********************GradStudentPositions******************** Ph.D. assistantship available at Virginia Tech The Holliday Lab in the Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation at Virginia Tech is seeking an Ph.D. student for an NSF funded project to study the genomics of hybridization in the Populus genus. Natural Populus hybrid zones provide a 'living laboratory' in which there has been a long history of natural selection testing the genomic and phenotypic outcomes of hybridization. We will sample across replicated Populus hybrid zones to robustly capture the history of Genome x Genome x Environment interactions along environmental gradients, and couple this sampling with genome-wide re-sequencing and computational approaches to address the following questions: (i) How is introgression arrayed across the genome and landscape? (ii) What genomic regions control hybrid fitness and what are their environmental drivers? (iii) Can adaptive introgression be recapitulated using controlled crosses? We will combine extensive short and long-read genome resequencing to exhaustively characterize genomic variation across the hybrid zones. We will then use admixture mapping to associate genomic ancestry with climate gradients and adaptive phenotypes, predict hybrid performance across a range of field test sites, and evaluate the contributions of environment and space in explaining patterns of hybridization. Finally, we will test the repeatability of hybrid outcomes using controlled crosses among Populus species, assess the predictive value of the loci identified as being involved in hybrid vigor/heterosis, and assess the role of allele-specific expression in generating hybrid phenotypes. This project will provide the most comprehensive picture to date of the genomics of hybridization and heterosis in a tree species, and enhance our understanding of the relationship between introgression and fitness across environments. This project is a collaboration among four US universities, with each tackling a different aspect of the questions above. At Virginia Tech, we will be particularly focused on structural variation assessed using PacBio CCS. Candidates should have a background in evolutionary biology, genetics/genomics, bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field, and be interested in learning the necessary computational and statistical tools to complete this project. Some field work will be necessary as well, including evaluating poplar common gardens near Virginia Tech, as well as potential travel to field sites in western North American for sampling. Start date could either be spring or fall 2020, with potential for a paid, temporary appointment prior to enrollment. Please send expressions of interest and CV to Dr. Jason Holliday (jah1@vt.edu). "Holliday, Jason" ********************Jobs******************** University of Missouri DIRECTOR OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES The University of Missouri (MU) invites nominations and applications for the position of Director of the Division of Biological Sciences (DBS). DBS is housed in the College of Arts and Science, the largest and most academically diverse unit on campus, and the Director will report to the Dean. The new Director will have the opportunity to lead an established and vibrant biological sciences Division with a strong and successful commitment to research, undergraduate and graduate education, and outreach to the broader community. We seek an individual who will support and contribute to the Division¢s strategic vision that builds on its demonstrated strengths in research, teaching, and commitment to inclusive excellence. The Director is responsible for all aspects of the Division. We seek a dynamic individual who will provide vision, leadership, and guidance for academic and research programs; recruit high-caliber faculty, students and staff; develop resources to strengthen the long-term viability, efficiency, and effectiveness of the Division¢s research and teaching programs; promote collaborative research within the Division and across MU; lead inclusion and diversity efforts within the Division; administer the Division¢s budget; collaborate with the dean on fundraising; be an advocate for the department; and mentor faculty at different stages of their careers. The successful candidate will have an earned doctorate in an appropriate discipline. In addition, the ideal candidate would have a record that could include: - An established record of excellence in research and teaching in an area that complements departmental strengths - Program leadership - Experience with strategic planning, budgetary responsibilities and human resources - Promoting intra- and inter-departmental collaboration - Working cooperatively with faculty with a transparent, approachable leadership style respective of the principles of shared governance - Experience with alumni and donor relations - Understanding of the dual missions of a Land Grant and AAU Research 1 university - Experience advancing inclusion and diversity for faculty, staff and students - A record of leading graduate and undergraduate training programs - Familiarity with national trends in undergraduate and graduate education - Be qualified for tenure at the rank of professor at MU. The Division of Biological Sciences at MU is noted for its excellence in research and teaching. We are distinctive in the breadth and depth of our research and the integrative approaches we take to fundamental problems in biology, ranging from genomes to ecosystems, using a diversity of organisms. We share faculty with an interdisciplinary Life Sciences Center as well as with the Donald Danforth Plant Sciences Center in St. Louis; are active research partners with faculty in engineering, veterinary medicine, agriculture and natural resources, as well as with research scientists from state and federal agencies, including the Missouri Department of Conservation, the USGS, and USDA-ARS; and are active members of various interdisciplinary academic programs and groups, including the Interdisciplinary Plant Group, the Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program, the Genetics Area Program, the MU Informatics Institute, the Missouri Maize Center, and the Evolution and Social Sciences Group. Our faculty members are internationally known researchers and prize-winning teachers and include a Nobel Laureate, a National Academy of Sciences member, a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers recipient, 6 AAAS Fellows, and multiple members of disciplinary societies and honorary organizations. Our undergraduate major attracts a large (~1100 majors), diverse (12% URM), and talented pool of students, including those interested in graduate, medical and other professional schools. Our graduate program is also vibrant and diverse (22% URM). All of our graduate students receive a competitive stipend, health insurance, and tuition. Additional information about the Division can found at biology.missouri.edu. Please apply online at https://hrs.missouri.edu/find-a-job/academic, position number 30843. Use the online application and be prepared to upload (compiled into a single PDF) a detailed curriculum vitae; cover letter summarizing your experience in higher education; a description of research plans and teaching interests; a diversity statement describing your professional experience advancing inclusion within an academic setting; and the names and contact information of three referees willing to write a letter if solicited. Applicants should contact the chair of the search committee (bioscifacultysearch@missouri.edu) with questions about the position and MU Human Resource Services (muhrs@missouri.edu) with questions about the online application process. Review of application materials will begin October 1, 2019. To ensure full consideration, applications should be complete by this date. The position will remain open until filled. An equal opportunity/access/affirmative action/pro-disabled and veteran employer "Ballew, Rebecca L." ********************Jobs******************** Title: Tenure/Tenure Track Evolutionary Genomics Faculty The Department of Biology in the Eberly College of Science (www.bio.psu.edu) at The Pennsylvania State University seeks applicants for a tenure-track or tenured faculty position in Evolutionary Genomics. The evolutionary analysis of rapidly expanding genomic datasets requires development and implementation of rigorous computational and statistical approaches. The successful applicant is expected to develop a strong, independent, externally funded research program leading to novel insights and paradigms in evolution from the analyses of complex genomic datasets. We are particularly interested in candidates developing the theoretical foundation of evolutionary and/or population genomics. The primary appointment will be in Biology, but could include joint appointments in either the Statistics or Mathematics departments. The applicant must have a Ph.D. in biology, computer science, statistics, or a related field. The successful applicant is expected to teach and perform research in a collaborative environment, with the opportunity to join one of the Centers in the Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences and to supervise students from interdisciplinary graduate programs. This position features competitive start-up package. Applications must be submitted electronically at https://psu.jobs and must include a cover letter that highlights significant graduate and postdoctoral scientific accomplishments, goals or vision for your research program at Penn State, and qualifications that make you well-suited to achieve these goals; Curriculum vitae; Research interests statement; Teaching interests statement; A diversity statement that describes past, current, and future contributions to equity, diversity, and inclusion at the teaching, research, or professional level; and Contact information for at least three professional references. Review of applications will start immediately and continue until the position is filled. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. Apply online at https://psu.jobs/job/89966 To review the Annual Security Report which contains information about crime statistics and other safety and security matters and policies, please go to https://police.psu.edu/annual-security-reports, which will also explain how to request a paper copy of the Annual Security Report. Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status." "Barth, Kelsey J" ********************PostDocs******************** Milan.InsectPlantMicrobiomeInteractions_1 Postdocposition (12 + 12 months) at DiSAA ' Università degli Studi di Milano, InsectEcology and Evolution group, Milano, Italy. We arelooking for a postdoc with a consolidate experience (minimum 2 years) inmicrobiome analyses (prokaryotes genomics and metagenomics, RNA sequencing).Our group is planning to start several research projects aimed to investigateinsect-microbiota-plant interactions in different systems (ants-extrafloralnectars-microbiota and tomato endophytes-Spodoptera littoralis-gut microbiota). Forapplying send an e-mail to matteo.montagna@unimi.it . Deadlineto apply is 10 of October 2019. Salary is around 1500 euros net/month,including health insurance. The position will start as soon as we find thecandidate. Thepostdoc will be supervised by Dr Matteo Montagna ( https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Matteo_Montagna ) ----- Milan.InsectPlantMicrobiomeInteractions_2 Postdocposition (12 + 12 months) at DBS ' Università degli Studi di Milano, Insectphysiology and biotechnology group, Milano, Italy. We arelooking for a postdoc with a consolidate experience (minimum 2 years) on insectphysiology, including enzyme assays (candidates with experience on lepidopteraas model organisms are preferred), beside this, the candidate is expected topossess basic skills of molecular biology (DNA and RNA extraction protocols, PCR,rtPCR) and techniques in practical microbiology. Our group is planning to startseveral research projects aimed to investigate insect-microbiota-plantinteractions in different systems (ants-extrafloral nectars-microbiota andtomato endophytes-Spodoptera littoralis-gut microbiota). Forapplying send an e-mail to morena.casartelli@unimi.it Deadlineto apply is 10 of October 2019. Salary is around 1500 euros net/month,including health insurance. The position will start as soon as we find thecandidate. Thepostdoc will be supervised by Prof. Morena Casartelli (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Morena_Casartelli) Matteo Montagna ********************PostDocs******************** Firstpost-doc position Postdocposition (12 + 12 months) at DiSAA ' Università degli Studi di Milano, InsectEcology and Evolution group, Milano, Italy. We arelooking for a postdoc with a consolidate experience (minimum 2 years) inmicrobiome analyses (prokaryotes genomics and metagenomics, RNA sequencing).Our group is planning to start several research projects aimed to investigateinsect-microbiota-plant interactions in different systems (ants-extrafloralnectars-microbiota and tomato endophytes-Spodoptera littoralis-gut microbiota). Forapplying send an e-mail to matteo.montagna@unimi.it . Deadlineto apply is 10 of October 2019. Salary is around 1500 euros net/month,including health insurance. The position will start as soon as we find thecandidate. Thepostdoc will be supervised by Dr Matteo Montagna ( https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Matteo_Montagna ) ----- Secondpost-doc position Postdocposition (12 + 12 months) at DBS ' Università degli Studi di Milano, Insectphysiology and biotechnology group, Milano, Italy. We arelooking for a postdoc with a consolidate experience (minimum 2 years) on insectphysiology, including enzyme assays (candidates with experience on lepidopteraas model organisms are preferred), beside this, the candidate is expected topossess basic skills of molecular biology (DNA and RNA extraction protocols, PCR,rtPCR) and techniques in practical microbiology. Our group is planning to startseveral research projects aimed to investigate insect-microbiota-plantinteractions in different systems (ants-extrafloral nectars-microbiota andtomato endophytes-Spodoptera littoralis-gut microbiota). Forapplying send an e-mail to morena.casartelli@unimi.it Deadlineto apply is 10 of October 2019. Salary is around 1500 euros net/month,including health insurance. The position will start as soon as we find thecandidate. Thepostdoc will be supervised by Prof. Morena Casartelli (https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Morena_Casartelli) Matteo Montagna ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoctoral Fellowship: conservation genomics, climate resilience and restoration of southern African seagrasses The von der Heyden lab at Stellenbosch University is recruiting a postdoctoral fellow, for a fully funded NRF postdoctoral fellowship. The successful applicant will take a leading role in the newly funded "Project SeaStore: integrated research to support seagrass restoration and to build estuarine resilience in South Africa", that combines transcriptomic and functional diversity in natural and experimental populations of the seagrass, Zostera capensis, throughout its range. The project is a collaboration involving Stellenbosch University (Profs Sophie von der Heyden, Guy Midgley), Nelson Mandela University (Prof Janine Adams), University of Cape Town (Dr Deena Pillay) and the Knysna Basin Project (Dr Louw Claassens). The successful applicant will be based at the von der Heyden Lab at Stellenbosch University, one of Africa's leading marine research groups specializing in the use of molecular tools to understand patterns and processes driving southern Africa's rich marine biodiversity. We are a dynamic lab, with a strong emphasis on research excellence as well as student training and support. Our work spans population genetics and phylogeography, fisheries management/stock identification, historical biogeography and the impacts of historical and contemporary climate change on species distributions. To do this, we utilise a wide range of tools including genomics and environmental DNA, with our overarching goal of promoting the integration of molecular tools into conservation and sustainable utilization of southern African marine species and resources. You can find out more about the von der Heyden lab and marine research at Stellenbosch University here: www.vonderheydenlab.com or via FB www.facebook.com/vonderheydenlab or on Twitter: @vonderheydenlab or @ProjectSeaStore. Applicants for the position will be hard-working, enthusiastic, independently motivated and willing to lead a significant part of Project SeaStore. A background in ecological genomics is essential, as is a passion for marine ecology and conservation. Ideally, the successful applicant would have some experience of transcriptomics and have worked with natural and laboratory populations of seagrass (although this is not essential). A background in bioinformatics (use of pipelines, ability to work and write R scripts) is required. The project includes a significant fieldwork component, so a valid drivers license is required, as well as an ability to work in aquatic environments. Please direct all enquiries to Prof Sophie von der Heyden, svdh@sun.ac.za. For applications to be considered include a detailed CV noting experience, as well as publications and conference attendance and provide three contactable referees. The fellowship carries a value of R220,000 per annum and is available for two years (2020-2021). The successful applicant would ideally start early in 2020. Closing date for applications is the 30th September 2019. Stellenbosch University is one of Africa's leading research intensive universities and is set in the beautiful Western Cape, close to Cape Town. For more information on Stellenbosch and Stellenbosch University: www.sun.ac.za. Stellenbosch offers ample opportunity for outdoor enthusiasts and is a culturally diverse, vibrant and welcoming environment. The integrity and confidentiality of this email are governed by these terms. Disclaimer Die integriteit en vertroulikheid van hierdie e-pos word deur die volgende bepalings bereël. Vrywaringsklousule "Von der Heyden, S, Prof [svdh@sun.ac.za]" ********************Conferences******************** Dear colleagues, There will be an "Avian Genomics" workshop at the international PAG conference in January in San Diego http://www.intlpag.org/. I will host it for the 5th time: "Avian Genomics - Gone Wild!". PAG 2020 will be from Jan 11th to Jan 15th. "PAG brings together over 3,000 leading genetic scientists and researchers in plant and animal research, and over 130 exhibits, 150 workshops, 1100   posters and over 1800 abstracts." To get an overview of the last "Avian Genomics - Gone Wild!" session of 2019 here is the link: https://pag.confex.com/pag/xxvii/meetingapp.cgi/Session/5452 1st and 2nd editions were in: 2016 - https://pag.confex.com/pag/xxiv/meetingapp.cgi/Session/3531 2017 - https://pag.confex.com/pag/xxv/meetingapp.cgi/Session/4169 2018 - https://pag.confex.com/pag/xxvi/meetingapp.cgi/Session/4741 If your work falls within the area of avian genomics, especially of birds in the wild, please send your abstract (200-300 words, no special format) to me by October 1st. Do not hesitate to ask any questions. Best wishes, Robert rkraus@ab.mpg.de