********************GradStudentPositions******************** PhD position in collective behaviour and social immunity at the University of Bristol (UK) A fully funded PhD position is available in the Ant Lab headed by Dr Nathalie Stroeymeyt at the School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, UK, to investigate the strategies used by ants to decrease epidemic risk in environments with high pathogen pressure. Background Group living offers favourable conditions for the spread of infectious diseases, because high population densities and frequent social contacts facilitate pathogen transmission. To mitigate that risk, social animals have evolved a variety of defence mechanisms to prevent the entry and propagation of pathogens within the group, ranging from raised investment in personal immunity to highly coordinated collective sanitary actions conferring social immunity. Recent studies have shown that social groups can also adopt organisational features, such as the subdivision into well-separated subgroups, which reduce epidemic risk through transmission bottleneck effects. However, the importance of such organisational immunity features in disease risk management by real animal groups is still poorly understood. Research in our group adopts an empirical approach based on the experimental manipulations of garden ant colonies (Lasius niger) to (i) quantify the effect of social organisation on disease transmission and test key predictions from network epidemiology, and (ii) evaluate the relative of importance of personal immunity, collective sanitary actions and organisational features under different environmental conditions and at different stages of development (for more detail see https://stroeymeyt-lab.ch/research). The project The goal of this PhD project will be to understand how ant colonies adjust different components of their disease defences (personal immunity, collective sanitary actions and transmission-inhibiting social organisation) in response to repeated disease challenges. The project will involve a combination of controlled pathogen inoculations, behavioural experiments (automated tracking of individually marked ants), molecular work (physiological assays and immune gene expression analysis), and computational analyses of tracking data (social network analyses and simulations). The project will aim to elucidate whether ants use changes in spatial and social organisation as an active strategy to decrease epidemic risk. Desired profile We are looking for candidates with experience in quantitative behavioural analysis and programming and/or molecular biology techniques, and a willingness to apply a variety of approaches (behavioural tracking, writing own code to analyse the data, and lab work). A good working knowledge in statistics and experimental design is also desirable. Experience with social insects and insect immunity would be a plus. Candidates must be creative, motivated and passionate about science, have excellent oral and written communication skills, and be at ease working both independently and as part of a team. The position The position will be part of an overall project team consisting of two PhD students and two post-doctoral researchers and will be fully funded for 3.5 years by an ERC Starting Grant. The candidate will receive a maintenance stipend at the minimum UKRI rate and home (UK/EU) tuition fees will be covered by the grant. Location The School of Biological Sciences at the University of Bristol is a highly dynamic, international and interdisciplinary environment, spanning a wide range of research in Evolutionary Biology, Animal Behaviour and Sensory Ecology, Plant and Agricultural Sciences, and Ecology and Environmental Changes (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/biology/research/). Expected starting date May 1st 2020 (flexible) How to apply Please send your application by email to nathalie.stroeymeyt@bristol.ac.uk. Your application should consist of a single merged pdf file including: (i) a full CV and publication list; (ii) a 1-2 page research statement describing your past research experience, current research interests, and why you are a suitable candidate for this project; (iii) a short proposal (0.5-1 page) on how you would address the project's goal; (iv) the names and contact details of at least two referees; (v) copies of (or links to) your publications and/or your Master's thesis (if available). Evaluation of candidates will begin on February 15th, 2020 and continue until the position is filled. References Stroeymeyt et al. (2014). Organisational immunity in social insects. Current Opinion in Insect Science 5, 1. Stroeymeyt et al. (2018). Social network plasticity decreases disease transmission in a eusocial insect. Science 362, 941. Nathalie Stroeymeyt ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Description of the offer: The Technical University of Madrid is currently offering a fully funded PhD opportunity via La Caixa Foundation to investigate the role of mutation bias as a force directing evolution. The successful candidate will join an emerging team led by Dr Couce at the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), a mixed research centre supported by the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) and the National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA). The everyday working language in the laboratory is English, and administrative tasks, training and seminars arranged by the institute are conducted in English. Being the third-largest metropolitan area in the EU, Madrid is a vibrant, multicultural hub with a high quality of life and a thriving cultural scene. The position offers a highly competitive salary with all the benefits of the Spanish National Social Security System, comprising generous sick/maternity/paternity leaves and health, unemployment and retirement insurances. Background: The evolution of mutation rates has fascinated evolutionary biologists for decades (Sniegowski 2000, Bioessays), and continues to be a major topic due to the importance of elevated mutation rates in bacterial infections (Bartell et al., Nat Comm 2019) and in cancer (Campbell et al., Cell 2017). In addition, work led by the host lab has shown that even short pulses of hypermutability can leave deep and long-lasting signatures in bacterial genomes, challenging previous views on the evolution of bacterial genome size and composition (Couce et al., PNAS 2017). Even more recently, work by the host lab has shown that different codon usage patterns can alter the probability that a particular mutational spectrum generates strong-effect amino acid changes, which implies that hypermutators might display different evolutionary properties in species with contrasting GC content (Couce et al., Nat Comm 2019). Description of activities: In this project, you will follow up on this work and provide a first empirical account on the role of mutation spectrum in the emergence and subsequent evolution of hypermutability and stress-induced mutagenesis in different species. Briefly, you will conduct Mutation Accumulation Experiments (Halligan & Keightley, Annu Rev Ecol Evol 2009) to measure the mutational load of different mutators in species with contrasting GC content. These lineages will be later subjected to experimental evolution for hundreds of generations to quantify the costs of mutation erosion in novel environments, and how readily these costs can be overcome by de novo adaptation. In parallel, you will characterise the mutational spectrum of stress-induced polymerases from different species, for which some differences have been reported but not conclusively established (Nohmi, Annu Rev Microbiol 2006). Finally, you will conduct a survey among wild isolates of plant and animal opportunistic pathogens to study the natural, within-species polymorphisms in mutation rate and spectra. How to apply: Interested candidates please send a single PDF file with a cover letter and a short CV to Dr Alejandro Couce (a.couce@upm.es). Please include the word "MutDrivenEvolution" in the subject line. The deadline for applications is Feb 1th and the anticipated start date is Sep 2020 to Jan 2021. More info at: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/467348 -- Dr Alejandro Couce Group Leader - Severo Ochoa Fellow Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics Technical University of Madrid, Spain & Visiting Fellow Department of Life Sciences Imperial College London, UK A Couce ********************GradStudentPositions******************** PhD position: comparative phylogenetic studies on insect body size We are looking for a PhD student to perform part of a larger, lab wide project entitled: "Comparative studies on insects: a focus on body size" financed by Estonian Research Council (2020-2024) and carried out at Estonia's leading research centre: the University of Tartu (https://www.ut.ee/en). The lab wide project focuses on reconstructing moth phylogenies on the basis of DNA sequences and performing various analyses of trait evolution on the basis of these novel phylogenies. The PhD thesis work advertised here will concentrate on body size specifically, and we propose that the student will address questions such as associations between body size and environment, macroevolutionary trends in body size, and inferring constraints on body size. Body size is perhaps the most obvious trait of any organism but the drivers of the evolution of size are far from being understood, especially in insects in which case the universal positive relationship between body size and fecundity would lead to the prediction of a permanent evolutionary increase in size. Most recently, data and methods have started to become available to find out if such increase has actually occurred in the course of evolution, and which factors have set limits to it. The PhD student will primarily be running comparative analyses on pre-existing phylogenetic trees (e.g. using R packages such as OUwie and BAMMtools) and will also participate in data collection (incl. examining museum specimens). The work will be supervised by Prof. Toomas Tammaru (http://kodu.ut.ee/~tammarut) and Dr. John Clarke (http://bit.ly/2qimTCy). The group has a solid background in evolutionary ecology of insects, phylogenetic analyses and taxonomy of Lepidoptera, as well as collaboration ties with various universities in Europe (e.g. potential to collaborate with Niklas Wahlberg at Lund University, and Sebastian Höhna at LMU Munich) and North America. PhD studies in Estonia last for 4 years and publishing research papers is a requirement; PhD students receive competitive scholarships allowing them to work on their thesis full time (alongside taking some relevant classes). A successful candidate will have an excellent academic record, experience with statistical analyses and interest in evolutionary biology. Some experience and/or genuine interest in the ecology/evolution/taxonomy of insects as well as previous experience with phylogenetic comparative methods is an advantage. The candidate should have their master's degree by August 01, 2020 (if you are due to complete in September 2020, still contact us, we may be able to find a solution); the enrolment as a PhD student will be from September 01, 2020. If you are considering applying, please e-mail Toomas Tammaru (toomas.tammaru@ut.ee) before the end of February 10 (any time zone). Open to applicants from all nations. Toomas Tammaru ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Impact of climate changes on plant-pest interaction: insights from the rosy apple aphid and its apple host in a context of domestication Amandine CornilleÕs group (http://moulon.inra.fr/index.php/fr/equipes/group-leader-amandine-cornille-young-atip-avenir-team) and Tim BelienÕs group (https://be.linkedin.com/in/tim-beli%C3%ABn-4a41164) are recruiting a Master student and a bachelor to investigate the adaptation to climate and plant host of aphid pests. Lab addressÊ(supervision): PC-Fruit pcfruit vzw Fruittuinweg 1 3800 Sint-Truiden Belgium SupervisorsÊ: Amandine Cornille (amandine.cornille@inrae.fr), Ammar Alhmedi (Ammar.alhmedi@pcfruit.be) and Tim Belien (tim.belien@pcfruit.be) Project summary Understanding the extent of local adaptation in natural populations and the mechanisms enabling individuals to adapt to their native environment is a major avenue in evolutionary ecology research. Host-pathogen coevolution is widely seen as a major driver of local adaptation and has therefore been a study model to dissect the evolutionary processes at work during local adaptation. However, the relative contributions of species interactions (i.e. biotic factor) and abiotic factors to local adaptation are still unclear. Addressing these issues is more than a simple academic exercise. Understanding of local adaptation processes in host-parasite interactions will also help tackling pressing issues, such as the ways in which environmental change alters the emergence of pathogens leading to host extinctions, how to promote sustainability of agroecosystems in the face of emerging crop diseases or in guiding for public health practices as more human pathogens and their vectors expand their ranges. In this project, we investigate whether local adaptation occurred during the recent rapid colonization of cultivated apple by Dysaphis plantaginea, the major aphid pest of cultivated apple orchards, in Europe. We will carry out in April 2020 experimental tests for D. plantaginea fitness differences across environments (i.e. host and climate) to investigate whether the aphid is locally adapted to its host and/or climate. This project will generate original results adding to our understanding of how species interactions and abiotic conditions can shape local adaptation. Master project The project involves the transplant of Belgian, French and Spanish aphid genotypes on Belgian, French and Spanish apple varieties in three locations (Belgian, France and Spain). The candidate will be involved in the assessment of the adaptive capacities at the ecological level of the rosy apple aphid at the BELGIAN site located at PCFruit (Sint-Truiden, Belgium). The project can last two (Bachelor) to six months (Master), and will consist in participating in aphid infestations and rearing on the field, tree measurement, associated statistical analyses, and final report writing. 1) The candidate will lead the launching of the experiment there during Spring 2020 by transplanting aphids on several apple cultivars and will measure several phenotypic traits. The growth rate of each colony will be measured after 12 days of infestation. Various functional traits which are proxies of the condition of the plant (i.e. chlorophyll content, carbon/nitrogen balance, and flavonol and anthocyanin content measured with the Dualex¨ pincel) will also be measured. 2) He/She will analyze the dataset that will be generated. Methodology: Statistical analyses (linear and mixed models, R), ecophysiology, phenotypic measurement, rearing, insect biology, field experiment. Profile preferred for the candidate: Ideally, the candidate will have skills in ecology and evolution or at least will show strong interest in these fields. He/She will have to be highly motivated about field experiment, as this one will be intense the first two months. He/she will not necessarily be familiar with apple or aphid model. Deadline for submission: The sooner the better. Duration : 2 to 6 months, August 2020, starting dates are flexible, contact Amandine CORNILLE for further discussions. SupervisionÊ: Amandine CORNILLE - ChargŽe de Recherche CNRS CRCN GŽnŽtique Quantitative et Evolution - Le Moulon Ferme du Moulon 91190, Gif-sur-Yvette, France mailÊ: amandine.cornille[at]gmail.com Google Scholar profile : https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=EqIE2h8AAAAJ&hl=fr Personal page : http://moulon.inra.fr/index.php/fr/equipes/dygap/355 Group pageÊ: http://moulon.inra.fr/index.php/fr/equipes/group-leader-amandine-cornille-young-atip-avenir-team Fixed indemnisation: Lodging + food (for the week: 5 days, not the weekend) will be provided along the internship. References Cornille A., Antolin F., Garcia E., Vernesi C., Fietta A., Brinkkemper O., Kirleis W., Schlumbaum A., Rold‡n-Ruiz I. (2019) A Multifaceted Overview of Apple Tree Domestication. Trends in Plant Science, 24 (8) 770-782. Savolainen, O., Lascoux, M., and Merila, J. (2013). Ecological genomics of local adaptation. Nat Rev Genet 14, 807Ð820. Blanquart F, Kaltz O, Nuismer SL and Gandon S. 2013. A practical guide to measuring local adaptation. Ecology Letters, 16: 1195-1205. doi: 10.1111/ele.12150 Amandine Cornille ********************GradStudentPositions******************** 1 PhD and 3 Msc positions on quantitative genetic and reproductive strategies in natural systems at uOttawa Multiple graduate student positions (Msc and PhD) available in Julien Martin lab's at the University of Ottawa (https:// juliengamartin.github.io ). Enthusiastic graduate students will carry out research on reproductive strategies and life-history trade-offs using a quantitative genetic approach based on several long-term studies including the yellow-bellied marmots project in Colorado (>55 years of data) and the alpine swifts project in Switzerland (>25 years of data). For more details about the projects go to https://juliengamartin.github.io/opportunities/. Financial support is available for 4 and 2 years for PhD and Msc respectively. The ideal candidate should have: - BSc or Msc. in biology. - A strong interest for statistical analyses and R programming. - The ability to work alone and in teams. - The motivation for long field seasons. Students that are interested should send a writing sample (thesis, paper or scientific article), a CV, a motivation letter, and the contact of two references to Dr. Martin (julien.martin@uottawa.ca ). We will continue to consider applications until the position is filled. ----- Plusieurs positions aux études graduées sont disponible dans le laboratoire de Julien Martin à l'université d'Ottawa (https:// juliengamartin.github.io ). Les projets seront orientés sur l'étude des stratégies de reproduction et des compromis biodémographiques en utilisant une approche de génétique quantitative basée sur des systèmes d'études à long-terme incluant les marmottes à ventre jaune au Colorado (>55 années de données) et les martinets alpins (>25 années). Pour plus de détails sur ces opportunité, visitez le site https://juliengamartin.github.io/opportunities/. Le·acandidat·e idéal·edevrait posséder: - B.Sc. en Biologie - Un fort intérêt pour l'analyse statistique de données avec le logiciel R - La capacité de travailler de manière autonome et en équipe - La volonté de travailler en français et en anglais Les personnes intéressées par ce projet devraient envoyer un exemple d'écriture scientifique (travail de session, mémoire, ou article scientifique), leur CV, une lettre de motivation, et les coordonnées de deux personnes références par courriel au Pr. Martin (julien.martin@uottawa.ca). Nous continuerons à considérer les dossiers jusqu'à ce que le poste soit comblé. Julien Martin ********************Jobs******************** Virginia Commonwealth University Center for the Study of Biological Complexity Faculty Position in Bioinformatics/Data Science The Center for the Study of Biological Complexity (CSBC) at Virginia Commonwealth University invites applications for a full-time renewable term (non-tenure track) faculty position in Bioinformatics/Data Science with an anticipated start date of August 2020. As part of VCU Life Sciences ( lifesciences.vcu.edu), the Center is committed to interdisciplinary training and research that connects investigators across the University. The Center administers bachelor's and master's degrees in Bioinformatics and participates in the interdisciplinary Integrative Life Sciences doctoral program, also housed within VCU Life Sciences. General information about the Center for the Study of Biological Complexity may be found at https://cbds.vcu.edu. Additional resources and facilities within VCU Life Sciences include the Center for Environmental Studies, Center for Life Sciences Education, the Rice Rivers Center, and the Center for High Performance Computing. This faculty position is predominantly envisioned as a term (non-tenure track) teaching position at the rank of Assistant Professor. We seek a broadly trained computational scientist who will excel in teaching undergraduate and graduate courses in the Bioinformatics programs. Successful candidates will be expected to develop and teach innovative courses in programming with languages such as Python or R, biological informatics, data science, or computational biology; mentor undergraduate and graduate students; and have a commitment to outreach and service both within and beyond the University community. There may be opportunities to conduct research in parallel with the teaching commitment. Required Qualifications: A master's degree (M.S.) in bioinformatics, data sciences, computer science, the biological sciences, biological education, or a related field; demonstrated experience in teaching and mentoring students. The successful candidate must also have demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a faculty member at VCU. Preferred Qualifications: A doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in bioinformatics, data sciences, computer science, the biological sciences, biological education, or a related field; the ability to teach an introductory undergraduate Python course; demonstrated experience in development of teaching materials and assessment of student learning at the undergraduate and graduate levels; demonstrated interest and experience in biological or computational science pedagogy; demonstrated ability working with a diverse student population. Interested applicants must apply online at http://www.vcujobs.com/postings/96718 with cover letter; CV; a statement of teaching philosophy; a statement on contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion; and contact information for three references. For additional information or questions, please contact the chair of the search committee Dr. Rodney Dyer at rjdyer@vcu.edu. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability. Michael S. Rosenberg ********************Jobs******************** The Illinois State Museum is hiring a Curator 1 in Anthropology at our Dickson Mounds Museum site in Lewiston, IL. See link for details: https://agency.governmentjobs.com/illinois/default.cfm?action=viewJob&jobID=2679122 Job posting closes February 28, 2020. Meredith J. Mahoney, Ph.D. Curator of Zoology Acting Curator of Geology meredith.mahoney@illinois.gov Illinois State Museum www.illinoisstatemuseum.org Zoology Section on Facebook www.facebook.com/ISMZoology Research and Collections Center 1011 E. Ash St Springfield, IL 62703 ph. 217-785-4843 fax 217-785-2857 "Mahoney, Meredith" ********************Other******************** The deadline to apply to join the SSE Diversity Committee has been extended due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday coinciding with the previous deadline. The new deadline is this Friday, January 24. The SSE Diversity Committee (DC) seeks to add two new members starting in 2020. The DC works to create a professional society that is supportive of members from all backgrounds through several main actions: by broadening representation to the SSE Executive Council, by pursuing initiatives that support underrepresented groups, and by creating an inclusive, accessible environment at the Evolution conference. Applicants should submit a brief (1-2 page) statement of interest outlining their experience with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) service, and the ideas, events, and perspective they plan to contribute during their 3-year term. The DC seeks diverse members who represent different backgrounds and perspectives. Thus, we ask that applicants describe particular elements of their background and/or identity that will contribute uniquely to the composition of the DC. Applicants should also identify their career stage and affiliation, as we welcome participation from members of the community across all stages of their training, and in all career paths. Applicants must be members of SSE (join or renew your membership here: http://bit.ly/joinSSE) and have attended at least one Evolution conference in the past. These items should also be mentioned in the application statement. Many of the DC's initiatives are created and operated with the DCs of our sister societies, the American Society of Naturalists and the Society for Systematic Biologists. Past or ongoing efforts of the SSE DC include: - Data collection and analysis regarding the demographic composition of SSE - Creation of guidelines on best practices for awards procedures - Events at the Evolution meeting including Story Collider and mixers to build community among LGBTQ+ biologists, biologists with disabilities, biologists of color, biologists at PUIs, and parents - Improving accessibility at the Evolution conference for scientists with disabilities, scientists of marginalized genders, and scientists who are nursing/caretaking More information about the SSE DC and our prior initiatives can be found on our web page: http://bit.ly/SSEDiversity. Please submit your application by January 24, 2020 to diversity @evolutionsociety.org. Questions may also be directed to this email address. *Kati Moore*she/her/hers *Communications Manager* *Society for the Study of Evolution* communications@evolutionsociety.org www.evolutionsociety.org SSE Communications ********************Other******************** *Conchologists of America (COA) Academic Grants, 2020* Deadline: February 28, 2020 Please see the website: http://www.conchologistsofamerica.org/grants/ *Eligibility:* - Degree-seeking students and anyone engaging in malacological research is eligible. - Persons of any nationality and country of residence may apply. - Applicants from previous years may re-apply. - Recipients of previous years may re-apply, but must include a submitted manuscript to or published article in the American Conchologist based on the previous award. - Degree-seeking students must have a letter of recommendation by their advisor emailed to *jannvendetti@yahoo.com *by the Feb. 28th deadline with the applicant's name is the subject line. * Rules & Guidelines:* - All applications must be submitted via email in one file, preferably as a .pdf under 3 MB. Letters of recommendation may be sent separately. - The proposal must concern a malacological topic with any molluscan taxon or taxa as the focus, e.g., parasite studies should focus on the molluscan side of the interaction. All disciplines from autecology to zoogeography, including paleontology, are eligible. - The project must be self-contained. In other words, with the funding requested it must be possible to answer the question posed. However, the proposal may be a component of the applicant's overall research. - Major permanent equipment is not an allowable expense, but use of equipment at another institution is. For example, time using a piece of permanent equipment (for example, SEM beam time) is allowable. - Institutional overhead is not permitted. - The maximum award is US $2500. Smaller requests, depending on costs and nature of research, may be more likely to receive funding. Partial funding is possible at the discretion of the Academic Grants Committee. - If a grant is awarded, please consider options to avoid having to pay personal income tax on it. Many educational and non-profit organizations manage such grants; please inquire with such entities. COA and/or its representatives are not liable for any tax consequences of the award. - All recipients are expected to submit a summary of their work to American Conchologist within 12 months of receiving the award. - All applications are evaluated by the Academic Grants Committee composed of three professional malacologists appointed by the Chair of the COA Academic Grants program. - Although any research topic within Mollusca is eligible, there are several special categories for named awards focused on: 1) Ecology, Natural History, Systematics and taxonomy, 2) Museum-based research, 3) marine species from the Eastern United States (Atlantic), marine species from Florida and the Caribbean, 4) Behavioral and/or Chemical Ecology. - The decisions of the Committee are final. *Application: * Must include 3 components: a proposal, budget, and CV. *(6 pages at most)* - *Proposal* (4 pages at most): title, abstract of project, not to exceed 150 words, body including background information necessary to understand the project and its significance, materials and methods, and proposed plan of research, and illustrations if necessary, literature cited (included in page count, may be of slightly smaller font), single-spaced, 12 point font - *Budget *(1 page): list of estimated expenses, and if applicable, a list of grants applied to for the same/similar project. Reasonable per