We are looking for a highly motivated Ph.D. student to join our research group "Hybridization and Speciation" at the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart (SMNS), Germany.We will explore the hybrid zone dynamics and the role of color pattern as an initiator of species formation, using two songbirds - black-headed bunting Emberizamelanocephala and red-headed bunting E. bruniceps - and genomic data from fresh and museum samples. Join us in demonstrating how natural history collections can provide windows on how species are formed, and how they persist in the face of environmental change (to learn more: https://pereiralab.wixsite.com/rpereiralab/hybrid-zone-dynamics-in-buntings). This project will be supervised by Niloofar Alaei Kakhki and Ricardo Pereira and will provide training on: sampling of fresh and museum samples, colour measurement, museomics molecular methods, population genomics, bioinformatics and phenotype-genotype association. Therefore, any experience in related fields is highly desirable. The successful student will have completed their Master's degree in Evolutionary Biology, Bioinformatics, or equivalent discipline. The position is funded by a DFG grant, and thus salary is paid according to the German salary scheme for the public sector for doctoral research (65% E13 TV-L)and is guaranteed for 3 years (https://www.naturkundemuseum-bw.de/en/jobs). Application: Applications should be sent by email to niloofar.alaei@smns-bw.de with the subject header "BUNTING PHD", until 15th October 2024, with a single pdf including: 1. A letter of motivation(including a brief statement of how the applicant might approach the project) 2. A current CV (including grades and experience with laboratorial, bioinformatics and field work) 3. The names and contact details of two referees. Interviews will be held of January around the 25th of October. We aim to start the project on the 1st of January of 2025. For more questions, please contact niloofar.alaei@smns-bw.de. Lab Website: https://pereiralab.wixsite.com/rpereiralab Nilofar Alayee (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)