALARY $50K – $65K annually TYPE OF WORK FULL TIME (37.5 hrs./week)
DATE OF PUBLICATION March 10, 2025 APPLICATION PERIOD April 3 0 , 2025
STARTING DATE June, 2025
WHO QUALIFIES TO APPLY: ALL CANDIDATES THAT REUNITE ALL SPECIAL REQUISITES FOR THE POSITION
 

JOB DESCRIPTION
This is a unique opportunity to join a large team and international network of scientists to work on a multi-year
project that embraces the most important questions in development and evolution utilizing state of the art
technologies. We are seeking a highly motivated Post-Doctoral Fellows to join our research team focusing on
developmental evolutionary questions. We are recruiting 4 post-doctoral fellows. We use butterflies as a study
system and omics, computational biology and AI as tools to determine fundamental molecular rules in the
making of life.
 

Project Team
The team Principal Investigator, Riccardo Papa, is an expert in genomics, evolution, and development. The
project is composed by a large team of researchers with diverse skills that will enrich the learning capability
of the applicants and future job opportunities. Our team is composed of biologists, chemists, computer
scientists, chemical engineers, educators, and finance advisors. Our team members are experts in the fields
of evolution, genomics, functional genetics, epigenetics, proteomics, metabolomics, computer science,
chemical engineer, social sciences and business. We also have partners from the private, non-profit and
entrepreneur sectors. Finally, we have a large network of national (USA) and international collaborators
that will participate in the development of this project and will represent an added value for personal
growth.
 

Professional development
This proposal will offer an opportunity for professional development with activities and workshops that
cover omics data generation, computational data analysis, AI, entrepreneurship and science
communication. All together these workshops will provide a stronger foundation for mentoring and greater
opportunity for personal growth and future job applications.
 

Project Description:
This project aims to develop transformative science in Puerto Rico by tackling a fundamental problem of
developmental biology and evolution, using two butterfly model systems. The project will integrate a
diverse set of omics, developmental, and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to illuminate the genome-tophenome
pathway of a complex trait at a cellular level. The project aspires to create a detailed map of
molecular processes for evolutionary comparisons. It brings together a multidisciplinary team of
researchers spread across seven academic institutions within the University of Puerto Rico system and
international collaborators. The project will address a scientifically important topic: the mechanistic
underpinnings that instruct cells to undergo fates and acquire diverse functions to build homologous
tissues, organs, and traits over the course of development and evolution. The project’s ambition is to
decode the genomic architecture and molecular logic of the differentiation and function of cells and organs
during the entire developmental trajectory of an organism. The proposed research involves four Aims,
including understanding the constraints and freedoms in organismal development (genomics focus),
deciphering the molecular toolkit for building a butterfly (molecular architecture focus), understanding a
butterfly wing’s cell differentiation and the development of wing scales with unique colors (cellular fate
focus), and building cyberinfrastructure to find patterns across omics data (focus on scalability, data
integration, and artificial intelligence (AI) predictability).
• Link to NSF award:
https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2435987&HistoricalAwards=false
• Principal Investigator Google Scholar profile:
https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Ah6lS28AAAAJ&hl=en
 

Position Overview:
We are looking for an enthusiastic, highly motivated, and skilled researcher to contribute to our ongoing
studies on butterfly evolution and development. The ideal candidate will demonstrate a strong desire to
grow both professionally and scientifically. This position offers an excellent opportunity for a passionate
scientist to work on cutting-edge projects investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying butterfly
organismal development and evolution. We seek individuals who are not only technically proficient but
also bring energy, curiosity, ambition, and a commitment to advancing their expertise in the field. By joining
our team, you'll not only advance your career in a stimulating academic environment but also enjoy the
unparalleled lifestyle and natural beauty that Puerto Rico offers.
 

Responsibilities:
• Design and conduct experiments related to development and evolutionary questions in butterflies
• Analyze complex omics datasets
• Maintain big data repositories
• Develop computational pipelines
• Develop and apply bioinformatics tools for data analysis
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Present research findings at conferences and seminars
• Mentor graduate and undergraduate students
• Assist in grant writing and project management
 

Qualifications:
• Ph.D. in Genetics, Developmental Biology, Genomics, Bioinformatics, Computational Science or a
related field
• Strong background in computational science and molecular biology techniques
• Proficiency in bioinformatics and data analysis (e.g., R, Python, Unix/Linux)
• Experience with next-generation sequencing data analysis
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a collaborative team
• Publication record in peer-reviewed journals

Preferred Qualifications:
• Knowledge in computational science
• Genomics data analyses
• Familiarity with evolutionary developmental biology concepts
• Knowledge of CRISPR/Cas9 or other genome editing techniques
Salary basic information:
We are offering a highly competitive Postdoctoral salary (from $50K to 65K with full benefits) that will
match the candidate’s qualifications.

To Apply:
Please submit the following documents:
1. Cover letter describing your research interests and experience
2. Curriculum vitae
3. Two representative publications
4. Contact information for three references
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Selection of candidates for this first round of hiring will close by April 30, 2025 for follow up interviews.
Exceptions can be made for particular cases of extremely motivated and qualified applicants.
All documents must be submitted to the following electronic address before or by April 30, 2025
Attention to: Dr. Riccardo Papa, Department of Biology
Subject: Application – The Blueprint of Life
e-mail: riccardo.papa@upr.edu and rpapa.lab@gmail.com