Post-Doctoral Scientist - CREW

Position title

Post-Doctoral Scientist

Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden (AZA Member)

Cincinnati, OH, United States

Job (two-year, full-time, grant-funded position partially supported by the IMLS National Leadership Grants program)

The Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW) at the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden is seeking to hire a Post-Doctoral Scientist to join our team. This is a two-year, full-time, grant-funded position, partially supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) National Leadership Grants program and offers a unique opportunity to conduct high-impact research at the interface of –omics and wildlife biology.

This role provides an exceptional, immersive training opportunity for a highly motivated early-career scientist eager to translate cutting‑edge –omics technologies into practical tools for wildlife monitoring and conservation. The Post‑Doctoral Scientist will play a central role in advancing an IMLS‑funded project supporting CREW’s Polar Bear Signature Project, with an emphasis on developing and validating molecular approaches that can be deployed to better understand and conserve bears (Ursidae).

Rather than discovery alone, this work is intentionally geared toward advancing understanding of reproductive processes while identifying and rigorously validating physiological biomarkers that can be translated into reliable, scalable tools, such as biomarker‑based assays and monitoring techniques, to improve conservation and management decision‑making for both zoo‑managed and wild bears. By linking controlled studies in zoo‑managed populations with applications relevant to free‑ranging bears, the research generated through this position will directly inform strategies for monitoring, managing, and conserving bear populations both in situ and ex situ.

The position has two primary, interrelated scientific responsibilities, both central to the success of the project:
1) Lead the design, analysis and interpretation of proteomics datasets, particularly those derived from extracellular vesicles (EVs). Because many wildlife species lack well‑annotated reference genomes or proteomes, this role requires creativity and expertise in bioinformatics approaches tailored to non‑model organisms. The candidate will be expected to navigate sparse reference data and extract biologically meaningful interactions relevant to pregnancy and embryonic development.
2) Validate and optimize serum‑based multiplex assays for reproductive and wellness biomarkers. This includes communication and coordination with multiple institutions, assay performance evaluation, cross‑species applicability, analytical validation, and biological interpretation in the context of reproductive state and health. This component of the position is critical for translating molecular discoveries into practical tools that can be applied in zoo‑managed and, ultimately, wild populations.

• Fecal hormone analyses via ELISAs
• Gamete collection, cryopreservation, and biobanking
• Evaluation of other non‑ and minimally invasive monitoring techniques

Candidates should have a Ph.D. in biological sciences or a related field; exceptionally strong candidates with a M.S. and substantial proteomics or bioinformatics may also be considered.

• Demonstrated expertise in bioinformatics, with emphasis on proteomics, lipidomics, and/or sequencing‑based datasets; experience working with complex or non‑model organisms is highly valued
• Background or coursework in mammalian reproductive physiology
• Proficiency with statistical and data analysis software (e.g., R/RStudio)
• A peer‑reviewed publication record demonstrating the ability to conduct research, along with motivation to complete and publish research.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with diverse audiences including scientists, animal care staff, students, volunteers, donors, collaborators, and the general public
• Willingness to travel up to six times…