Meave Leakey Postdoctoral Fellowship – Stony Brook University HigherJobz

About Position/Job

Stony Brook University’s Turkana Basin Institute (TBI), founded by Dr. Richard Leakey, is offering the Meave Leakey Postdoctoral Scholar Fellowship in honour of Dr. Meave Leakey’s groundbreaking contributions to the study of human and primate evolution. The successful candidate will join the SHaPE (Studies in Human and Primate Evolution) Lab in the Department of Anthropology, a collaborative group focused on the evolutionary history of cercopithecoids, apes, and humans. This one-year appointment, with the possibility of extension, provides access to world-class fossil collections, cutting-edge analytical resources, and opportunities for fieldwork in the Turkana Basin. The fellowship is designed for early-career researchers eager to conduct independent and collaborative research, contribute to lab projects, and strengthen their academic portfolio in evolutionary anthropology.

Position/Job Details

Position: Meave Leakey Postdoctoral Scholar
Institution: Stony Brook University – Turkana Basin Institute
Department: Department of Anthropology, SHaPE Lab
Research field: Human and Primate Evolution, Biological Anthropology
Location: Stony Brook, New York, USA
Number of posts: 1
Job Type: Full-time, Temporary Postdoctoral Fellowship
Start Date (Anticipated): January 2026 (flexible)
Working Hours: 40 hours per week (Day shift, 8:30am – 5:00pm)
Salary Range: $54,000 – $70,000 + $4,000 location pay
Required Degree/Diploma: PhD

Research Area

Hominin, ape, and cercopithecoid evolution
Vertebrate palaeontology
Functional morphology and ontogeny
Taxonomy and phylogenetics
Evolutionary biology of the Turkana Basin

Eligibility & Qualifications

Minimum Requirements:

PhD in Biological Anthropology, Anatomy, Vertebrate Palaeontology, Evolutionary Biology, or related field (awarded by start date)
Evidence of research excellence and scholarly potential
Interest in collaborative and interdisciplinary research in the Turkana Basin

Preferred Qualifications:

Peer-reviewed publication record
Experience with 3D imaging software (Dragonfly, Avizo, VG Studio)
Proficiency with statistical programs (e.g., R)

Key Responsibilities

Conduct independent and collaborative research in human and primate evolution
Contribute to SHaPE Lab projects under faculty supervision (Mongle, Russo, Rossie, Grine)
Write manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals
Present at seminars, conferences, and lab meetings
Provide training and supervision to graduate and undergraduate researchers
Support lab management and methods training

Application Process

How to Apply:

Submit an online application via the Stony Brook University system. Include:

Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Cover letter (1–2 pages) outlining qualifications, career goals, and research interests
Contact information for 3 academic references

Required Documents: