********************GradStudentPositions******************** Graduate position in Biology at Washington University in St. Louis A doctoral student research position is available in the lab of Dr. Michael Landis, located on the Danforth Campus in the Department of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis. The Landis Lab studies problems in phylogenomics, biogeography, and trait evolution by designing statistical models, developing inference methods as software, and applying those methods to selected groups throughout the tree of life. Learn more about the Landis Lab here: https://landislab.github.io. The successful candidate will research macroevolutionary questions using quantitative analyses. Several research projects are available in topics including efficient tree estimation using large phylogenomic datasets, divergence time estimation using biogeography and/or fossils, and modeling gene expression evolution. Depending on the specific skills and interests of the selected candidate, the new hire will help tailor the project so it suits their professional and training goals. The researcher will collaborate within projects, write first author papers, mentor undergraduate students, receive room to establish intellectual independence, and train skills as needed. Qualifications: Candidates must hold an undegraduate degree in biology, bioinformatics, computer science, statistics, or a related field. Applicants must demonstrate interest in models or methods used in evolutionary biology or ecology. The researcher will develop within the phylogenetics modeling software, RevBayes (https://revbayes.com), and collaborate with an international team of researchers and developers. Programming experience is desired, with preference for C/C++/Java over Python/R. Employment: The position begins in the fall of 2019 with guaranteed funding for five years. It is a full-time position that pays a competitive salary of $30,500 annually. WashU offers outstanding benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance (http://dbbs.wustl.edu/curstudents/StipendBenefitsandGrants ). St. Louis itself is both an exciting and family friendly city, with affordable housing and excellent access to food, music, art, and public spaces. Application: PhD applicants are officially accepted through the Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences (DBBS). Exact application requirements are listed through the DBBS PhD Admissions webpage: http://dbbs.wustl.edu/prospstudents/PhDAdmissions . Applicants are strongly encouraged to initiate a conversation with michael.landis@wustl.edu before applying. Deadline for Fall 2019 applications is December 1st, 2018. WashU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Contact: Please email michael.landis@wustl.edu with any questions regarding this posting. Michael Landis Assistant Professor Department of Biology Washington University Saint Louis, MO 63130 michael.landis@wustl.edu ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Temporal dynamics of insect assemblages and interactions in oilseed rape crops Background: Among the potential solutions for a sustainable agriculture, the concept of ecological intensification is particularly promising. It hinges on the hypothesis that by acting on populations and diversity of service providers, it is possible to increase the multi-functionality of ecosystems. To fully deploy an ecological intensification strategy and ensure optimum delivery of ecosystem services, a better understanding of the underpinning mechanisms shaping not only biodiversity but also interaction networks and their associated services is needed. In agroecosystems, regulatory services such as animal pollination and biological control of pests are particularly important because they have the potential to maintain or increase crop production while reducing chemical inputs. These services are based not only on key species but also on their trophic interactions. The aim of this internship is to describe of the temporal dynamics of species assemblages and interaction networks involving key species of regulatory services in oilseed rape (OSR) crops. Tasks: The research will involve monthly collection of samples in the field (carabids, aphid mummies and possibly pollen pellets from beehives) between March and July, specimen identification and preparation those samples for next generation sequencing (illumina platform). Fieldwork will be take place in Chize (Centre d'etude Biologique de Chize). Laboratory work including insect identification, dissection of carabids, DNA extraction, DNA amplification and DNA purification, will take place in Tours (Institute de Recherche sur la biologie de l'Insecte). After preparation, the samples will be sent to an external platform for high-throughput DNA sequencing. If the sequencing data are obtained before the end of the internship, the student will have the opportunity to perform basic bioinformatic analyses to reconstruct trophic interactions networks. Requirements: - The student will be comfortable in the field and in a molecular laboratory - Basic knowledge about insect taxonomy and utilisation of identification keys - Driving licence + personal vehicle - Experience in DNA extraction and PCR would be appreciated Skills to be learned: The student will learn about field experimental design, field-collection of invertebrates and the different steps required for the preparation of samples prior to high-throughput DNA sequencing. Depending on the time required to obtain sequencing data, the student may also have the opportunity to learn some basic bioinformatic skills. Additional information This internship is part of the ANR-funded project IMAgHO (Increasing the Multifunctionality of Agroecosystems by Harnessing fOod webs) and may be followed by a PhD position starting in September 2019 in Tours. Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact Stephane Boyer (stephane.boyer@univ-tours.fr) to discuss the project. Starting date: January to February 2019; duration: 6 months; stipend: 568 euros net per month. Supervisor: Stephane Boyer (stephane.boyer@univ-tours.fr) Institut de Recherche sur la Biologie de l'Insecte, Universite de Tours, Campus de Grandmont, Batiment I, bureau S050 Cheers, Stephane. Image result for logo irbi Professor Stephane Boyer Editor in Chief of Rethinking Ecology Insect Biology Research Institute (IRBI) - UMR 7261 CNRS / Tours University Parc Grandmont, Avenue Monge, 37200 Tours, FRANCE Email stephane.boyer@univ-tours.fr | Tel +33 2 47 36 74 55 my websites http://stephaneboyer.wixsite.com/research | http://www.nzmolecol.org | http://spider.r-forge.r-project.org find me on ResearchGate | GoogleScholar | ImpactStory | Publons | Mendeley | ORCiD my twitter account @Zelpapang my journal http://rethinkingecology.pensoft.net/ Stephane Boyer ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Project Description The bumblebee Bombus terrestris has become a key ecological and evolutionary model of host parasite interactions. This bumblebee is commonly infected with a Trypanosomatid gut parasite, Crithidia bombi, which has dramatic effects on host fitness. Among the features of this interaction is a dramatic degree of specificity. That is, that some bumblebee genotypes are infected with certain parasite genotypes, but not others. This specificity is the result of both host, parasite, and bacterial microbiota characteristics that are as yet poorly understood. With the recent sequencing of both the host and parasite genomes, and the advent of genome editing technologies that can be applied in the host, parasite, and microbiota, we are now in a position to tease apart the mechanisms that determine infection in a key ecological and evolutionary model system. This project will target candidate genes in the parasite and the host and use CRISPR/Cas9 editing and RNA interference to assess their functional importance to disease outcome. The results of this work will have direct implications for key global issues, including protecting pollinators, which is crucial for food security, and insect-trypanosome interactions, many of which cause devastating human and livestock diseases. The ideal student for this project would be one who wishes to apply their molecular biology skills to a novel model system to understand host-parasite interaction. This project will suit a student with interests in evolutionary ecology, microbiology, parasitology, genetics, or molecular biology. Existing skills in any of those areas would be helpful but independence, curiosity, a healthy sense of humor, and a certain amount of grit are usually more important. The successful student will develop skills in evolutionary ecology, host-parasite interaction, immunology, molecular biology, genome editing, and genomics. These skills will be highly marketable both in industry and in academia. The Institute of Integrative Biology at the University of Liverpool and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine offer a vibrant and world-leading community of researchers to interact with, providing many opportunities for collaboration. This project is looking for a student with good upper second or first class degree in biological or life sciences, biomedical, evolutionary biology, microbiology, molecular biology, parasitology, or other relevant fields. If interested please contact me by email if you have any questions about your suitability for the position To apply go to: https://www.findaphd.com/search/ProjectDetails.aspx?PJID=101299 Seth Barribeau Lecturer: Eco-Immunology Evolution, Ecology and Behaviour Institute of Integrative Biology The University of Liverpool Crown Street Liverpool L69 7ZB Tel: 0151 795 8152 www.seth.barribeau.com "Barribeau, Seth" ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Three open PhD positions in Evolutionary Genomics, Ecological Physiology, and Molecular Evolution The Lockwood Lab at the University of Vermont is seeking energetic and motivated graduate students with an interest in evolutionary genomics, ecological physiology and molecular evolution to participate in a set of NSF-funded projects to examine the genomics and physiology of thermal adaptation in *Drosophila*. Students will be expected to develop their own dissertation project that reflects their own interests, within the overall goals of these NSF-funded projects. This is a unique opportunity to be involved in work that is highly integrative and will bring together a diversity of tools to elucidate mechanisms of environmental adaptation. Thus, students will have the opportunity to gain valuable training in genomic mapping, transcriptomics, protein biochemistry, and confocal fluorescence microscopy. The Biology Department at the University of Vermont is a research-intensive integrative department, with internationally-recognized faculty conducting both theoretical and empirical research in disciplines from cells to ecosystems. Founded in 1791, UVM is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States. The University is located in Burlington, Vermont, a vibrant and environmentally-minded small city rich in cultural and recreational activities for members of the research community and their families. Summer support will be provided for four years; funding during the academic year will be in the form of teaching fellowships initially, with a full year of research assistantship support during the final year of the dissertation. Admission to the PhD program will be for Fall 2019. Successful candidates will have strong academic records, meaningful previous research experience, and strong interests in evolutionary genetics, genomics, and ecological physiology. Applicants are also encouraged to apply for acceptance into the QuEST program at the University of Vermont. QuEST is an NSF-funded National Research Training grant in Quantitative and Evolutionary STEM training (QuEST). The QuEST program provides doctoral students with foundational training in quantitative data analysis and modeling, fellowship support, and internship placements to apply evolutionary principles toward solving real-world problems. For more information about the QuEST program: https://www.uvm.edu/quest. To apply please send an email to Brent Lockwood (Brent.Lockwood@uvm.edu) if you are interested. Please include a CV, description of your background, and why you feel you are a good fit for the Lockwood Lab. Applications are currently being accepted. The application to the graduate program at University of Vermont can be found here: https://www.applyweb.com/uvmg/index.ftl. The application to the QuEST program can be found here: https://www.uvm.edu/quest/forms/quest-application. The deadline to apply for Fall 2019 is December 15, 2018. "Brent.Lockwood@uvm.edu" ********************Jobs******************** A position is available in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University for a part-time 12-month lecturer (0.75 FTE). Required Qualifications: Ph.D. in ecology, evolution, biological sciences, or a field closely related to the subject of the search. Preferred Qualifications: Research emphasis on quantitative methods and biological statistics. Experience teaching undergraduate and/or graduate lecture courses on research methods and/or statistics. Experience teaching courses in evolutionary biology. Experience conducting research using geometric morphometrics. Significant research experience, including authorship of at least five publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals. Responsibilities & Requirements: The successful candidate for this part-time position (75% FTE) will teach a course in statistics and data analysis for biology majors (BIO 211), with additional summer teaching to include an online course in evolution for biology majors (BIO 354), in addition to an online version of the statistics and data analysis course. An additional graduate course on geometric morphometrics (BEE 564) will be taught during the spring semester of year 2 for this temporary position. There will also be the opportunity to conduct research during the academic year and summer. The successful candidate will be expected to design an online version of BIO 211 that can be offered during the summer session to expand course access for students. An additional online course will be developed for winter session potentially as a cross-listed course offering. Special Notes: This is a part time non-tenure track position at 0.75 FTE. FLSA Exempt position, not eligible for the overtime provisions of the FLSA. Internal and external search to occur simultaneously. Anticipated Start Date: May 2019. For more information and application details, please visit: https://www.stonybrook.edu/commcms/faculty-jobs/positions/faculty-librarian/current-year/Lecturer-12-month-F-9942-18-10 -- Robert Thacker Professor and Chairperson Department of Ecology and Evolution 650 Life Sciences Building Stony Brook University Stony Brook, New York 11794-5245 voice: 631-632-8590 e-mail: robert.thacker@stonybrook.edu "robert.thacker@stonybrook.edu" ********************Jobs******************** The Department of Biology at Middle Tennessee State University seeks to hire a tenure-track faculty member (#103070) at the rank of assistant or associate professor in the area of evolutionary biology. Start date for this position is August 1, 2019. The successful candidate will be expected to mentor students (undergraduate, MS, and PhD) and establish an independent research program (laboratory and/or field research) that will gain national recognition. Teaching responsibilities may include courses in General Biology, Genetics, Evolution, Biosatistics, and/or organismal courses in his/her area of expertise. The ability to contribute to courses in Entomology and Speciation is desirable but not required. The Department of Biology has moved recently into a newly constructed 250,000 square foot science building that includes a greenhouse, an animal research facility, and ample laboratory research space. (Department of Biology information: http://mtsu.edu/biology). The department hosts both a Master's program and interdisciplinary doctoral program in Molecular Biosciences (MOBI). The hire will be expected to develop an extramurally-funded research program and provide evidence of productive scholarship appropriate to the applicant's current career stage. PhD in evolutionary biology or other relevant field is required by the appointment date. Applicants with postdoctoral experience, a strong research record that includes impactful peer-reviewed publications and a level of grant funding that reflects high productivity at the applicant's current career stage will receive special consideration. For more information about the position or to apply, see: https://mtsujobs.mtsu.edu/postings/7489 Sarah Bergemann Professor Middle Tennessee State University Biology Department PO Box 60 Murfreesboro TN 37132 Sarah.Bergemann@mtsu.edu Sarah Bergemann ********************Jobs******************** Title: Lab Manager Start: Immediately with flexible start date A full-time position is open for a full time Lab Manager/Research Assistant in the Department of Biology at the University of Maryland, College Park (Machado Lab). The position is for two and a half years with option to extend based on additional funding. The Machado lab uses genomic approaches to understand the mechanisms that underlie patterns of species divergence and genetic variation in insects and plants. The selected candidate will support research on functional evolutionary genomics in Drosophila. Duties: maintain inventory of lab supplies and samples in freezers, maintain Drosophila fly lines in culture, perform molecular work (DNA and RNA extractions, PCR, cloning, next generation sequencing library construction), help with the production and design of molecular reagents for generating Drosophila transgenic lines, help training and working with undergraduate students. Expected qualifications: strong background in molecular biology techniques, previous work with Drosophila (desired but not required), Bachelor's degree in Biology with at least two years of research experience working in a molecular lab, basic knowledge of computer sequence software (e.g. Geneious), ability to work independently and work on multiple assignments with overlapping deadlines, excellent organizational skills. Salary commensurate with experience. Use this link to apply: https://ejobs.umd.edu/postings/64253 Upload a single pdf with a cover letter describing your interest in the position and qualifications, a current CV, and the names and contact information for two or three references. Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and the position will remain open until filled. The position is available immediately with a flexible start date. The University of Maryland, College Park, an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions. Carlos A. Machado Department of Biology University of Maryland, College Park 1210 Biology-Psychology Buildingâ euro ¨ College Park, MD 20742 http://www.clfs.umd.edu/biology/machadolab/ "machado@umd.edu" ********************Jobs******************** The Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tuebingen, Germany has an open PhD position in the Evolutionary Biology Department Our team: We are a highly interdisciplinary team working on the interface between molecular biology, developmental biology, population genetics, ecology, and evolutionary biology. Our model system is a nematode related to Caenorhabditis elegans which is one of the most important model organism in biomedical research. Our lab has established a second nematode species, Pristionchus pacificus, as model for comparative studies with C. elegans. Our current focus is on studying how environmental cues influence developmental decisions and how these processes drive speciation and genome evolution. To this end, we are investigating chemical signaling between nematodes, interactions with bacteria and we try to get mechanistical insights into the genetic basis of these and various other traits. Our Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics group integrates analysis of next generation sequencing data and statistical analysis to find associations between genotype and phenotype and provides comparative and functional genomic analyses for further characterizing regulatory networks and selective forces acting on the underlying genomic loci. Your profile: We are looking for a highly motivated student with a Masters or equivalent degree from any biomedical field. The applicant must be willing to acquire basic computational skills (familiarity with a command line interface and good knowledge in one scripting language) and spend at least 50% of the time in the dry lab. Furthermore, excellent communication skills are essential to successfully interact in this highly interdisciplinary environment. Our offer: We have one open PhD position (initial contract for three years with salary according to the German public service pay scale) in the Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics Group. This includes access to the working environment and resources of one of the world's most successful organizations in basic research. To apply: Please send coverletter, CV, and name and contact details of two references to christian.roedelsperger@tuebingen.mpg.de Further information: http://www.sommerlab.org/ http://www.eb.tuebingen.mpg.de/ Christian Roedelsperger Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics Group Department for Evolutionary Biology Max-Planck Institute for Developmental Biology Max-Planck-Ring 9, 72076 Tuebingen, Germany Tel.: +49 7071 601 440 Email: christian.roedelsperger@tuebingen.mpg.de http://www.sommerlab.org/research/evolutionary-genomics-and-bioinformatics.html