Great! Check out the information below to see if we’re recruiting right now.
We’re interested in working with people who like to ask big, interesting questions and design targeted experiments to answer those questions. We particularly welcome new members who are independent, self-motivated, collaborative, and excited to learn. We encourage applicants from all backgrounds: our work thrives on the exchange of knowledge and ideas between people with diverse interests and life experiences.
Right now, you might be a good fit for the lab if you’re interested in the evolution and ecology of host-parasite interactions and are excited about tackling fundamental problems in these fields using diverse approaches, from experimental evolution to field work to theory. Our lab and field work centers on nematodes, both free-living and parasitic, and their symbionts.
Please see below for specific guidance on how to reach out if you’re looking for a position as a graduate student, postdoc, or undergraduate researcher. Also check out our lab expectations and values pages for more information on the type of community we aim to foster in the lab.
open positions
We have an open postdoctoral position in the lab! Start date is projected for May-June. The ad with link to apply below:
The Department of Biology at the University of Virginia invites applicants for a post-doctoral Research Associate position in the lab of Professor Amanda Gibson as part of an NSF-funded project. The Gibson lab is broadly interested in the evolution of avoidance versus resistance as modes of parasite defense. This project specifically tests the idea that host dispersal evolves as an escape in space from parasites, and it evaluates the downstream consequences of dispersal for the evolution of host resistance.
The work makes use of the experimental tools and resources available for the model nematode C. elegans and its natural parasites. Associated projects entail evolve-and-resequencing, quantitative trait mapping, and field sampling with spatial analyses. The selected candidate will also mentor undergraduate students in independent research projects through a summer program for incoming transfer students. Find out more about the lab at https://coevolving.org.
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:
· A PhD in Biology or a related field by the start date.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:
· Demonstrated conceptual and technical strengths in host-parasite interactions, evolutionary ecology, evolutionary genetics, and/or dispersal biology
· Experience in basic lab and molecular work
· A strong background in experimental design, data analysis, and data management
· Excellent written and oral communication, demonstrated by a strong publication record, consistent with the candidate’s career stage, and presentations at conferences
· Demonstrated ambition, creativity, independence, and ability to work well with others
· Experience in and dedication to mentoring junior trainees
APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Apply online https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs/job/Charlottesville-VA/Research-Associate-in-Biology_R0078709 and search for R0078709. Attach a cover letter outlining your qualifications and motivation for pursuing the position, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three individuals who can provide professional reference letters. In the cover letter, please address your fit with the qualifications above and your experience in mentoring undergraduates.
Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2026. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment.
Anticipated start date for this position is May, 2026, but the start date is flexible.
This is a one-year appointment; however, appointment may be renewed for additional two, one-year increments, contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance.
For questions about the position, please contact Amanda Gibson, Associate Professor, at akg5nq@virginia.edu.
For questions about the application process, please contact Richard Haverstrom, Academic Recruiter, at rkh6j@virginia.edu.
For information on the benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA, visit postdoc.virginia.edu and hr.virginia.edu/benefits.
The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment.
Prospective Graduate Students
I look forward to hearing from prospective PhD students with strong research backgrounds and an interest in the evolution of species interactions. To start, you can find information about the department, our PhD program, and Charlottesville at the departmental website and the EEB group’s site. We also have an NSF training program EXPAND to support interdisciplinary research, as well as broad career training and an inclusive community, with support from UVA’s PhD+ program. After you’ve checked those out, reach out to me via email – please describe your research experience and interests, attach your CV, and tell me why you’d fit well in my lab and in the EEB group here.
I do not take MS students into my lab.
PRospective Postdocs
In general: I encourage prospective postdocs whose research interests overlap with those of the lab. I’m excited to host postdoctoral fellows in the lab, so reach out to me via email to brainstorm funding options. USDA, NIH, and NSF are all potential sources of postdoctoral funding in the lab. We may also have positions funded through grants. When you contact me, please attach your CV, describe your research experience and interests, and tell me why you’re specifically interested in joining our lab group.
PRospective Undergraduates
We often have opportunities for undergraduates to contribute to research in the lab, both during the academic year and the summer. Depending on what we have going on, there may be positions or projects you can contribute to for research credit. To find out about current positions, email me with a description of who you are, why you’re interested in research, and what specifically appeals to you about our lab. Please include your CV and an unofficial transcript. Look here for helpful advice on how to contact faculty about joining their lab. Typically when positions open up, we advertise them in relevant courses and with the Undergraduate Research Network.
the Gibson Lab 