Join Us

The Schultz Lab in the Department of Biological Sciences at Lehigh University is recruiting postdoctoral researchers and PhD students! Undergraduate recruiting will begin in Fall Semester 2026!

Piloting an ROV dive from the control room aboard a research vessel
Piloting an ROV dive in Monterey Bay
Darrin Schultz on the deck of a research vessel next to an ROV
Sampling with ROV Doc Ricketts
Scuba diving in open blue water for specimen collection
Blue-water diving for ctenophores
A stalked crinoid (sea lily) on the deep-sea floor
A stalked crinoid on the deep-sea floor

We study animal evolution using chromosome-scale comparative genomics, focusing on the origin and diversification of animals and their close relatives, the evolution and regulation of their genomes, and adaptations and radiations in the sea. Thousands of animal genomes are now available at chromosome scale, but we’ve barely begun to compare them at the scale of the tree of life. Candidates will have the chance to work with these new data types to answer fundamental questions in biology. The Schultz lab is also part of Lehigh Oceans, a growing network of ocean scientists at Lehigh, and we will have seawater facilities for long-term culture of jellies, sponges, and cold-adapted deep-sea organisms. As a new lab, each member will have a real influence on the culture and research direction of the group.

Postdoctoral Research Associate position poster — Evolutionary Genomics and Molecular Evolution at Lehigh University. PhD-level scientist, $62,232+ salary, 2-year renewable appointment, research cruises and fieldwork.

Click the poster to view full size.

Apply for the Postdoc Position

Lab Vision: 2026–2027

Our first year at Lehigh will be an exciting time to join. Students and postdocs joining now will help shape the direction and culture of the lab from the ground up. Here is a loose plan of how we imagine the first year:

Jul–Aug 2026 Arriving at Lehigh. Molecular lab and microscopy lab setup, jellyfish aquaculture, and first collections of comb jellies, sponges, and cnidarians from California and the Atlantic 🪸
Sep–Oct 2026 Molecular lab fully operational. First DNA/RNA extractions from summer collections 🧬
Nov–Dec 2026 Hawaii fieldwork. First genome sequencing libraries submitted 🌺
Jan–Mar 2027 Genome assembly and comparative analysis of summer/fall samples. Spring break fieldwork 🧮
Apr–Jun 2027 Building single-cell and multi-omic molecular resources. Summer fieldwork planning ⛴️

You will have the freedom to develop your own research questions within our broader themes, and the support to pursue ambitious, creative science. As a new lab, mentorship is a priority: you will work closely with Darrin and have a real voice in shaping the lab’s trajectory.

Open Positions

Now Hiring

Postdoctoral Researcher

There is a live postdoc job ad targeting a PhD-level researcher with strong genomics and programming skills. The ad is intentionally broad, and we hope candidates can dovetail with our existing research while bringing their own project ideas. Candidates with additional skills in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, or cruise-based fieldwork are especially encouraged to apply. The position is a two-year appointment with the possibility of renewal.

External Postdoctoral Fellowships

We are also interested in working with candidates to apply for external postdoctoral fellowships. Depending on nationality and career stage, options include:

The current NSF PRFB focuses on the intersection of AI and biological sciences, which pairs well with our work in comparative genomics and marine biology. The next deadline is September 29, 2026 (U.S. citizens and permanent residents only), so write soon to plan! For fellowships without a biomedical requirement (HFSP, LSRF, NSF PRFB), we welcome any project ideas that align with the lab’s research.

For biomedically focused fellowships (Helen Hay Whitney, Jane Coffin Childs), we are interested in exploring how chromosomal rearrangements affect human health and have biomedical applications, and an exceptional candidate could help shape this new research direction. Lehigh has strong resources for single-cell studies, including cell culture facilities, FACS sorters, and a mouse facility.

PhD Students

We are also recruiting PhD students from any academic background who are excited about integrating wet-lab and computational approaches to study animal evolution, genome evolution, or marine biology!

If you are interested in joining the lab, we are happy to help you develop a competitive NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) proposal. The GRFP is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are early in their graduate careers. The next deadline is expected in fall 2026.

PhD applicants should apply through the Lehigh University Department of Biological Sciences graduate program, and reach out by email.

Undergraduate Researchers

We welcome Lehigh undergraduates who are curious about animal evolution, genome evolution, or marine biology and want to get involved in research. Students who stay with the lab over multiple years will have the opportunity to contribute to peer-reviewed publications.

Get in Touch

If any of these opportunities interest you, or if you’re curious about our research for any reason, please send us an email to start a conversation. We’d love to hear from you!

Lehigh Biological Sciences Lehigh Oceans