diem costs and housing are eligible expenses. - *CV/Academic Biography *(1 page): include address, phone number, email address, academic and/or relevant professional history *Suggestions:* Keep the introduction short and relevant; consider that all committee members are broadly trained invertebrate zoologists. Provide justifications and details of analytical procedures including statistical analysis (which tests will be used and why those tests). Provide evidence that the techniques proposed are relevant and reasonably mastered. The inclusion of preliminary data is helpful, when applicable. Applications are judged by the COA Grants Committee. Awardees will be notified via email in (or before) May 2019, then announced at COA's annual convention. Awardees need not be present at the convention. THE DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FEBRUARY 28 All application and recommendation (for degree-seeking students) must be emailed, preferably, as pdfs to: *jannvendetti@yahoo.com Jann Elizabeth Vendetti, Ph.D. Assistant Curator & Twila Bratcher Chair in Malacology *Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County* 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007 ----- *The Western Society of Malacologists* (WSM) is proud to offer a financial stipend for students to study fossil or recent malacological collections to further their research. This award honors the late James H. McLean, Curator of Malacology at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County from 1964-2001 and Emeritus Curator until 2013. *Eligibility: *Graduate, undergraduate, and exceptional high school students may apply. Those proposing to visit collections within daily commuting distance of their residence, university, or high school are ineligible for funding. *Research Scope: *The applicant's research project must be collections-based and focus on extant, extinct, or fossil western North American mollusks (freshwater, terrestrial, or marine). That is, taxa found (native or introduced) in western North America (i.e. California, Oregon, Baja California, Washington, British Columbia, Western Canada, Alaska, Hawai'i). *Funding:* The maximum award is $1000 (US dollars) and should be used to support travel and accommodation costs incurred by visiting one or more collections. Collection visits of two or more days are encouraged. Applicants need not apply for the full $1000 if it is not necessary. Reasonable housing and per diem costs may be included. Requests of partial funding are acceptable if other funds are secured. *Museum(s): *Visits to any University-based or Natural History Museum collection (domestic or international) are eligible. Private collections are ineligible. Student applicants are responsible for confirming their project's feasibility and arranging visit logistics with the University or Museum's collections manager and/or curator. Students may apply to visit more than one museum and collection in their proposal. Generally, visits to collections that are within a feasible driving distance away (up to 1.5 hours) from the home institution of the researcher will not be prioritized for funding. *Deadline:* Proposals and recommendations are due *March 1st,* with announcement and notification of awardees in May or June. Funds are available for use until May 15th of the following year. *Proposal Submission:* Proposals are to be sent electronically (as one document) to: Jann Vendetti at: jannvendetti@yahoo.com or jvendett@nhm.org, using the subject line: James McLean Student Grant *Application: *Two pages (single-spaced) with a title, description of the planned research, specific collection(s)/institutions proposed to be visited and why, anticipated visit dates (and length), and a budget justification. Personal information (an abbreviated CV) including the applicant's name, address, email address, and student enrollment status (where enrolled, major, degree program, anticipated graduation date) should be included. *One recommendation* from a graduate, undergraduate, or high school advisor should be sent separately to jannvendetti@yahoo.com with "NAME OF APPLICANT: WSM McLean Student Grant" in the subject line. http://westernsocietymalacology.org/grants/james-h-mclean-student-grant-in-collections-based-research/ Jann Elizabeth Vendetti, Ph.D. Assistant Curator & Twila Bratcher Chair in Malacology *Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County* 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007 Phone: 213-763-3380 Email: jvendett@nhm.org iNaturalist: http://www.inaturalist.org/projects/slime Donate: https://nhm.wedid.it/campaigns/6123 she/her/hers Jann Vendetti ********************PostDocs******************** 2-year Postdoc in population genomics - CNRS Montpellier, France A 2-year post-doctoral fellowship is available to work on the evolutionary genomics and demography of inversion polymorphism in tropical butterflies (Heliconius), in the group of Mathieu Joron (http://joron.cefe.cnrs.fr) at the Centre for Evolutionary and Functional Ecology (CNRS CEFE) in Montpellier, France Inversion polymorphisms often act as Mendelian loci (or supergenes), switching between different ecological strategies coexisting within populations, such as alternative social organisations in ants, mate acquisition tactiques in birds, pollination syndromes in flowering plants, or mimicry associations in butterflies. Our research focuses on the spectacular wing pattern polymorphism of the tropical butterfly Heliconius numata, famous for its distinct mimetic forms controlled by a series of adjacent chromosomal inversions. We study the evolution of this genetic architecture using theoretical, genomic, and ecological approaches. The postdoc will lead genomic research aiming at understanding how inversions establish and spread through populations across the distribution range. The project allows for much flexibility in the direction taken depending on the skills and interests of the person hired. Major objectives include, for instance, deciphering how supergene evolution affects population demography and differnetiation, the dissection of deleterious mutations and antagonistic fitness effects associated with inversions, and the factors underlying disassortative mating, etc. Datasets available include 120 resequenced genomes, multiple independent reference assemblies, transcriptomes and annotations, and will be expanded during the project. The postdoc will join a lively consortium of teams (CEFE Montpellier and Museum of natural history in Paris) and will interact with team members working on the ecology of inversion polymorphism, the modelling of balancing selection, or the functional dissection of wing-patterning. Our partner institution INRIA Genscale in Rennes is a major bioinformatics institute, so the postdoc will enjoy direct support from a bioinformatics team. The CEFE is a major institute in Europe for evolutionary ecology and genetics. Within CEFE, our team comprises 12 CNRS researchers whose research combines genetics and evolutionary ecology to address a diversity of topics on adaptation and natural variation. Our group focuses on butterfly wing patterns as a model to decipher how diversity is shaped by natural selection and other processes at the phenotypic and genomic level. Montpellier