********************GradStudentPositions******************** Evolution of Genes with Age and Cell-specific expression in a social insect The Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, in the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, is offering a 3.5 year PhD position (E13 65%) on the molecular evolution of ageing in ants, as part of the GenEvo research training group: 'Gene Regulation in Evolution: From Molecular to Extended Phenotypes'. Ageing is a central focus in medical research, but understanding why it evolves and how it manifests at the molecular level requires appropriate model systems. Social insects provide an exceptional opportunity in this context, as their reproductives often exhibit remarkably long lifespans. When organisms age, the strength of selection acting against traits associated with senescence declines. This weakening, referred to as the selection shadow in evolutionary theory, can be quantified by measuring the intensity of purifying selection on protein-coding genes with age-biased expression. The ant Cardiocondyla obscurior represents an excellent model for studying ageing in social insects due to its short lifespan, tractable laboratory breeding, and available molecular resources. By integrating demographic analyses, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics, this project aims to (i) generate the first single-cell RNA-seq atlas of ageing in a social insect, (ii) test whether social insect reproductives experience stronger purifying selection over an extended part of their lifespan compared to solitary species, and (iii) characterize cell type-specific senescence profiles. Your PhD project will centre on uncovering how aged-biased expression is linked to gene evolution in social insects through an integrative approach. You will establish age-controlled queen cohorts to (i) collect high-quality RNA samples from key tissues (e.g., brain, reproductive tissue, fat body), (ii) identify tissue- and age-specific transcriptional signatures, and (iii) quantify the strength of selection across the lifespan. These results will be compared with patterns observed in both solitary and social species, providing novel insights into how sociality modulates the evolution of ageing. Required qualifications: Master's degree in biology, evolutionary biology, ecology, genetics, bioinformatics, entomology or related fields Strong written and spoken English skills Advantageous qualifications: Background in evolutionary biology, genomics, or behavioural research Experience with insect rearing and/or behavioural observations Proficiency in molecular techniques Experience with bioinformatic tools for transcriptomic and gene evolution analyses The project is supervised by Dr. Luisa M. Jaimes Niño, Prof. Susanne Foitzik, and Prof. Shuqing Xu at the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. In GenEvo Gene Regulation in Evolution, scientists are working together on the core question of how complex and multi-layered gene regulatory systems have evolved. Experts in the field of molecular & evolutionary biology support & train our PhD students in their interdisciplinary research as well as their personal development. This PhD project offers an exceptional opportunity to develop a strong interdisciplinary research profile at the interface of evolutionary biology, genomics, and bioinformatics providing an ideal foundation for a successful career in academia or in cutting-edge fields of molecular and evolutionary research beyond. Application: Please submit a CV, a one-page motivation letter outlining your research interests and contact details for two referees, ljaimesn@uni-mainz.de Application Deadline: From Nov 1st 2025, until position is filled Starting Date: as soon as possible More information about the GenEvo Research Training Group: https://www.genevo-rtg.de/ For further inquiries, contact Luisa Jaimes ljaimesn@uni-mainz.de "Foitzik, Susanne" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** POSITION: Ph.D. position in the incoming Mutualisms Research Group at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK. POSITION DESCRIPTION: Many animals rely on beneficial microbes for nutrition, defence, or reproduction. In this project, the student will explore an exciting new dimension of these relationships: how microbes influence animal behaviour. The study system will be tortoise beetles, which carry an obligate bacterium that digests complex plant material for its host. Our preliminary research shows that beetle larvae without this bacterium behave very differently from their symbiotic relatives, dispersing rather than forming protective feeding groups. This project will investigate how the presence or absence of the symbiont changes larval behaviour, the chemical and nutritional mechanisms behind these changes, and the potential consequences for survival when facing natural predators. The work will combine hypothesis-driven experiments in the laboratory with annual fieldwork in Panama, in collaboration with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute, to place these findings in a real-world ecological context. The student will gain a broad skill set, including behavioural tracking, microbial manipulation, chemical analysis (GC-MS), molecular biology, and statistical modelling. They will