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Evolutionary Biologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Platform Fellow

Emeryville, CA

$56K - $76K/yr

A Bit About Us We are Arcadia Science, an evolutionary biology company founded and led by scientists. Our mission is to turn natural innovations into real-world solutions by developing systematic and ...

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Evolutionary Biologist information

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$48.5K

$94K

$133.5K

How much do evolutionary biologist jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 20, 2026, the average yearly pay for evolutionary biologist in the United States is $93,988.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $70,500.00 and $117,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

How to make 100k a year with a biology degree?

An evolutionary biologist can earn $100,000 or more annually by working in academia, research institutions, government agencies, or private industry, often requiring advanced degrees such as a master's or Ph.D. Developing specialized skills, publishing research, and gaining experience in areas like conservation, genetics, or bioinformatics can increase earning potential. Additional certifications or proficiency with tools like R or Python may also enhance job prospects and salary levels.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive in the Evolutionary Biologist position, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Evolutionary Biologist, you need a solid background in biology and genetics, often supported by an advanced degree (Master’s or PhD) in evolutionary biology or a related field. Proficiency with analytical and statistical software (such as R, Python, or specialized genetic analysis tools), as well as experience with laboratory techniques or fieldwork, is highly valuable. Strong critical thinking, attention to detail, and excellent communication skills are essential for interpreting data, publishing research, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams. These competencies enable evolutionary biologists to effectively conduct rigorous research, contribute to scientific knowledge, and communicate findings to both scientific and public audiences.

What do you do as an evolutionary biologist?

An evolutionary biologist studies the processes that have led to the diversity of life on Earth, including natural selection, genetic variation, and adaptation. They often conduct fieldwork, laboratory experiments, and data analysis using tools like DNA sequencing and statistical software. Their work can involve research, teaching, and publishing scientific findings in academic journals.

What is the highest paid job in biology?

In biology, the highest paid roles are often in biomedical research, biotechnology executive positions, or specialized clinical roles such as medical scientists and pharmacologists, which require advanced degrees and extensive experience. These roles typically involve leadership, research management, or industry expertise and can offer salaries exceeding $150,000 annually.

What does an Evolutionary Biologist do?

An Evolutionary Biologist studies how species change over time through genetic variation, natural selection, and environmental influences. They analyze fossil records, genetic data, and behavioral traits to understand evolutionary relationships. Their work can be applied in conservation, medicine, and biotechnology. Many evolutionary biologists conduct field research, laboratory experiments, or computational modeling to explore evolutionary patterns.

Does NASA hire biologists?

NASA employs biologists, including evolutionary biologists, primarily in research roles related to astrobiology, life sciences, and planetary science. These positions often require advanced degrees, research experience, and knowledge of biological sciences, with work conducted in laboratory and field environments. Biologists at NASA contribute to understanding life's origins, adaptation, and potential extraterrestrial life.

What are some typical research settings or environments where Evolutionary Biologists work?

Evolutionary Biologists commonly work in a variety of settings, including universities, government research institutions, museums, and environmental organizations. Depending on their specific focus, they may divide their time between laboratory experiments, computational analyses in the office, and fieldwork in diverse outdoor environments. Collaborative projects are frequent, involving partnerships with other scientists, conservationists, or educators. The work environment tends to be dynamic and intellectually stimulating, with opportunities to contribute to peer-reviewed publications, grant writing, and public outreach efforts.

More about Evolutionary Biologist jobs
What cities are hiring for Evolutionary Biologist jobs? Cities with the most Evolutionary Biologist job openings:
What are the most commonly searched types of Evolutionary Biologist jobs? The most popular types of Evolutionary Biologist jobs are:
What states have the most Evolutionary Biologist jobs? States with the most job openings for Evolutionary Biologist jobs include:
What job categories do people searching Evolutionary Biologist jobs look for? The top searched job categories for Evolutionary Biologist jobs are:
Infographic showing various Evolutionary Biologist job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 86% Full Time, 12% Part Time, and 2% Temporary. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $93,988 per year, or $45.2 per hour.
Platform Fellow

Platform Fellow

Arcadia Science

Emeryville, CA

$56K - $76K/yr

Full-time

Posted 28 days ago


Job description

A Bit About Us
 
We are Arcadia Science, an evolutionary biology company founded and led by scientists. Our mission is to turn natural innovations into real-world solutions by developing systematic and quantitative approaches to leveraging biology for therapeutics R&D. We share our research as openly as possible to accelerate discovery and make our work broadly useful.
 
The Opportunity
 
We’re closing the gap between biological data and biological understanding. Our Platform team builds evolution-aware statistical and ML methods that use phylogeny as structure, making inference more reliable and more generalizable. The result is shared infrastructure that supports research across Arcadia. Read more about our work through our publications.
 
We are seeking a Platform Fellow to join our Platform team for a 3-month fellowship. Platform uses phylogeny to guide the development of many of our statistical models, machine learning tools, and evolutionary frameworks, powering research across Arcadia. This is an ideal opportunity for scientists in the final stages of their PhD or postdoc training who want to experience industry research in an open science environment, or for researchers looking to apply their quantitative skills to evolutionary biology in new ways.
 
Platform Fellows will work closely with our computational teams on projects at the intersection of machine learning, statistics, and evolutionary biology. Fellows will contribute to a defined project with the goal of publishing their work openly by the end of the fellowship.
 
Areas of Focus
 
We are looking for candidates with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
 
- Probabilistic modeling and statistical inference
- Supervised and unsupervised learning for high-dimensional biological data
- Interpretability methods development for ML models
- Phylogenetic inference and evolutionary modeling
- Comparative and evolutionary genomics across species
- Quantitative and population genetics, including human genetics
- Analysis of natural selection, adaptation, and trait evolution
- Statistical and machine learning approaches to quantitative genetics
What You'll Do
  • Work with Platform team members on a defined computational project aligned with Arcadia's research goals
  • Independently manage your fellowship work, troubleshooting issues as they arise
  • Keep detailed documentation for all workflows, code, and analyses
  • Publish results openly and share data, code, and methods by the end of the fellowship
Qualifications
  • PhD in computational biology, statistics, machine learning, genetics, evolutionary biology, or a related quantitative field
  • Strong programming skills (Python and/or R required; familiarity with bash and version control)
  • Experience with statistical modeling, machine learning, or phylogenetic methods
  • Ability to work independently while collaborating with cross-functional teams
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills
Fellows will receive a competitive monthly stipend. Travel and relocation support is available for candidates relocating temporarily to the Bay Area.
What We Look For
 
The first thing we look for is technical talent at the leading edge of a field. To us, this means independent and generative scientists doing basic research that has the potential to produce evidence challenging standard practices. This is true for all of our roles: whether someone is an individual contributor or a people manager, we want researchers pushing their field forward.
 
For this role in particular, we are looking for scientists who want to apply quantitative methods to biological questions across the tree of life. The ideal candidate is comfortable with ambiguity, moves quickly, and communicates clearly through writing. Our team is flexible and often needs to pivot to match the pace of development at the cutting edge of multiple fields. Writing independently is crucial since we share everything we think is valuable to the community and will help us move our research forward.
 
We try to develop novel approaches for every aspect of our science, and everyone on our team is expected to innovate in their domain. This is not easy, and won't be for everyone. We believe a culture where this is possible stems from how we act.
 
Application Process
 
Interested applicants should apply using the link. We expect to review applications at a monthly cadence.
 
Due to anticipated volume, we may not be able to respond to all applicants. If you advance beyond initial review, we will let you know.