is a major hotspot for evolutionary and environmental research worldwide and has a vibrant research community with several hundred researchers in this domain, and highly praised graduate programmes. The University of Montpellier ranked 1st in the 2018 and 2019 Shanghai ranking in Ecology. Montpellier lies near the Mediterranean region in the South of France and enjoys pleasant weather, fantastic nature and great cultural and city life. Starting date : ideally before the summer 2020, and no later than Oct. 2020. Net salary: between 25 k¤/year and 35 k¤/year depending on experience, including social benefits and public health insurance. Candidates should have a PhD or equivalent in biological sciences or computational biology (by the starting date), advanced knowledge of population genetic theory, a keen interest in understanding biodiversity. Candidates should have experience with genomic datasets, population genomics and/or demographic inferences using genomic data. Applications : Informal enquiries are highly encouraged. Please contact Mathieu Joron, mathieu.joron@cefe.cnrs.fr. Website: http://joron.cefe.cnrs.fr. Formal applications must be done through the CNRS portal (http://bit.ly/2tGenlZ). Applicants should upload a letter of application with details on their motivation and achievements and including proposed research directions, a full CV, the names and contact details of two references, and their date of availability. Application deadline 23 February JORON Mathieu ********************PostDocs******************** A postdoctoral research associate position is available in the Gutenkunst group, in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona. The group focuses on computational population genomics, with an emphasis on methods development. For more information, see http://gutengroup.mcb.arizona.edu or contact Dr. Ryan Gutenkunst at rgutenk@email.arizona.edu. The postdoc will contribute to an NIH-funded project to develop and apply methods for inferring novel models of natural selection from population genomic data. In particular, the postdoc will work on two-locus methods for inferring the distribution of fitness effects of new mutations, potentially including epistasis. The new methods will be applied to data from humans, Drosophila, and other model organisms. The postdoc will also have the freedom to contribute to other ongoing projects and to develop their own projects that mesh with the group's interests. Applicants should have a Ph.D. in computational biology, bioinformatics, statistics, evolutionary biology, or a related field. Applicants should have prior computational experience and be motivated, creative, and collegial. Experience with statistical inference for complex models is advantageous. The University of Arizona has great strength in population and evolutionary genetics, offering potential interactions with Drs. Joanna Masel, David Enard, Joseph Watkins, Mike Barker, and others. Computational resources are similarly excellent. The campus is highly interdisciplinary and very collegial. The University of Arizona is an EEO/AA - M/W/D/V Employer. At 2,500 feet above sea level, culturally diverse Tucson, Arizona is nestled among five mountain ranges in the beautiful Sonoran Desert and is surrounded by Saguaro National Park. Housing is affordable, quality of life is high, and outdoor recreation opportunities include the southernmost ski area in the United States and over 100 miles of bike trails. The area receives over 350 days of sunshine per year and enjoys average high/low temperatures of 82/54 degrees F. Applications should include a C.V., cover letter, and contact information for three references. Please submit applications by emailed Dr. Gutenkunst at rgutenk@email.arizona.edu. Application review begins Feb 3, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled. rgutenk@email.arizona.edu ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoctoral Position, Integrative Modeling of Species Range Shifts, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Michigan State University A postdoctoral research associate position in population genetics and demographic modeling is available in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at Michigan State University. The successful applicant will join an established collaborative network of researchers across five institutions (Michigan State University, the Morton Arboretum, the College of Charleston, the Missouri Botanical Garden, Mount Royal University) and contribute to an NSF-funded data integration project focused on quantifying species' historical range shifts and population sizes using multiple data types (for more information see: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1759759). Although multiple data types contain information on species' range shifts (i.e., fossil pollen data, occurrence data and ecological niche models, and population genetic data) these datasets do not always result in equivalent inferences (e.g., on the speed of range shifts). This project seeks to integrate these data types in a coherent analytical framework to infer demographic parameters (migration rates, population sizes, etc.), the location of glacial refugia, and the pace of post-glacial range movement (see Hoban et al 2019 Ecography). The statistical framework provided by Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) is a major component of the integrative modeling approaches we are developing. Our project team currently includes individuals with expertise in Mathematics, Statistics, Ecology, Biogeography, and Population Genetics, and we look forward to welcoming a new collaborator to the project. Applicants must have a Ph.D. in Genetics, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Bioinformatics, or a similar field with demonstrated experience in population genetics and a robust computational skillset. In particular, experience with programming (R, Python, C++), Approximate Bayesian Computation, cluster computing, and analysis of population genomic data is desirable. Other desired qualifications include a strong work ethic, problem-solving and time management skills, and experience communicating scientific results. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in joining an established interdisciplinary research team working at the interface of statistics and ecology, and in contributing to an open-source software development project. This position includes opportunities (and funding) to engage in a wide variety of professional development activities (depending on areas of interest) and to participate in planned outreach efforts associated with this project. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter, statement of research interests, and contact information for three references via the Careers @ MSU website (job posting #632351): https://careers.msu.edu/en-us/job/503149/research-associatefixed-term In addition to the materials above, code (e.g., link to a GitHub repository) and writing samples (i.e., one or more recent publications) are also strongly encouraged, and will be considered during review. Questions about the position can be directed to Dr. John Robinson, jdrob@msu.edu. The initial appointment for this position is for a period of one year, with the possibility of renewal for a second year pending satisfactory performance. Start date is no later than July 1, 2020. Review of applications will begin March 15, 2020 and will continue until the position is filled. "Robinson, John" ********************PostDocs******************** Post-Doctoral Position in the Sweigart Lab at the University of Georgia A post-doctoral position in evolutionary genetics is available in the lab of Andrea Sweigart in the Department of Genetics at the University of Georgia. Our lab is broadly interested in the genetics of speciation in the model flowering plant *Mimulus* (monkeyflower). Funded projects include: 1) Evolutionary/genetic investigation of hybrid seed failure across *Mimulus*, 2) Molecular genetic analysis of interspecific incompatibilities that cause hybrid sterility, and 3) Development of functional genetics to link genotypes with ecologically important phenotypes. The postdoctoral researcher would have opportunities to contribute to any of these ongoing projects, but would also be encouraged to develop new research directions. This position is ideal for someone with training or interest in quantitative genetics, population genomics, evolutionary ecology, and/or comparative genomics. We use computational and experimental approaches, and our studies often include a combination of genetic analysis, molecular biology, bioinformatics, and field experiments. The Sweigart lab values diversity and aims to create a welcoming and inclusive lab environment. We are located at the University of Georgia, which has an exceptionally strong group of plant geneticists and evolutionary biologists. Greenhouse, laboratory, and computational facilities are also excellent. UGA is located in Athens, a vibrant college town with a low cost-of-living, wonderful community spirit, and lively arts/music scene. There is also easy access to Atlanta and to diverse outdoor recreational opportunities (e.g. Great Smoky Mountains NP, Savannah/GA Coast, Okefenokee Swamp). The position is available for up to three years, with a $47,000 salary and full benefits. The position is available immediately, but the start date can be flexible for the right candidate. To apply, please email a CV, a brief statement of research accomplishments and future goals, and contact information for three academic references to: sweigart@uga.edu. Informal inquiries are very welcome. For more information about research in our lab, go to: http://www.genetics.uga.edu/sweigartlab. Andrea L. Sweigart Department of Genetics 120 East Green Street Davison Life Sciences Building, C218 University of Georgia Athens, GA 30602-7223 office phone: (706)-542-7001 sweigart@uga.edu Andrea Sweigart ********************PostDocs******************** Dear collegues, Could you please share the attached offer for a postdoc in my lab at Ifremer, Concarneau, France, to assess the ichthyotoxicity of French marine microalgae using bioassays targeting cultured cells of fish and shellfish.We are looking for a candidate with an international experience (PhD or postdoc out from France),who was awarded his/her PhD for less than 4 years. Deadline for application is March 1st, 2020. Many thanks and happy new year! Malwenn Malwenn Lassudrie (PhD)IFREMER ODE/UL/LER Bretagne OccidentaleStation de biologie marine Place de la CroixBP 4053729185 Concarneau France Tél: +33 2 98 10 42 96 (52 96)   gueveloueric@yahoo.fr ********************PostDocs******************** We are seeking to recruit an enthusiastic postdoctoral Research Associate to join the Ellis laboratory. The successful applicant will join an established research group working on fundamental and applied aspects of male reproductive biology. Ellis group lab interests encompass mechanisms of chromosome segregation during meiosis, cytoplasmic and nuclear remodelling during haploid germ cell development, and how DNA damage in developing male germ cells affects the quality of the resulting gametes. You will work on a three-year project funded by the Leverhulme Trust that seeks to understand how transmission ratio distorters manipulate the processes of gametogenesis and/or fertilisation so that they are passed on to more than 50% of offspring. You will work in close collaboration with the evolutionary and functional genomics lab, led by Dr Farr¨¦, to develop new approaches to answer how individual genes cause "drive'±, how genome rearrangements contribute to drive, and the evolutionary consequences of drive for genome structure. Techniques to be used will include cutting-edge single-cell '®omics, RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq techniques; therefore, candidates with experience analysing these types of data are encouraged to apply. Although the position is mainly focused on bioinformatics, depending on the candidate'¯s interests there will be significant opportunities for you to participate in benchwork and gain appropriate lab skills. To be successful in this role you will have: * a PhD degree in Biology, Biochemistry or related discipline or equivalent * bioinformatic analysis of '®omics data, particularly RNA-Seq and ChIP-Seq * a good understanding of evolutionary genetics and phylogenetic reconstruction * at least one publication in a peer-reviewed journal More information and how to apply here: https://jobs.kent.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=STM-100-19 Deadline: Friday 31st January 2020 Marta Farr¨¦, PhD | Lecturer in Genomics School of Biosciences, University of Kent Stacey Building G17 Canterbury, Kent, CT2 7NJ, UK ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9170-5767 Lab web: http://www.farre-evogenomicslab.com/ "M.Farre-Belmonte" ********************PostDocs******************** Dear all, A 24 month Postdoctoral Research Assistant position is available at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in Dr. Laurent Frantz's group, investigating the evolutionary history of domestic animals using ancient genomes. Candidates for this position must have a strong experience in population genomics, and ideally [but not necessarily] in ancient genomics. They should have a PhD (awarded or reasonably expected to be awarded within 3 months) or equivalent qualification/experience in an area of molecular evolution, genomics, bioinformatics or a related discipline. They will engage with the analyses of ancient pigs, chickens (and potentially dogs) genomes. A track record of peer-reviewed publications is essential. The post holder will be integrated into Dr. Frantz's group of several PhD students/postdocs and work closely with the team of Prof. Larson (University of Oxford). Potential projects involve analysing ancient pig genomes to establish the spatial and temporal differences in the proportion and genomic location of the incorporation of wild boar genes into domestic stocks in order to assess how domestic pigs adapted to novel environments. The post is funded by the NERC and is a full-time position. The start date is mid-February or as soon as possible thereafter. The salary is dependent on qualifications, skills and experience and is in the range of 31,613- 36,098 per annum, inclusive of London allowance. Benefits include 30 days annual leave and a pension scheme. Candidates must be able to demonstrate their eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006. Where