Research Assistant Positions at Purdue University Fort Wayne
Summer 2025
Job Summary
We are currently seeking applications for research assistant positions supervised by Prof. Alessandro Maria Selvitella (Webpage - Google Scholar), at Purdue University Fort Wayne for Summer 2025. These positions will support the research of Prof. Selvitella's lab and they will focus on developing new mathematical and statistical tools for the study of the laws that govern morphology and biomechanics of animals and humans through growth. These positions will benefit from and contribute to the many activities of Prof. Selvitella's lab, such as: Thematic Program on the Mathematical Laws on Morphology and Biomechanics 2021 - ongoing, the annual Workshop in Mathematical and Computational Biology (2021 and 2022), and the Midwest Workshop of Women in Experimental Biology: Towards an Integration of Modern Machine Learning Methods to the Biological Sciences 2022. The positions are particularly interesting for people with strong mathematical and statistical expertise.
Application Procedure
Interested candidates should submit: (i) an up-to-date CV/resume, (ii) two reference letters, and (iii) a letter of interest to Prof. Selvitella at aselvite@pfw.edu. The letter of interest should describe your background, why you are interested in these topics, and how the positions advertised in this notice are in line with your long-term career goals. Applicants must be eligible to work in the US and must be able to show that proof within 3 days of hire. Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. Full consideration will be given to those applications submitted not later than 11th April 2025. We will not provide applicants with written or verbal feedback on their applications, if not selected.
Responsibilities
The research assistants will lead their research projects under the supervision of Prof. Selvitella and will have the opportunity to interact with other students in Prof. Selvitella's lab and with his collaborators. The research assistants will:
• Work with Prof. Selvitella on a specific research project centered on the development of new statistical and mathematical methods for the study of the governing laws of morphology and biomechanics through ontogeny.
• Perform statistical analysis of datasets of interest to the project using statistical software such as R, Python, and/or Matlab.
• Prepare manuscripts and research reports on the assigned project.
• Report to Prof. Selvitella on progress/activities once per week (1hr meetings).
Required Qualifications
These positions require theoretical and applied knowledge of fundamental statistical and mathematical concepts typically obtained through specific education and training. Required qualifications include:
• Minimum: Being enrolled in a junior or senior year in a BS program in mathematics, statistics, or data science. MS and PhD students are welcome to apply.
• Project management skills.
• Problem solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal English language communication skills.
• Collaborative skills for working well in a team environment.
• Proficiency in statistical software (e.g. R, Python, Matlab).
Preferred Qualifications:
• Strong background in statistics and mathematics (3 years experience).
• Strong collaborative skills for working well in a team environment.
• Research experience in theoretical statistics, differential equations, or differential geometry.
• High Proficiency in statistical software (e.g. R, Python, Matlab).
Funding Source
These positions are funded through the NSF grant on RUI: Collaborative Research: DMS/NIGMS 1: The mathematical laws of morphology and biomechanics through ontogeny, Award # 2152789. PIs: Prof. Alessandro Maria Selvitella (Purdue University) and Prof. Kathleen Lois Foster (Ball State University).
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Alessandro Maria Selvitella
Department of Mathematical Sciences & Laboratory of Data Science
Purdue University Fort Wayne
Fort Wayne, Indiana