PhD position, evolution of sex differences in ageing, Department of Animal Ecology, Uppsala University

PhD position in the evolution of sex differences in ageing is available
at the Department of Animal Ecology, Uppsala University, Sweden in
Alexei Maklakov's lab. The position is funded by an ERC Starting Grant
2010.
This position is part of large research program with a primary objective
to understand the evolution of sex differences in lifespan, and in
reproductive and cognitive ageing. The current project will focus on the
interactions between sex, learning, memory and ageing in the dioecious
nematode worm /Caenorhabditis remanei/, a recently established model
system in our lab. These animals offer fantastic opportunities for
experimental work on sex-specific trade-offs. The project is in
collaboration with Dr. Niclas Kolm from our department and will combine
experimental evolution and behavioural ecology approaches. There is a
possibility to develop and apply an RNAi knockdown technique in
collaboration with Dr. Andrea Hinas from Biomedical Centre at UU. The
main direction of the project will be shaped by a student reflecting
his/her interests.
Applicants should have a MSc (or equivalent) in biology/ecology and a
strong interest in evolutionary biology. Special interest in the
evolution of life-histories and/or sexual selection is a plus. The
project is supervised by Alexei Maklakov and the candidate will receive
her/his postgraduate training within the postgraduate school at the
Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC). The candidate will join an
interprogram Ageing Research Group, which will open many opportunities
for collaborative projects with other group members. The working
atmosphere is international with English as working language.
This position is financed for four full years, and the successful
candidate will receive a postgraduate fellowship the first year (15.500
SEK/month) and a postgraduate position year 2-4 (22.400 - 25.100 SEK/month).
*Important points: The position is open until filled. To start as soon
as possible, but the exact starting date can be negotiated.*
**
Applications should include: 1) short letter of interest / background (2
pages max); 2) complete CV; 3) a description of undergraduate training;
4) a copy of undergraduate degree and 5) the names and e-mail addresses
of 2-3 referees. Applications should be sent by e-mail to
Alexei.Maklakov(at)ebc.uu.se (replace
(at) with @ to dodge spammers).
Alternatively, send hardcopies to the following address: Alexei
Maklakov, Animal Ecology, EBC, Norbyvägen 18D, Uppsala University,
SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden. Please feel free to contact me via e-mail for
more information.
*Links: *
*Maklakov
Lab:*http://www.ebc.uu.se/Research/IEG/zooeko/People/Alexei_Maklakov/
*Ageing Research
Group:*http://www.ebc.uu.se/Research/groups/ageing/projects/
*EBC:*http://www.ebc.uu.se/index_eng.php

We are looking for a PhD student to study quantitative trait variation
in a long-term study of mountain goats. The study is a long-term
collaboration between Steeve Côté (Laval University) and Dave Coltman
(University of Alberta). The research involves demanding fieldwork at
Caw Ridge, Alberta, for several weeks per year as well as genotyping
and DNA sequencing in a state of the art molecular ecology laboratory.
Prospective candidates must have an M.Sc. or B.Sc. (Hons.) degree with
research experience in evolutionary ecology and be competitive for
institutional, provincial and national scholarships. Canadians and
non-Canadians are welcome to apply.
The student will be based at the University of Alberta, Department of
Biological Sciences (http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/programs/graduate)
in the Coltman lab
(http://www.biology.ualberta.ca/faculty/david_coltman/). PhD students
in Biological Sciences have access to 5 years of guaranteed funding.

If you have some combination of the following qualifications and assets:
- field experience
- molecular ecology laboratory experience
- background in population or quantitative genetics
- publication track record
- experience in or willingness to learn bioinformatics and genomics
- ability to work in a team
- fluency in English and familiarity with French (or better)
and you wish to apply, contact Dave Coltman (dcoltman@ualberta.ca)
with your CV, statement of research interests, and names of 2
referees.