Christian Rödelsperger ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoctoral Researcher in Biology at Washington University in St. Louis A postdoctoral research position is available in the lab of Dr. Michael Landis, located on the Danforth Campus in the Department of Biology at Washington University in St. Louis. The Landis Lab studies problems in phylogenomics, biogeography, and trait evolution by designing statistical models, developing inference methods as software, and applying those methods to selected groups throughout the tree of life. Learn more about the Landis Lab here: https://landislab.github.io. The successful candidate will research macroevolutionary questions using quantitative analyses. Several research projects are available in topics including efficient tree estimation using large phylogenomic datasets, divergence time estimation using biogeography and/or fossils, and modeling gene expression evolution. Depending on the specific skills and interests of the selected candidate, the new hire will help tailor the project so it suits their professional and training goals. The researcher will help direct projects, write first author papers, mentor graduate students, receive room to establish intellectual independence, and train new skills (as needed). Qualifications: Candidates must hold a PhD in biology, bioinformatics, computer science, statistics, or a related field. Applicants must have experience developing or applying the models and methods used in phylogenetics or population genetics. The researcher will develop within the phylogenetics modeling software, RevBayes https://revbayes.com, and collaborate with an international team of researchers and developers. Programming experience is necessary, with preference for C/C++/Java over Python/R. Employment: The position begins in the summer of 2019 and lasts for two years with the possibility of extension. It is a full-time position (~37.5 hrs/wk) that pays a competitive salary starting at $48,432 per NIH guidelines https://www.niaid.nih.gov/grants-contracts/salary-cap-stipends. WashU offers outstanding benefits, including health, dental, vision, and life insurance https://hr.wustl.edu/benefits/postdoctoral/. St. Louis itself is both an exciting and family friendly city, with affordable housing and excellent access to food, music, art, and public spaces. Application: To apply, submit (i) your CV, (ii) a 1-2 page cover letter that briefly states your research interests, and (iii) three references through https://jobs.wustl.edu to the position with Job ID #41792 (https://bit.ly/2A2pMgs). The review of applications will begin on December 1st, 2018 and continue until the position is filled. WashU is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Contact: Please email michael.landis@wustl.edu with any questions regarding this posting. Michael Landis Assistant Professor Department of Biology Washington University Saint Louis, MO 63130 michael.landis@wustl.edu ********************PostDocs******************** A postdoctoral position is available in the Lockwood Lab at the University of Vermont to participate in a set of NSF-funded projects to examine molecular evolution in the context of thermal adaptation in *Drosophila*. The overarching goal of this work is to use biophysical models to predict protein structure-function relationships that impact fitness. The postdoc will use an integrative approach and combine techniques in protein biochemistry and molecular genetics. The postdoc will join a multi-investigator collaborative team with complementary expertise in protein biophysical modeling, population genetics, and protein biochemistry, including Marty Ytreberg (Univ. of Idaho), Dan Weinreich (Brown Univ.), Craig Miller (Univ. Idaho), and Brandon Ogbunugafor (Brown Univ.). The successful candidate will have a strong research record in evolutionary genetics and/or biochemistry and a strong interest in ecological physiology, as well as a background in computational and statistical analysis. The Biology Department at the University of Vermont is a research-intensive integrative department, with internationally-recognized faculty conducting both theoretical and empirical research in disciplines from cells to ecosystems. Founded in 1791, UVM is consistently ranked as one of the top public universities in the United States. The University is located in Burlington, Vermont, a vibrant and environmentally-minded small city rich in cultural and recreational activities for members of the research community and their families. Support (salary and benefits) is available for up to 3 years; the initial appointment is for one year with the opportunity to extend to additional years pending performance. To apply, please send an email to Brent Lockwood (Brent.Lockwood@uvm.edu) with a single PDF document with cover letter, statement of research interests, CV, and contact information for three references. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. The start date is flexible, but the position can start immediately. Lockwood Lab Website: https://www.uvm.edu/~bllockwo/ "Brent.Lockwood@uvm.edu" ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear colleagues, The 8th edition of Transmitting science course "3D Geometric Morphometrics" has open registration. Dates and Place: January 28th February 1st, 2019, Crete (Greece). Instructor: Dr Melissa Tallman (Grand Valley State University, USA). Registration and more info: https://www.transmittingscience.org/courses/geometric-morphometrics/3d-geometric-morphometrics/ PROGRAM: Types of data acquisition: Using a microscribe. Collecting CT scans & Surface Scans. - Demonstration of Stratovan Checkpoint. Brief Review of Fundamentals of Morphometrics: - How to choose landmarks. - Generalized Procrustes Analysis. - Other types of alignment. - Thin plate spline warping. Processing Microscribe data. - Using DVLR to merge two views. - Using resample to resample a line. Using Landmark Editor to collect data on surfaces. - Sliding semi-landmarks (using R geomorph package). - How to do a precision test on 3D data. - Data exploration: PCA analyses: Using Morphologika. Using MorphoJ. Between-group PCAs. PCAs in Procrustes form space. - Visualizing shape change: Using MorphoJ in conjunction with Landmark Editor. Making calculations and visualizing shape changes in PCA morphospace. Calculating PCA scores post hoc. - Data exploration: Regressions. Visualizing change that is associated with size (MorphoJ). Removing change associated from size from your data (MorphoJ). Common allometric trajectories. Comparing vector directions. Extracting linear dimensions from 3D data and using them as covariates. - Data exploration: PLS analyses. Using MorphoJ to mean center (or not). Visualizing shape change in Landmark editor. - Data exploration: Phylogeny. Visualizing shape changes in MorphoJ along a tree. Importing covariates and visualizing shape change associated with taxonomy (using MorphoJ). Creating a phyomorphospace. Correcting for phylogeny in PCA. - Data interpretations: Using mean configurations (PAST) and Procrustes distances. Minimum spanning trees. Variability within a sample (comparing fossil distributions to extant distributions). - Retrodeformation. This course is organized by Transmitting Science and the Institut Català de Paleontologia M. C. Please feel free to distribute this information between your colleagues if you consider it appropriate. Best wishes Sole Soledad De Esteban-Trivigno, PhD Scientific Director Transmitting Science www.transmittingscience.org soledad.esteban@transmittingscience.org ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** PARTFUNDED SCHOLARHPS for the course "Introduction to bioinformatics for DNA and RNA sequence analysis (IBDR01)" []^[DEL: :DEL] This course will run from the 29th October - 2nd November in Glasgow City Centre, Scotland, UK[DEL: :DEL] https://www.prinformatics.com/course/introduction-to-bioinformatics-for -dna-and-rna-sequence-analysis-ibdr01/ PR INFORMATICS ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THROUGH THEIR FUNDING SCHEME THEY ARE ABLE TO OFFER PART-FUNDED SCHOLARSHIPS FOR OUR UP-COMING COURSE "Introduction to bioinformatics for DNA and RNA sequence analysis (IBDR01)" []^[DEL: :DEL] []^[DEL: :DEL] SCHOLARSHIPS CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS COURSE FEES AVAILABLE AT pounds 330.00 (Fees have been subsidised by 40% from pounds 550.00). We also have some accommodation packages still free which can be purchased in addition to this. Applications should be sent to oliverhooker@prinformatics.com and contain the following. 1. Full name 2. Institute name 3. PhD subject title or Post doc research questions 4. Do you hold a funded position 5. 150 words why this course would be relevant to your research or how it would help. Application deadline is Tuesday 16th October and decisions will be made by Wednesday 17th September 2018. We still have 'normal' places available for anyone else interested. Full course details are given below Introduction to bioinformatics for DNA and RNA sequence analysis (IBDR01) Delivered by Dr. Malachi Griffith https://www.prinformatics.com/course/introduction-to-bioinformatics-for -dna-and-rna-sequence-analysis-ibdr01/ Course Overview: Analysis of high throughput genome and transcriptome data is major component of many research projects ranging from large-scale precision medicine efforts to focused investigations in model systems. This analysis involves the identification of specific genome or transcriptome features that predispose individuals to disease, predict response to therapies, influence diagnosis/prognosis, or provide mechanistic insights into disease models. During this course (IBDR01), students will perform an example end-to-end bioinformatics analysis of genome (WGS and Exome) and transcriptome (RNA-seq) data. Students will start with raw sequence data for a hypothetical case, learn to install and use the tools needed to analyze this data on the cloud, and visualize and interpret results. After completing the course, students should be in a position to (1) understand raw sequence data formats, (2) perform bioinformatics analyses on the cloud, (3) run complete analysis pipelines for alignment, variant calling, annotation, and RNA-seq (transcriptome analysis approaches will be a major component of the workshop), (4) visualize and interpret whole genome, exome and RNA-seq results, (5) leverage the identification of passenger variants for immunotherapy applications, and (6) begin to place these results in a clinical context by use of variant knowledgebases. The data, tools, and analysis will be most directly relevant to human genomics and bioinformatics research. However, many of the skills and concepts covered will be applicable to other human diseases and model organisms. Furthermore, many analysis concepts covered during the workshop