also receive training in transferable skills such as scientific communication, project management, and public engagement. From the outset, the student will be encouraged to take ownership of the project, shaping experimental design, developing new approaches, and driving the research with increasing independence. By integrating laboratory, analytical, and field-based methods, the student will play an active role in defining the research direction and will have opportunities to present their work at international conferences and engage with a global network of collaborators. This is an opportunity to join an inclusive, collaborative, and internationally connected research environment, working on a conceptually novel project with relevance to ecology, evolution, and sustainable agriculture. The Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Programme (NRPDTP) is offering fully funded studentships for October 2026 entry. The programme offers postgraduates the opportunity to undertake a 4-year PhD research project whilst enhancing professional development and research skills through a comprehensive training programme. You will join a vibrant community of world-leading researchers. All NRPDTP students undertake a three-month professional internship placement (PIPS) during their study. The placement offers exciting and invaluable work experience designed to enhance professional development. Full support and advice will be provided by our Professional Internship team. This project has been shortlisted for funding by the NRPDTP. Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed on 3,4 or 5 February 2026. Visit our website for further information on eligibility and how to apply: https://biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk/. Our partners value diverse and inclusive work environments that are positive and supportive. Students are selected for admission without regard to gender, marital or civil partnership status, disability, race, nationality, ethnic origin, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age or social background. To maximise accessibility and attract students from underrepresented groups to our programme we have introduced bespoke templates for applicant Personal and Research statements which will enable every applicant to fully represent themselves through providing suitable examples and evidence. These forms are on the NRPDTP website and must be used for these sections of the application form. Entry requirements At least UK equivalence Bachelors (Honours) 2:1. English Language requirement (Faculty of Science equivalent: IELTS 6.5 overall, 6 in each category). Funding Notes This project is awarded with a 4-year Norwich Research Park Biosciences Doctoral Training Partnership PhD DTP studentship. The studentship includes payment of tuition fees (directly to the University), a stipend to cover living expenses, and a Research Training Support Grant for each year of the studentship. For additional information, and to clarify any questions, please contact hassan.salem@jic.ac.uk or visit www.mutualisms.net. RELEVENT REVERENCES García-Lozano, M., Henzler, C., Porras, M.Á.G., Pons, I., Berasategui, A., Lanz, C., Budde, H., Oguchi, K., Matsuura, Y., Pauchet, Y., and Salem, H. (2024). Paleocene origin of a streamlined digestive symbiosis in leaf beetles. Current Biology. 34, 1621-1634.e9. Berasategui, A., Breitenbach, N., García-Lozano, M., Pons, I., Sailer, B., Lanz, C., Rodríguez, V., Hipp, K., Ziemert, N., Windsor, D., and Salem, H. (2022). The leaf beetle Chelymorpha alternans propagates a plant pathogen in exchange for pupal protection. Current Biology. 32, 4114-4127.e6. Pons, I., González Porras, M.Á., Breitenbach, N., Berger, J., Hipp, K., and Salem, H. (2022). For the road: calibrated maternal investment in light of extracellular symbiont transmission. Proceedings of the Royal Society: Biological Sciences. 289, 20220386. García-Lozano, M., and Salem, H. (2025). Microbial bases of herbivory in beetles. Trends in Microbiology. 33, 151-163. Porras, M.Á.G., Pons, I., García-Lozano, M., Jagdale, S., Emmerich, C., Weiss, B., and Salem, H. (2024). Extracellular symbiont colonizes insect during embryo development. ISME Communications. https://doi.org/10.1093/ismeco/ycae005. Dr. Hassan Salem Max Planck Research Group Leader Mutualisms Research Group Max Planck Institute for Biology Tübingen, Germany 72076 Email: hassan.salem@tuebingen.mpg.de Tel.:+49-7071-601-1367 Website: www.mutualisms.net Hassan Salem (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Evolution of Genes with Age and Cell-specific expression in a social insect The Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, in the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, is offering a 3.5 year PhD position (E13 65%) on the molecular evolution of ageing in ants, as part of the GenEvo research training group: ?Gene Regulation in Evolution: From Molecular to Extended Phenotypes?. Ageing is a central focus in medical research, but understanding why it evolves and how it manifests at the molecular level requires appropriate model systems. Social insects provide an exceptional opportunity in this context, as their reproductives often exhibit remarkably long lifespans. When organisms age, the strength of selection acting against traits associated