Exopaleontology positions

From
Date
The Space Science Division of NASA Ames Research Center anticipates
openings for one or more Research Scientists at the entry level in the
field of Exobiology and is soliciting letters of interest from
otential candidates. Research in Exobiology is a major element of
SA's new program in Astrobiology and includes organic cosmochemistry,
the origin of life, biological evolution and its relationship to
planetary evolution. Candidates for consideration should have a Ph.D.
degree, postdoctoral experience and show exceptional promise in
developing an active research program in their field. These positions
will require the candidate(s) to conduct independent, peer reviewed
research and to interact and collaborate with a broadly
multidisciplinary research group in Exobiology including
icrobiologists, geologists, organic chemists, theoretical
biophysicists and paleontologists. Candidates should show evidence of
productive research achievements, as evidenced by scholarly
publications and/or funded research activity in one or more of the
following relevant fields of interest:

Molecular / Structural Biology.

This field includes experimental studies of peptide-based and/or
nucleic acid-based models of auto-catalytic, self-reproducing and
evolving systems in the context of the origin of cellular life.
Interest in collaborating with theorists working in the same area is
expected.

Molecular Paleontology / Evolutionary Biology.

This area combines molecular biology and evolutionary paleobiology. It
requires the application of molecular genetics to the phylogenetic
analysis of major organism groups and the evaluation of data of the
fossil record for constraints on the timing of major evolutionary
events in the history of the biosphere.

Biogeochemistry / Organic Geochemistry.

In this arena, the disciplines of microbiology, biochemistry, and/or
analytical-organic chemistry are combined with use of modern
analytical tools to identify and characterize molecular and isotopic
biomarkers in ecosystems in extreme environments, ancient rocks and
Mars meteorites.

Letters of interest, accompanied by a curriculum vitae, list of
publications, names of three professional references and a statement
of research interests should be sent to Dr. Sherwood Chang, Exobiology
Branch, M/S 239-4, NASA-Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035
or E-Mail to exobiology@mail.arc.nasa.gov.

For more information about Exobiology at Ames Research Center visit
our web site at http://exobiology.nasa.gov.
Only US citizens will be considered.
Salary and GS level will be commensurate with experience.
NASA/Ames Research Center is an equal opportunity employer.





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Dr. Norman MacLeod
Micropalaeontological Research
N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk (E-mail)

Department of Palaeontology, The Natural History Museum,
Cromwell Road, London, SW7 5BD

Office Phone: 0171-938-9006
Dept. FAX: 0171-938-9277
E-mail: N.MacLeod@nhm.ac.uk
___________________________________________________________________