will be broadly applicable to other "big data" research problems. All course materials (including copies of presentations, practical exercises, data files, and example scripts prepared by the instructing team) will be provided electronically to participants. oliverhooker@prinformatics.com Oliver Hooker PhD. PR informatics 2017 publications - Ecosystem size predicts eco-morphological variability in post-glacial diversification. Ecology and Evolution. - The physiological costs of prey switching reinforce foraging specialization. Journal of animal ecology. prinformatics.com twitter.com/PRinformatics facebook.com/prstatistics/ 6 Hope Park Crescent Edinburgh EH8 9NA +44 (0) 7966500340 Oliver Hooker ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear all, registration is now open for our second edition of the course "Geometric Morphometrics"! Where: Berlin (Germany) When: 18th-22nd March 2019 Instructor: Dr. Carmelo Fruciano (ENS, Paris (France)) http://bit.ly/2rxQVFC Overview Geometric morphometrics has become a standard in biological research because it combines statistical rigour and ease of interpretation. Through geometric morphometrics, biological form is quantified, analysed and the results are expressed as easily interpretable and visually impactful shape changes. This course covers the main common practices of modern geometric morphometrics, including: acquiring data, analysing it, visualizing and interpreting the results. Format The course will be delivered over five days and will comprise both lectures and hands-on sessions. The lectures will cover both basic theoretical aspects and their practical implementation in research practice and software. During the hands-on sessions, the attendees will have the chance of both using example datasets and applying the knowledge acquired to their own data. The course will be focused mainly on 2D data and on easy-to-use software with graphical user interface to maximize the ability to understand concepts and apply them. However, some information on 3D data and on R implementations will be provided, as appropriate. Assumed Background This course is aimed at beginners and intermediate users. In other words, it is aimed at researchers who intend to use geometric morphometrics or who have started performing geometric morphometric analyses but feel they need a more structured background. Requirements Attendees should have a background in biology and a basic understanding of statistical concepts. Session content Day1 Geometric morphometrics: overview and potential applications: - Traditional and geometric morphometrics - An overview of common analyses - Examples of geometric morphometrics applied to biological problems >From biological objects to numerical representation: - Overview of typical devices used to digitalise biological objects - Landmarks, semilandmarks, outlines and surfaces - different types of geometric morphometric data - Most commonly used geometric morphometric software - Data quality, most common pitfalls in study design and data acquisition Day 2 Generalized Procrustes analysis (GPA) the core of most geometric morphometrics: Principal component analysis (PCA) Comparing groups: - Between-group PCA - Canonical variate analysis (CVA) - Tests of difference in means Day 3 Co-variation between size and shape: - Allometry, regression and general linear models Co-variation between shapes: - Partial least squares analysis (PLS) - Modularity and integration Day 4 Combining analyses in a basic workflow: - Preliminary assessment of data quality - Typical basic workflow Expanding the basic workflow: variation in geographic space Expanding the basic workflow: association between shape and environmental variables Day 5 Expanding the basic workflow: elements of phylogenetic comparative analyses Review and open discussion Presentation of attendees¿ analyses on their own data For more information about the course, please visit our website: https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/course22/ Here is the full list of our courses and Workshops: https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/ Best regards, Physalia-course team info@physalia-courses.org ********************Conferences******************** SMBE 2019 Call for Symposia We're delighted to announce that the Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution is now accepting proposals for symposium topics for the 2019 Annual Meeting, taking place in Manchester, United Kingdom, from 21st to 25th July 2019. Proposals should span the range of interests of SMBE members, including exciting new scientific developments, and should represent the geographic and gender diversity of our membership. For each accepted symposium, SMBE will provide partial financial support to help attract outstanding invited speakers. For more details and to submit your proposal please visit the meeting website at http://smbe2019.org/call-for-symposia/. The deadline for proposal submission is November 02, 2018. Successful applications will be confirmed by the middle of November. If you have any questions, please email smbe2019@mci-group.co. We look forward to your participation in the SMBE Annual Meeting next July in Manchester, UK. Sincerely, The Local Organising Committee SMBE 2019 Manchester, UK "Lulu Stader (SMBE admin)" -- Dr Lulu Stader Executive Administrator, Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution smbe.contact@gmail.com "Lulu Stader (SMBE admin)"