********************GradStudentPositions******************** Ph.D. Position in Endocrinology of Polyploids. The Leary lab in the Department of Biology (biology.olemiss.edu) at the University of Mississippi is looking for a Ph.D. student with strong interests in endocrinology. The candidate will be involved in a funded research project aimed at understanding how polyploidization has impacted neuroendocrine regulation in gray treefrogs. The candidate will learn mechanisms of endocrine control, hormone manipulation procedures, radioimmunoassay, and bioacoustics and will be directly involved in field data collection from populations of frogs across the eastern United States. Background in neuroendocrinology, radioimmunoassay procedures, or experience working with amphibians is highly desirable but not required. Required Qualifications: A strong interest in research involving amphibians and endocrinology. Ability to work long hours in the field at night. This position is for a term of up to three years as a research assistant during the Spring and Summer and will be supplemented with departmental teaching assistantships during the Fall semester. Please send inquiries to Christopher Leary (cjleary@olemiss.edu). Proposed Start Date: Fall semester 2024 or sooner. Christopher J Leary (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** We are looking for an enthusiastic and highly motivated PhD-candidate who is eager to study the ecological consequences of sexual size dimorphism using mathematical models. You will be embedded in the Theoretical and Computational department, which is part of the Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED) at the Faculty of Science at the University of Amsterdam. In the animal kingdom, we commonly see species where one sex is larger than the other - a phenomenon called sexual size dimorphism. Despite remarkable differences between the sexes, these are not present early in life for most species. Because many differences between the sexes arise during an individual's development, the ecological conditions experienced early in life influence the expression of sexual dimorphism later in life. To understand the ecological consequences of sexual size dimorphism, we need to know how early-life growth and development shape differences between the sexes. What are you going to do? In this project, you will develop sex- and size-structured population models to study how plasticity in growth in body size during development affects the ecological consequences of sexual size dimorphism. You will use numerical continuation techniques and mathematical bifurcation analyses to analyse these models. While this is mainly a theoretical and computational research project, it is possible and highly encouraged to also carry out some experimental lab work at the University of Karlstad (Sweden) to test model predictions with an empirical fruit fly system. As long as it fits in the general topic of this research position, you will have flexibility in choosing the questions you wish to investigate. Possible questions that you may address for this project are: * How do changes in early life growth rate and the size at first reproduction affect population dynamics and species persistence in sexual size dimorphic species? * How does food availability and size-specific mortality shape sexual size dimorphism, and, vice versa, how do differences in size between the sexes affect the feedback on food availability and population dynamics? * What is the effect of resource segregation between the sexes or between life-stages on the ecological dynamics of sexual dimorphic populations? * How is sexual size dimorphism shaped by evolution, resource availability, and developmental plasticity? Application deadline: 20 May 2024 For more information please visit https://vacatures.uva.nl/UvA/job/PhD-Candidate-in-Theoretical-Ecology/793274302/ Hanna ten Brink (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Graduate position: 2 year postdoctoral researcher (0.8 FTE) in Evolutionary Genomics University of Zurich, Department of Evolutionary Anthropology - Evolutionary Genetics Group The Evolutionary Genetics Group (www.michaelkruetzenlab.org) at the Department of Evolutionary Anthropology (www.iea.uzh.ch) at the University of Zurich, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our dynamic and collaborative group consisting of postocs, PhD and MSc students. Our group focuses on advancing our understanding of evolutionary processes through genomic analyses, with a particular emphasis on the genetic diversity and adaptation of dolphins and orangutans. Position Overview: The successful candidate will play a key role in conducting evolutionary genomic analyses, utilizing existing genomic data from orangutans and dolphins (www.sharkbaydolphins.org). The position requires expertise in handling and analyzing large scale genomic data and proficiency in coding languages (Python, Bash, R). The researcher will actively contribute to ongoing projects, collaborate with team members, and to some extent also will be able to independently pursue research in the field of evolutionary genetics using existing dolphin and orang-utan data. Qualifications: * PhD in Evolutionary Genomics or a related field. * Expertise in handling and analyzing large scale genomic data. * Proficiency in coding languages: Python, Bash, and R. * Strong analytical and problem-solving skills. * Excellent written and verbal communication skills. * Ability to work independently and collaboratively. Remuneration: The remuneration for this position is in accordance with the University of Zurich's salary scales (18/03, 0.8 FTE, CHF 80'192 pa). Starting date of the position is 1 August 2024. The position is initially for two years but could potentially be extended depending on the acquisition of additional funding. About the Evolutionary Genetics Group: Our group combines important questions in classical behavioural ecology (cooperation, culture, drivers of social structure) with genomic approaches (eDNA, aDNA, full genome sequencing), dedicated to unraveling the genetic mechanisms driving adaptation and diversity in non-human populations. We combine long-term fieldwork data with computational approaches to address fundamental questions in evolutionary biology. About the University of Zurich: The University of Zurich is one of Switzerland's leading research universities. Renowned for its academic excellence and commitment to innovation, the university provides a vibrant, diverse, and inclusive academic environment. The Department of Evolutionary Anthropology fosters interdisciplinary research and collaboration, offering state-of-the-art facilities and a supportive community for scientific exploration. Living in Switzerland: Switzerland is known of its beautiful landscapes, high quality of life, and multicultural atmosphere. Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland, offers a unique blend of urban sophistication and natural beauty. With excellent public transportation, cultural attractions, and a reputation for safety, Zurich provides an ideal setting for both professional and personal growth. Application Deadline: Applications should be submitted by 30 May 2023. To apply, please send a motivation letter, CV, a copy of the PhD certificate and contact information for at least two references to michael.kruetzen@uzh.ch in one single document. The University of Zurich is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We encourage diversity and inclusion in our workplace. Michael Krützen (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** The Evolutionary Genomics Laboratory in the Division of Science at New York University Abu Dhabi seeks to appoint TWO post-doctoral Associates starting September 1, 2024 (later starting dates are possible). Position 1: Postdoctoral position in comparative genomics The successful applicant will conduct comparative genomics analyses on a wide diversity of organisms studied in the lab, including vertebrates, insects and plants. The main foci of these analyses will be (1) the identification of genes and genomic features that have evolved adaptively and (2) the evolution of transposable elements in a phylogenetic context. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to develop an autonomous line of research related to the interests of the lab in evolutionary genomics. Motivated applicants with a strong background in evolutionary biology and who are interested in leading cross-disciplinary research are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree in Biology. Significant experience in one or more of the following is strongly desired: comparative genomics, phylogenetics, transposable elements biology. Excellent communication skills in English, the ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams, and scientific creativity are essential. Position 2: Postdoctoral position in population genomics The successful applicant will conduct population genomics analyses on a wide diversity of organisms studied in the lab, including vertebrates, insects and plants. The main foci of these analyses will be (1) reconstructing population structure and demography and (2) identifying genes and genomic regions that have evolved adaptively. The successful applicant will have the opportunity to develop an autonomous line of research related to the interests of the lab in evolutionary genomics. Motivated applicants with a strong background in evolutionary biology and who are interested in leading cross-disciplinary research are encouraged to apply. Successful candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree in Biology. Significant experience in one or more of the following is strongly desired: experience analyzing whole genome resequencing data, experience in demographic inference from genomic data, experience in selection detection methods. Excellent communication skills in English, the ability to work in multi-disciplinary teams, and scientific creativity are essential. How to apply: For consideration, applicants need to submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae with full publication list, statement of research interests and three letters of reference, all in PDF format. If you have any questions, please email Prof. Stephane Boissinot at sb5272@nyu.edu. The terms of employment are very competitive and include housing and educational subsidies for children. Applications will be accepted immediately and candidates will be considered until the position is filled. To be considered, all applicants must submit a cover letter, curriculum vitae, transcript of degree, a one-page summary of research accomplishments and interests, and at least 2 letters of recommendation, all in PDF format. Please visit our website at https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/about/careers/postdoctoral-and-research.html for instructions and information on how to apply. If you have any questions, please email: mrasras@nyu.edu. About NYUAD: NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU's global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities. Stephane Boissinot, Ph.D. Professor of Biology, NYU Abu Dhabi Global Network Professor of Biology, Faculty of Arts and Science, NYU Director, Center for Genomics and Systems Biology Saadiyat Island campus P.O. Box 129188 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates http://www.boissinotlab.squarespace.com https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/research/faculty-labs-and-projects/nyuad-cgsb.html Office (UAE): +971 2 628 4790 Stephane Boissinot (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** *POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN COMPARATIVE ONCOLOGY: * *EVOLUTION OF CANCER RESISTANCE AND SOMATIC MUTATION RATE IN MAMMALS* The research teams led by Mathieu Giraudeau (LIENSs, University of La Rochelle, France) working on the evolution of cancer resistance in wild organisms and by Alex Cagan (University of Cambridge, UK) working on the accumulation of somatic mutations are recruiting a new postdoctoral researcher. The position is fully funded for 2 years by a Chaire d'Excellence Nouvelle Aquitaine to Mathieu Giraudeau. The postdoc hired will spend time in France and the UK (the time spent at each university can be discussed). We are looking for candidates with a background in evolutionary biology who could ideally start between September and December 2024, though this is open to discussion. *Project information* The etiology of cancer in humans and laboratory model organisms (e.g. rats) has received ample attention, but many aspects of cancer remain poorly understood or seriously understudied. For instance, it is now widely recognized that cancer not only affects humans but also occurs in nearly every vertebrate species of the animal kingdom, from rodents to whales, in various stages from precancerous lesions to final stages, called metastatic cancers. However, despite increasing interest, our knowledge of cancer in wildlife is extremely limited, even regarding its prevalence in major vertebrate clades, its causes, consequences, life history, genetic or physiological predictors or how environmental change contributes to