Genetic and developmental basis of transparency in butterflies Exciting EvoDevo PhD Opportunity! We are looking for someone with a background in evolutionary biology and/or developmental biology to join our team at the University of York for a fully funded PhD project. This is an exciting multidisciplinary project that has a high training value as you will use a range of techniques to understand the genetic underpinning of transparency in glasswing butterflies. The project will involve fieldwork at IKIAM in Ecuador, microscopy to characterise scale morphology, genome sequencing and genome-wide association to discover candidate genes, RNAseq analysis to characterise differential gene expression and create gene regulatory networks, and CRISPR to validate candidate genes. About the Project The wings of most butterflies and moths are covered in tile-like scales which make them opaque, with scale pigmentation responsible for their intricate colourful patterns. Many species of Lepidoptera have evolved transparent wings, and this is common in some groups like the glasswing butterflies that are found in South and Central America. Wing transparency in Lepidoptera can be achieved in different ways, such as by changing the scale morphology, size, opacity and density. While we now have some understanding of the optical properties causing transparency, the genetic and developmental basis of this trait has to date not been established. Our data show that in glasswing butterflies, wing transparency is achieved by converting the scales from tile-like to hair-like structures. The aims of this project are to i) identify the genes and developmental pathways controlling transparency in glasswing butterflies, and ii) establish if the same genes and networks are conserved across other close and distantly related butterfly species. For informal enquiries about the project, please contact Prof Kanchon Dasmahapatra kanchon.dasmahapatra@york.ac.uk. Lead supervisor: Prof Kanchon Dasmahapatra ( https://www.york.ac.uk/res/dasmahapatra/) Co-supervisors: Dr Daphne Ezer (York), Dr Nicola Nadeau (Sheffield), Dr Caroline Bacquet (Universidad Regional Amazonica IKIAM, Ecuador) The application deadline is 6th January 2025. For further details about the project, how to apply, and link to a webinar, please visit: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/york-ybdtp-project-genetic-and-developmental-basis-of-transparency-in-butterflies/?p178668 New publications : Hoffman JI, Vendrami DLJ, Hench K, Chen RS, Stoffel MA .... *Dasmahapatra KK* (2024) Genomic and fitness consequences of a near-extinction event in the northern elephant seal. *Nature Ecology & Evolution*, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02533-2 Rosser N, Seixas F, Queste LM, Cama B .... *Dasmahapatra KK* (2024) Hybrid speciation driven by multilocus introgression of ecological traits. *Nature *https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07263-w ---- Genetic consequences of climate change-induced range shifts in Aricia butterflies Exciting PhD Opportunity in Conservation Genomics! Join our team at the University of York for a fully funded PhD project. We are looking for someone with a background in evolutionary biology and/or conservation to explore the poorly understood evolutionary consequences of global change. A particular area that needs further investigation is what happens when historically geographically separated but related species come into contact due to climate-driven shifts in their distributions. The project will involve fieldwork in Britain, lab work, and the bioinformatic analysis of genome sequences and has high training potential for the applicant. You will benefit from using high quality genome assemblies from the Darwin Tree of Life Project and ecological data from the UK Biological Records Centre. You will be situated at two of York� euro s dynamic research centres, the Leverhulme Centre for Anthropocene Biodiversity and the Stockholm Environment Institute. CASE Partners and placement opportunities: The project involves two non-academic partner organisations, Natural England and Butterfly Conservation, who offer additional funding and resources to support the project. Natural England also provides the opportunity of a research placement allowing a direct link between the research and policy makers. The project therefore suit someone looking for opportunities to engage with conservation NGOs and policy makers. Lead supervisor: Prof Kanchon Dasmahapatra ( https://www.york.ac.uk/res/dasmahapatra/) Co-supervisors: Dr Rachel Pateman (York), Prof Chris Thomas (York), Dr David Roy (UKCEH), Dr Simon Duffield (Natural England), Dr Martin Partridge (Butterfly Conservation). The application deadline is 8th January 2025. For further details about the project, how to apply, and link to a webinar, please visit: https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/acce-dla-programme-genetic-consequences-of-climate-change-induced-range-shifts-in-aricia-butterflies/?p178925 New publications : Hoffman JI, Vendrami DLJ, Hench K, Chen RS, Stoffel MA .... *Dasmahapatra KK* (2024) Genomic and fitness consequences of a near-extinction event in the northern elephant seal. *Nature Ecology & Evolution*, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-024-02533-2 Rosser N, Seixas F, Queste LM, Cama B .... *Dasmahapatra KK* (2024) Hybrid speciation driven by multilocus introgression of ecological traits. *Nature *https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07263-w I choose to work flexibly and send emails outside normal office hours, but I do not expect you to respond outside your working hours. Prof Kanchon Dasmahapatra Professor of Evolutionary Biology Director of Postgraduate Research (Biology) Department of Biology University of York York YO10 5DD Tel: +44 (0)1904 328635 http://www.york.ac.uk/res/dasmahapatra/ Kanchon Dasmahapatra (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)