with senescence declines. This weakening, referred to as the selection shadow in evolutionary theory, can be quantified by measuring the intensity of purifying selection on protein-coding genes with age-biased expression. The ant Cardiocondyla obscurior represents an excellent model for studying ageing in social insects due to its short lifespan, tractable laboratory breeding, and available molecular resources. By integrating demographic analyses, transcriptomics, and bioinformatics, this project aims to (i) generate the first single-cell RNA-seq atlas of ageing in a social insect, (ii) test whether social insect reproductives experience stronger purifying selection over an extended part of their lifespan compared to solitary species, and (iii) characterize cell type?specific senescence profiles. Your PhD project will centre on uncovering how aged-biased expression is linked to gene evolution in social insects through an integrative approach. You will establish age-controlled queen cohorts to (i) collect high-quality RNA samples from key tissues (e.g., brain, reproductive tissue, fat body), (ii) identify tissue- and age-specific transcriptional signatures, and (iii) quantify the strength of selection across the lifespan. These results will be compared with patterns observed in both solitary and social species, providing novel insights into how sociality modulates the evolution of ageing. Required qualifications: * Master's degree in biology, evolutionary biology, ecology, genetics, bioinformatics, entomology or related fields * Strong written and spoken English skills Advantageous qualifications: * Background in evolutionary biology, genomics, or behavioural research * Experience with insect rearing and/or behavioural observations * Proficiency in molecular techniques * Experience with bioinformatic tools for transcriptomic and gene evolution analyses The project is supervised by Dr. Luisa M. Jaimes Ni?o, Prof. Susanne Foitzik, and Prof. Shuqing Xu at the Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution, Johannes Gutenberg University in Mainz. In GenEvo Gene Regulation in Evolution, scientists are working together on the core question of how complex and multi-layered gene regulatory systems have evolved. Experts in the field of molecular & evolutionary biology support & train our PhD students in their interdisciplinary research as well as their personal development. This PhD project offers an exceptional opportunity to develop a strong interdisciplinary research profile at the interface of evolutionary biology, genomics, and bioinformatics?providing an ideal foundation for a successful career in academia or in cutting-edge fields of molecular and evolutionary research beyond. Application: Please submit a CV, a one-page motivation letter outlining your research interests and contact details for two referees to Application Deadline: From Nov 1st 2025, until position is filled Starting Date: as soon as possible More information about the GenEvo Research Training Group: https://www.genevo-rtg.de/ For further inquiries, contact Luisa Jaimes Luisa Jaimes (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** The Department of Biology at the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, invites applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Developmental Biology. We seek an innovative scientist investigating the mechanisms that shape development and evolution across organisms, from molecular and cellular processes to organismal and systems levels. We welcome applicants using classic or novel organisms and employing diverse approaches, including: Omics technologies(genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics,metabolomics) Advanced imaging and quantitative analysis Evolutionary and comparative developmental biology (Evo-Devo) Computational biology, big data, or AI-based modeling The successful candidate will establish an independent, externally funded research program, contribute to under graduate and graduate teaching, and engage in mentorship and collaborative research within a dynamic and inclusive scientific community. The University offers access to state-of-the-art research facilities and a unique setting for exploring tropical biodiversity and evolution. The department of biology is diverse and vibrant with local and national (USA) funding opportunities. For additional information and instructions on how to apply, please visit: English version:Tenure-Track Faculty Position Announcement - Developmental Biology (PDF) Spanish version:Convocatoria - Biología del Desarrollo (PDF) Riccardo Papa Full Professor, Department of Biology Director of High Throughput Sequencing Facility University of Puerto Rico - Río Piedras Julio García Díaz (JGD) 213 Rio Piedras, San Juan PR 00931 tell: 787-764-0000 ext 4827(office) or 7764(lab) fax: 787-764-3875 Lab website: www.riccardopapalab.com Riccardo Papa (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Dear all, Together with Martin Lascoux, we are offering a two-year postdoctoral position in comparative genomics and demography inferences in fruit trees at the Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Sweden. The post-doc position is part of the FruitDiv EU-Horizon project. The postdoctoral fellow will analyse whole genome data from wild relatives of cultivated