MasseyU_NewZealand. Evolutionary_toxicology A PhD project investigating the evolution of resistance in a mammal to plant chemical defences. Plants and herbivorous animals have a coevolutionary relationship that drives selection to protect leaves in plants and selection to circumvent plant defences in animals. Our system involves the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) that is native to Australia and invasive in New Zealand. Some populations of brushtails in Australia have naturally evolved resistance to fluoroacetate poison produced in plants they eat. A synthetic version of the same poison is widely applied in New Zealand to kill toxin-naïve possums. Our recent work with transcriptomes has identified a set of genes implicated in fluoroacetate resistance. For some background information see: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00360-024-01591-z and https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ece3.9633 You will investigate variation at these genetic loci and assess their relative expression levels in possums exposed to fluoroacetate. You will generate DNA and RNA data and use quantitative PCR with a view to establishing the genes most influential in toxin resistance and their mode of action. A goal will be to develop PCR markers that enable rapid screening of significant loci in possums and other mammal species exposed to fluoroacetate. from sympatric insect taxa to compare ice+ activity of hosts and their microbiomes. Start date: 2025 Location: The successful applicant will be based on the Manawatū campus of Massey University, Palmerston North, NEW ZEALAND. Massey University is a smoke-free work environment. Lead researcher in New Zealand is Steve Trewick of the Te Taha Tawhiti research group: https://evolves.massey.ac.nz is within the Wildlife & Ecology Group. This will be part of a collaborative programme supported by funding from the Australian Research Council. Admission criteria & candidate requirements: You will need a good first degree from an internationally recognised university; minimum upper second class Hons or a Master's degree in an appropriate subject. You should have a background in Evolution/Biochemistry/Genomics, good statistics skills (preferably experience with R) and a strong interest in evolutionary ecology. How to Apply: In the first instance we encourage you to contact us by email to discuss your interest with Steve: s.trewick@massey.ac.nz Steve Trewick (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)