We are seeking a motivated postdoc to join a collaborative project involving researchers at the University of Vermont, USA (Dr. Thais Bernos, Dr. Jason Stockwell,), the Hydrobiological Institute Ohrid, North Macedonia (Dr. Dushica Ilikj-Boeva), and the Great Lakes Fishery Commission (Dr. Andrew Muir). The overall project will explore population genetic structure and stock contributions of the iconic and endemic Ohrid Trout (Salmo letnica) using genomic data and will develop a parentage-based tagging program to assist hatcheries in their effort to conserve the emblematic fish and maintain the fisheries. This position is ideal for candidates interested in evolutionary biology, fishery genomics, and fishery management with a strong genomic and genetic background. The position will be based at the University of Vermont (Burlington, Vermont, United States) and involve travel to North Macedonia to conduct fieldwork and work with projects partners at the Hydrobiological Research Station in North Macedonia and Ohrid Trout hatcheries in North Macedonia and Albania.
Skills and experience: The ideal candidate will have strong skills in molecular laboratory techniques, bioinformatics, and the analysis of genomic and genetic data. This position will also require strong leadership skills, excellent communication skills, and the ability to work with international teams of collaborators.
Responsibilities:
- Generate and analyze genomic and morphological data to provide insights into the diversification of S. letnica within Lake Ohrid
- Select SNPs and develop SNP panels for parentage-based analysis
- Develop a parentage-based tagging program in collaboration with hatcheries in North Macedonia and Albania
- Communicate project results to project collaborators, funders, and commercial fishing communities
- Lead the publication of results in peer-reviewed scientific journals and present research findings at scientific conferences
- Contribute to grant proposals and community outreach activities
- Mentor students when appropriate
Salary: ~$61,000 + fringe benefits for 2 years. Supplementary funding or extension through collaborative fundraising may be possible. The candidate will be supported in developing grant writing skills and applying for relevant external funding (e.g., GLFC, GLFT, NSF).
To apply: Send a one-page cover letter describing your strengths and why you believe this position is the right fit for you, a two-page CV, and names and contact information of two references to Thaïs (thais.bernos@uvm.edu). Submit documents as a single PDF file named “[your last name]_OhridTrout.pdf”.
Deadline: We will start reviewing applications on December 15th, 2025.