emerging cancer cases. Accurate estimates on cancer in wildlife promise extremely valuable information on oncogenic processes, as the limited research conducted on non-standard model organisms already provided tremendous insights into the natural mechanisms of cancer resistance. For example, very low cancer rates are ensured by duplications of the TP53 tumour suppressor gene in elephants, overproduction of high molecular mass hyaluronan in the naked mole rats9, interferon-mediated concerted cell death in the blind mole rat and reduced growth hormone insulin-like growth factor-1 signaling and microRNA changes in bats. Despite its value, robust cancer prevalence data on animals was surprisingly limited until the publication of our recent paper with information for nearly 200 species of captive mammals ( https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04224-5). Our study demonstrates the universality and high frequency of oncogenic phenomena in mammals and reveals substantial differences in cancer mortality across major mammalian orders, strongly suggesting that some species are more resistant to cancer than others. Our results also highlight that cancer mortality risk is largely independent of both body mass and adult life expectancy across mammalian species. This might appear surprising since larger bodied and long-lived animals have larger cell numbers and undergo more cell divisions during their lifetime, resulting in an increased probability of accumulating somatic mutations, potentially leading to cancer. Our study thus suggests that natural selection on large size or extended longevity might have been associated with the evolution of more efficient anticancer defences. The most likely mechanism being a slower rate of mutational accumulation in large, long-lived taxa. All organisms accumulate mutations in the cells in their DNA as they age. While most of these mutations are thought to have no impact on organismal function, mutations in certain genomic regions can transform healthy cells into cancer cells. It has only recently become possible to directly study this transformation from healthy cells into malignant ones through advances in the accuracy of genome sequencing technologies. This work is revealing how different cell types accumulate mutations at different rates (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03822-7) and how cells carrying cancer causing mutations can spread to colonize apparently healthy tissues as we age (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30337457/). While we are learning much about how these processes operate in humans we know virtually nothing about other species. We recently found that somatic mutation rates vary greatly across mammalian species (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-022-04618-z), which may partially explain differences in cancer risk that have been observed between species ( https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-04224-5). While this work has advanced our understanding of how mutation rates vary across species it was limited to one cell type in 16 mammalian species. A more comprehensive survey of mutational processes in a wider range of species with varying cancer susceptibilities would greatly advance our knowledge of carcinogenesis across species. By collecting blood tissue samples from frozen collections and prospectively during necropsies we can extract DNA and perform next-generation DNA sequencing using an ultra-accurate sequencing method (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-021-03477-4). Using this data, we will compare mutational processes across species and relate this to cancer risk, longevity and other life-history traits. In addition, mutational signature analysis will be performed on these data to infer the different mutational processes that contributed to the mutations detected in each sample. Studying how different species accumulate these 'somatic' mutations as they age promises to advance our understanding of why cancer risk varies across species and may ultimately lead to the identification of mechanisms by which some species are able to reduce their cancer risk. It will also contribute to our understanding of how mutations accumulate, a fundamental biological process. In summary this work will help to contextualize emerging data on mutational processes in humans, with relevance to our understanding of human cancers, as well as revealing the relationship between the evolution of cancer resistance, lifespan and mutation across the tree of life. *Job requirements* We are seeking for a highly motivated postdoc with a strong background in evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, population genetics and/or cancer biology. Any experience with statistics or cancer genomics would also be highly relevant. Proficiency in English, communication skills and team-work attitude are important requirements. Salary of approximately 2500 to 2700 euros net/months Applications should be submitted to Alex Cagan (atjc2@cam.ac.uk), Mathieu Giraudeau (giraudeau.mathieu@gmail.com) and Steve Desaivre (steve.desaivre@univ-lr.fr) and should include a CV including a publication list, a research statement, a cover letter and contact information for at least two references (name, address, email and phone number). Interested candidates should contact us ASAP. GIRAUDEAU Mathieu Littoral, Environnement et Sociétés (LIENSs), UMR 7266 CNRS-La Rochelle Université, 17000 La Rochelle, France https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mathieu_Giraudeau Mathieu Giraudeau (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear all, registrations are now open for the Physalia course "Analysing Biodiversity Through Time and Space using R": ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/biogeography-in-r/ ) This online course (Sept 5-6, 9-10-11) equips researchers and enthusiasts with the skills to analyze biodiversity patterns across time and space using R. In this course, you will learn how to: Build automated workflows for data acquisition, cleaning & analysis (R) Interrogate data for errors & sampling biases Estimate diversity & diversification rates Visualize data for clear communication Understand processes shaping biodiversity (past & present) For the full list of our courses and workshops, please visit: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/biogeography-in-r/ ) Best regards, Carlo Carlo Pecoraro, Ph.D Physalia-courses DIRECTOR info@physalia-courses.org mobile: +49 17645230846 "info@physalia-courses.org" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)