Two PhD positions, School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland

Two PhD positions, in the School of Biological Sciences at the
University of Auckland and funded by the Allan Wilson Centre for
Molecular Ecology and Evolution, are available in insect genomics and
genome evolution. These positions will be based at Landcare Research
on the Tamaki campus of the University of Auckland. Both students
will be primarily supervised by Thomas Buckley and co-supervised by
Richard Newcomb and Howard Ross, all of the Allan Wilson Centre and the
University of Auckland. The successful candidates will have an interest
and experience in bioinformatic analysis of genomic data and computational
evolutionary biology.
Project 1: Genome evolution, speciation and molecular population genetics
of giant weta. Giant weta (Insecta, Orthoptera) are the largest insects on earth
and some species are highly endangered. This project involves genome
sequencing a species of giant weta using Illumina technology, followed by
genome assembly, annotation and comparative analysis. The draft genome
will be used as a template for downstream transcriptome and RAD-tag
studies of variation within and among other giant weta species. The
transcriptome studies will target various phenotypic characteristics such
as reproductive and sensory processes. The data will be used to examine
processes of adaptation within and among species. The conservation
implications of these data will be an important aspect of the research.

Project 2: Genome evolution, speciation and molecular population genetics
of stick insects. The common stick insect (Clitarchus hookeri) is widespread through
much of New Zealand. This species is particularly interesting at it is
a geographic parthenogen and is closely related to other species, one
of which it has hybridized with. The successful candidate will perform
Illumina sequencing and assemble and annotate a draft genome of this
stick insect species. The draft genome will be used as a scaffold for
further RAD-tag studies of SNP variation within C. hookeri and among
closely related species. Transcriptome data will also be collected and
mapped to the draft genome for study of various phenotypic traits and
selection and adaptation. Variation will be measured and compared within
and among populations of C. hookeri and with closely related species.

Funding includes a $25,000 NZD per year scholarship and $5,000 for tuition fees.
For more information and host institutions and supervisors' research
interests see the following links:
http://www.allanwilsoncentre.ac.nz/
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/
Associate Professor Thomas Buckley
http://www.bioscienceresearch.co.nz/staff/thomas_buckley/
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/staff_page.asp?staff_num=3D1110
Associate Professor Richard Newcomb
http://www.bioscienceresearch.co.nz/staff/richard-newcomb/
Dr Howard Ross
http://www.bioscienceresearch.co.nz/staff/howard-ross/

To apply for either of these position please contact Thomas Buckley
at the email address below. Potential candidates should submit a CV,
two references, and a short statement of research interests to:
Thomas Buckley
Research Group Leader, Landcare Research
Associate Professor, University of Auckland
buckleyt@landcareresearch.co.nz
http://www.landcareresearch.co.nz/research/staff_page.asp?staff_num=1110

PhD student, Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany

We are a seeking a motivated PhD student to join our research team
working on the interaction of evolution and ecology at the Max Planck
Institute for Evolutionary Biology in Plön, Germany.
Evolution in action has recently been recognized as an important
player for many ecological interactions. It is now well recognized
that evolutionary change can affect the interaction between species
within in a few generations and that ecological interactions may
influence the outcome of evolution in return. This project uses fast
growing aquatic organisms (algae, viruses, rotifers) that allow
tracking of evolutionary change and ecological dynamics in combination
with subsequent analysis through mathematical modeling. For details of
the study system refer to Becks et al. 2010 Ecology Letters, Becks &
Agrawal 2010 Nature, Ellner & Becks 2011 Theoretical Ecology.
We are looking for a highly motivated ecologist or evolutionary
biologist to join our newly formed group ?Community dynamics? at the
Max Planck institute for Evolutionary Biology. The ideal candidate is
fascinated by evolutionary and ecological questions, independent and
creative. She/he has a background in evolutionary biology, population
or community ecology and has worked with aquatic systems before. A MSc
(or equivalent) in Biology is required. For more information on the
project contact Lutz Becks (lbecks@evolbio.mpg.de).
The position is funded for three years, starting as soon as January
2012. Please apply by sending your CV, including the email addresses
of two referees, and a letter of motivation to Lutz Becks
(lbecks@evolbio.mpg.de). Review of applications will continue until
the position is filled.
The Max Planck Society is an equal opportunity employer.
LBecks@uni-koeln.de