required this may include entry clearance or continued leave to remain under the Points Based Immigration Scheme. To apply: https://webapps2.is.qmul.ac.uk/jobs/job.action?jobID=5010 Application enquiries should be directed to laurent.frantz@qmul.ac.uk The closing date for applications is 21 February 2020. Interviews will be held shortly thereafter. Laurent Frantz ********************PostDocs******************** TWO POSTDOCTORAL POSITIONS IN MICROBIOME ECOLOGY University of Oxford, UK Two postdoctoral positions (both 3 years in the first instance, with the possibility of extension) are available t in the Knowles Lab (www.knowleslab.com) in the Department of Zoology, University of Oxford. We are seeking two motivated and highly qualified full-time postdoctoral research associates to work on a new project funded by an ERC Starting Grant (MUSMICRO). This project aims to unpick the causes and consequences of natural variability in the mammalian gut microbiome, using an insular population of house mice as a tractable, wild, model system. Post 1: PDRA in Host-Microbiome Ecology This position will involve using quantitative genetic techniques and other statistical approaches to explore how host genetics and environmental factors combine to mould individual variation in the gut microbiome among free-living mice. It will involve a mix of fieldwork, molecular biology lab work and bioinformatics/statistical analyses. The postholder will be based at the University of Oxford (Dept. Zoology) and also work closely with Dr Susan Johnston (https://sejohnston.com/), based at the University of Edinburgh. Candidates should hold a PhD (or be near to competition) in a relevant subject (e.g. ecology/microbiology/genetics) and have demonstrable experience in quantitative ecology/quantitative genetics/bioinformatics and the analysis of complex datasets. The successful candidate will be expected to submit publications to scientific journals, attend and present at conferences, contribute to research degree student supervision and engage with other research partners on the project. Further details are on the University website, vacancy ID 144371 https://my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecruit/erq_search_package.search_form?p_company=10&p_internal_external=E Post 2: PDRA in Mammalian Host-Microbiome Interactions This position will focus on asking how naturally occurring variation in the gut microbiome affects host physiology, and ultimately host fitness traits (survival and reproduction). It will involve both collecting and analysing observational data from a wild mouse population, and later in the project performing controlled gnotobiotic (microbiome transfer) experiments in the lab. The postholder will be based at the University of Oxford (Dept. Zoology). Candidates will hold a PhD (or be near to completion) in a relevant biological subject (e.g. physiology/microbiology/ecology/immunology) and have experience in the design and analysis of animal experiments. The position is well-suited to applicants with research experience involving mice, particularly in the context of physiology, infection or the microbiome. The successful candidate will be expected to submit publications to scientific journals, attend and present at conferences, contribute to research degree student supervision, and engage with other researchers that partner on the project. Further details are on the University website, vacancy ID 144372 https://my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecruit/erq_search_package.search_form?p_company=10&p_internal_external=E Informal enquiries about both positions can be made to: sarah.knowles@zoo.ox.ac.uk Applications should be made through the University of Oxford Jobs website and vacancy IDs as specified above. Closing date: 12.00 noon, Friday 20th February 2020 Sarah Knowles Associate Professor and Tutorial Fellow of Keble College Department of Zoology University of Oxford 11a Mansfield Road Oxford, UK OX1 3SZ Tel: (+44) 1865 271210 Sarah Knowles ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** In Partnership with the American Museum of Natural History, Cornell University, and the Southwestern Research Station, we are proud to announce the 22nd installment of The Bee Course. The Bee Course is a ten-day workshop held at the Southwestern Research Station in Portal, Arizona from August 16th through the 26th, 2020. The course is designed to provide biologists interested in pollinators with the tools and knowledge necessary to collect, process, and to begin to identify bee specimens. We encourage all interested parties to apply. For more information, including instructions on how to apply, a list of this year's instructors, and course testimonials, please visit the course website at www.thebeecourse.org. Bryan N. Danforth, Professor and Chair Department of Entomology 3124 Comstock Hall Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853-2601 phone: 607-255-3563/FAX: 607-255-0939 email: bnd1@cornell.edu Lab website: http://www.danforthlab.entomology.cornell.edu/ The Solitary Bees (now available): https://press.princeton.edu/titles/13525.html The Bee Course (2020): https://www.thebeecourse.org/ bnd1@cornell.edu ********************Conferences******************** Dear Colleagues, We are happy to invite you to the first Satellite meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution (SMBE) dedicated to the Evolution of Reproduction (https://igc.events.idloom.com/smbe_evorepro). This meeting will take place July 15-17 in Oeiras, Portugal, at the Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência. In this groundbreaking meeting we aim to establish the first cross-disciplinary network dedicated to the Evolution of Reproduction. Our objective is to tackle three outstanding biological questions: i- What are the origins of sexual reproduction? ii- How does evolution constrain the function of reproductive cells? iii- What can evolution teach us about infertility? Our family-friendly event encourages the interaction between scientists from different backgrounds and at different career stages: all speakers will be given a 30-minute time slot and poster presenters will be able to promote their work in a "1 minute + 1 slide" flash talk. We place particular emphasis on the participation of those at early stages of their career: registration fees are low and we have a travel grant program (limited numbers) to support the attendance of graduate students, postdocs and early career professionals. Please check the official website (https://igc.events.idloom.com/smbe_evorepro) to know more about our outstanding invited speakers, unique program and commitment to diversity & inclusiveness. Participant number is limited and registration is required. Please register before March 15th 2020 (https://igc.events.idloom.com/smbe_evorepro/register). Selected applicants will be notified March 31st. We look forward to welcoming you this summer to the Portuguese Riviera! On behalf of the organizing committee, Paulo Navarro-Costa (Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Portugal) Antoine Molaro (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA) For more information regarding this event: smbevorepro20@igc.gulbenkian.pt "otto@zoology.ubc.ca"