The Missouri Botanical Garden (MBG) seeks to hire a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow to work in the lab of Dr. Matthew Austin on a project investigating how hyperspectral scans of Herbarium specimens can be used for taxonomic identification and trait prediction. The candidate will (1) collect hyperspectral data from taxonomically diverse Herbarium specimens, (2) use machine learning to analyze the resolution of taxonomic identification and accuracy of trait prediction that can be achieved with hyperspectral data, (3) prepare and submit manuscripts for publication, and (4) assist MBG scientists with other research-related activities, including mentoring of students and technicians, participating in outreach events and workshops, and presenting research lectures. This person will also have the opportunity to explore other novel applications of hyperspectral data in the biodiversity sciences.

This position is part of MBG’s Revolutionizing Species Identification (RSI) project. The RSI project – made possible by an anonymous $14.4 million grant – is digitizing MBG’s entire herbarium (of nearly 8 million specimens) and is harnessing specimen data to develop new technology to automatically identify herbarium specimens. The successful candidate will work closely with MBG scientists and colleagues to carry out this groundbreaking initiative.

The position will be based in St. Louis, which is home to a collaborative community of ecologists, evolutionary biologists, and data scientists that interact through partnerships among MBG, Washington University in St. Louis, the University of Missouri – St. Louis, Saint Louis University, and other area institutions. This position is based in the Herbarium, a department within MBG’s Science and Conservation Division, which manages MBG’s world-class Herbarium and conducts specimen-based research in the furtherance of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration.