The Sweet Lab at Arkansas State University is recruiting a PhD
student to work on an NSF-funded project that seeks to understand the
evolution of fragmented mitochondrial genomes in parasitic lice. The
student will use molecular and bioinformatic approaches to address
hypotheses related to genomic evolution, mito-nuclear coevolution, and
phylogenetics. The student will also be part of a collaborative team that
includes researchers from Arkansas State, the University of Illinois,
and Purdue University. Funding is available in the form of a Research
Assistantship for at least two years and Teaching Assistantships for
the remaining time in the program.

Arkansas State offers a Ph.D. program in Molecular Biosciences
(https://www.astate.edu/college/sciences-and-mathematics/doctoral-programs/molecular-biosciences/).
Applicants who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. are
also eligible to apply to be funded as a trainee in the UandI-DEECoDE
program, which provides access to funds for travel and a one-year
stipend. UandI-DEECoDE (pronounced "You and I decode"), which
stands for Understanding Invasion and Disease Ecology and Evolution
through Computational Data Education, is a research traineeship that
aims to address the absence of interdisciplinarity across invasion
biology, disease ecology, and data science by effectively bridging these
disciplines and improving the pace and magnitude of scientific discovery
across these fields (https://www.astate.edu/uandideecode).

Qualifications: Applicants should have a B.S. degree in biology,
bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, or a related field. Competitive
applicants will also have experience with a programming language (Python,
Perl, R, etc.), bioinformatics (phylogenetics, molecular evolution, etc.),
and/or basic molecular lab skills (DNA extractions, PCR, etc.). An M.S. in
evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, or a related field is preferred
but not required. GRE scores are preferred, but not absolutely required
for admission into the graduate program.

Application: To apply, please send the following materials to Dr. Drew
Sweet (asweet@astate.edu) with the subject line "PhD application":
1) a one-page cover letter detailing your interest in the position, 2)
CV, 3) unofficial transcripts, 4) a writing sample (if possible), and 5)
contact information for three professional references.

Deadline: January 1, 2025

Please send any questions about the position to asweet@astate.edu.

Andrew D. Sweet, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Biology
Department of Biological Sciences
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, AR USA
Website: https://www.sweetomics.com/

asweet@astate.edu

(to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to
golding@mcmaster.ca)