A 4-year PhD position to work on evolutionary genomics of Host-Symbiont interactions is available in the lab of Lisa Klasson in the Molecular Evolution programme at Uppsala University. Project description: The project aims to study how symbiotic interactions between bacteria and animal hosts affect both partners' genetic material and evolution. Our model system is the endosymbiotic bacterium Wolbachia in different Drosophila species, primarily from the willistoni group. Using mostly large-scale sequencing of both Drosophila and Wolbachia genomes and performing comparative genomics, the goal is to determine the genetic factors in both Wolbachia and Drosophila that determine this variability in host-symbiont interaction and to elucidate the evolutionary events that took place to create it. Duties: The work will mostly consist of bioinformatic analyses of sequence data from different species of the Drosophila willistoni group. To a lesser extent, the work might also include handling Drosophila and using standard molecular lab techniques such as DNA extractions and PCR. The Ph.D. student shall primarily focus on postgraduate studies, but other duties related to teaching and administrative work may be involved, up to a maximum of 20 % of the time. Requirements: To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must hold a Master's (second-cycle) degree in bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, molecular biology, or another subject that the employer considers to be equivalent. The applicant must have a good ability to work independently as well as in a group. A prerequisite is good written and oral skills in English, as the work takes place in an international environment. To work creatively, goal-oriented and structured are central abilities during a doctoral education and will therefore be given special consideration. Previous experience of working with sequence data and bioinformatic analyses as well as familiarity with work in a Linux/Unix environment and a scripting language such as Python, R or Perl is highly desirable. Read more and apply at: https://www.jobb.uu.se/details/?positionId=3D722807 Lisa Klasson (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)