PhD-position: Univ Tuebingen - Sexual selection

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate with a genuine interest
in reproductive and evolutionary biology to conduct and coordinate a
3-year German Science Foundation (DFG) funded project on sexually
selected traits and their evolution. Candidates with a Diplom/Master
degree in Biology or a related field should preferentially have
experience in designing behavioural experiments and/or in molecular
techniques (microsatellite/SNP genotyping). The annual salary according
to German TV-L E13 (50%) allows a good living and approximates 15,000€
after taxes depending on experience and marital status.
The project at the Animal Evolutionary Ecology group
(http://www.evoeco.uni-tuebingen.de/) aims at quantifying how the social
environment and within-individual trade-offs affect the sex-specific
intensity and direction of sexual selection in a hermaphroditic model
system, the freshwater snail Biomphalaria glabrata. A basic framework
for integrating effects of self-fertilisation and variation in offspring
quality into fitness quantifications has recently been developed (Anthes
et al. 2010, Amer. Nat. 176:249-263) and seeks innovative further
development within this project.
Applicants preferentially submit a single pdf-file containing a short
motivation letter, a CV including 2 reference addresses, and a brief
summary of their thesis to nils.anthes@uni-tuebingen.de. Applications
will be reviewed until the position has been filled. In case of equal
quality, applicants with disabilities will be preferred. The University
of Tuebingen aims at increasing the representation of women and
therefore encourages female students to apply.

Dr. Nils Anthes
Animal Evolutionary Ecology Group
University of Tuebingen
Faculty of Science, Dep. of Biology
Institute of Evolution and Ecology
Auf der Morgenstelle 28
D-72076 Tuebingen, Germany
E-Mail: nils.anthes@uni-tuebingen.de
http://www.evoeco.uni-tuebingen.de/

PhD, Institute Cavanilles for Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (University of Valencia, Spain)

The Institute Cavanilles for Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology (University of Valencia, Spain) offers a 4-year PhD fellowship under the supervision of Dr. Rafael Sanjuán to work on virus mutation and evolution. The project, funded by the European Research Council, aims at studying mutational processes in several RNA viruses including HIV-1 and hepatitis C virus. For more information on the research group, please visit www.uv.es/rsanjuan
Candidates should contact Rafael Sanjuán by email (rafael.sanjuan@uv.es)

Ph D, Institute of Evolutionary Biology. Barcelona, Spain. Adaptive evolution

Institute of Evolutionary Biology. Barcelona, Spain. Adaptive evolution
A PhD position is available at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint research institute between the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Pompeu Fabra Universityvie
A PhD position is available at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology (IBE), a joint research institute between the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the Pompeu Fabra University (UPF) located in Barcelona, Spain. The student will join a collaborative research group studying the molecular process and functional consequences of adaptation.
The project includes a combination of state-of-the-art and classical techniques such as next-generation sequencing data, population genetics, gene expression and experimental evolution analyses that will be applied to the study of mutations identified in natural populations.
We are looking for highly motivated candidates willing to work both independently and in collaboration with other members of the research group. Applicants should have a degree in Biology or a related field. In addition, laboratory experience in molecular genetics and/or computational biology is desired.
Interested candidates should send a CV and statement of interest to Dr. Josefa González: josefa.gonzalez@ibe.upf-csic.es
A first round of applications will be accepted until 15th September 2011.
Later applications will be accepted until 15th December 2011.
Josefa González, PhD
Ramon y Cajal Researcher
Institut de Biologia Evolutiva
Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta 37-49
Barcelona, 08003. Spain.
www.stanford.edu/~jgonzalp