PhD position in the project: "Unravelling the establishment of endosymbiosis: quest for intermediate evolutionary stages among microbial eukaryotes (SYMBIOSTART)" Project description: The phenomenon of endosymbiosis - in which one organism lives within another - led to major evolutionary transitions such as the origin of mitochondria and plastids. We currently know that there have been several independent events of endosymbiosis in early eukaryotic evolution, giving rise in some cases to major eukaryotic superclades. However, despite its significance, we still do not understand the mechanism of endosymbiotic integration. Only by examining more recent endosymbioses in various phases of integration can we make progress in our understanding of the host-endosymbiont integration process. In this regard, the endosymbioses of microbial eukaryotes, due to the unicellular nature of the host, provide the most suitable systems for studying the establishment of endosymbiosis. However, the number of such models is very limited and does not allow the reconstruction of the mechanisms of integration. Moreover, recent advances in diversity research suggest that intracellular symbioses are common among microbial eukaryotes, providing a golden opportunity to identify unicellular symbiotic systems in intermediate stages of integration. To identify the intermediate stages of endosymbiotic integration, SYMBIOSTART will combine screening of diverse freshwater environments for microbial eukaryotes and their endosymbionts with studies on established culturable systems. The goal is to provide a wide range of systems in various stages of integration, which will be further studied to highlight the genomic and ultrastructural features that accompany endosymbiont integration using genomics,transcriptomics and microscopy. Overall, SYMBIOSTART will address the most challenging questions about endosymbiotic events: how integration occurs and what is the relative timing of the steps involved. Specific Tasks: -Analysis of high-throughput sequencing data: assembly and annotation of genomes, metagenomes and transcriptomes, amplicon data analysis -Isolation and culturing of microbial eukaryotes -DNA & RNA isolation from environmental samples and cultures, PCR, preparation of libraries for total genome, transcriptome & amplicon sequencing, Nanopore sequencing -Publication of the obtained results in conference talks & papers, active participation in publishing original research articles Requirements: -Master=92s degree in biology, biotechnology or related field (obtained before September 23rd, 2024) -Status of a doctoral student at the Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences of the University of Warsaw at the beginning of the contract -Being self-motivated, organized, and highly team-oriented -Proficiency in English (oral and written) -Background in bioinformatics, especially genomics, transcriptomics and metagenomics. -Familiarity with microscopy, molecular biology techniques, and microbiology techniques will be an advantage. The requirements listed above need to be met before the employment starts, but not necessarily by the application deadline. We offer a scholarship for up to 48 months. Starting date: 1 October, 2024 Application deadline: 3 June, 2024 More details about the application process at the website: https://ibe.biol.uw.edu.pl/en/835-2/research-groups/eukaryotic-microorganis= ms/genomics-and-evolution-of-eukaryotic-microorganisms/positions Please feel free to reach out with any questions at the email address listed below. Anna Karnkowska Institute of Evolutionary Biology Biological and Chemical Research Centre University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland Web Lab.: https://ibe.biol.uw.edu.pl/en/835-2/research-groups/eukaryotic-microorganis= ms/genomics-and-evolution-of-eukaryotic-microorganisms/ Anna Karnkowska Anna Karnkowska Associate Professor Institute of Evolutionary Biology Faculty of Biology & Biological and Chemical Research Centre University of Warsaw ul =AFwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warszawa Anna Karnkowska (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)