fruit species (CWR). The sampling is paneuropean and will allow comparisons with recent studies in forest trees (Milesi et al., 2024). Special attention will also be paid to the importance of introgression between CWR and cultivated species. Please share this advertisement with anyone you think might be interested. For more information and to apply: https://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/join-us/jobs-and-vacancies/job-details?query=867093 All the best, Pascal and Martin Pascal Milesi Associate Professor, SciLifeLab Group Leader Docent in Evolutionary Functional Genomics Plant Ecology and Evolution program Department of Ecology and Genetics, Uppsala University Norbyv�gen 18D 752 36 UPPSALA Sweden +46 (0) 7 69 31 25 89 N�r du har kontakt med oss p� Uppsala universitet med e-post s� inneb�r det att vi behandlar dina personuppgifter. F�r att l�sa mer om hur vi g�r det kan du l�sa h�r: http://www.uu.se/om-uu/dataskydd-personuppgifter/ E-mailing Uppsala University means that we will process your personal data. For more information on how this is performed, please read here: http://www.uu.se/en/about-uu/data-protection-policy Pascal Milesi (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear all, Data visualisation is at the heart of modern genomics from expression analysis to comparative genomics. Join our online course "Genomic Data Visualisation with R" (15-17 December) to learn how to create impactful and publication-ready visualisations using R. Over three intensive days, participants will explore: 1 - Expression plots (volcano, PCA, peak profiling, heatmaps) 2 - Genome-level visualisations (coverage, Manhattan, metagenomics, time-series) 3 - Comparative genomics plots (phylogenetic trees, Venn and UpSet diagrams, synteny, ideograms) Learn more and register here: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/genomic-data-viz/ ) This course is ideal for researchers already familiar with R who want to enhance their ability to turn genomic data into clear, informative, and visually engaging figures. For the full list of our courses and workshops, please have a look at: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/genomic-data-viz/ ) Best regards, Carlo Carlo Pecoraro, Ph.D Physalia-courses DIRECTOR info@physalia-courses.org mobile: +49 17645230846 ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/physalia-courses-a64418127/ ) "info@physalia-courses.org" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** The American Society of Naturalists Proposals for Virtual Symposia at the ASN, SSB, SSE Joint Meeting Due January 15, 2026 The American Society of Naturalists will be participating in a joint meeting with the Society of the Study of Evolution and the Society of Systematic Biologists in May and June 2026! This includes hosting a special symposium during a virtual conference of the three societies on May 20-22. Have an idea for this special symposium? We want to hear it! The ASN Symposium Committee invites you to submit proposals for a special symposium. Proposed symposium topics should support the Society's goal to advance the conceptual unification of the biological sciences and to further knowledge in evolution, ecology, behavior, and organismal biology. Topics could center around important emerging issues in evolution, ecology, or behavior or focus on a pivotal historical paper, tracing its impact and exploring current cutting-edge research inspired by this work. Proposals should include (1) a title; (2) a description of the symposium topic (up to one page); (3) a list of six speakers, including institutional affiliations, who have agreed to participate in the symposium; (4) a justification for the symposium, explaining why the topic and speakers are appropriate for an ASN symposium (up to one page). Please submit proposals by email (cas383@miami.edu) no later than midnight Eastern Time on January 15, 2026. Send your proposal as a single pdf attachment, under subject heading "ASN 2026 Virtual Symposium Proposal". In line with the ASN's commitment to diversity, we encourage including speakers from groups who have been historically excluded from STEM. Therefore, proposals that include a diverse list of speakers from a range of backgrounds, institutions, career stages, geography, gender, race, etc. are especially encouraged. Further, we especially encourage early career researchers to propose sessions as organizing symposia can advance their careers through building broader scientific networks and a record of scientific leadership. Additionally, the Society's selection committee will evaluate proposals based on their potential to attract a substantial audience and stimulate discussion, the significance and timeliness of the topic, and on the topic differing substantively from recent symposia hosted by the Society. Applicants will be notified of the decision before the end of February 2026. Christopher Searcy ASN Symposium Committee Chair Department of Biology University of Miami cas383@miami.edu "Searcy, Christopher A" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** Dear all, Together with Tanja Schwander, Laura Ross, and Axel Imhof, we are organizing an EMBO workshop on the Molecular Mechanisms of Selfish Elements and Strategies, to be held from Sunday 8 to Wednesday 11 of February 2026 in Bern, Switzerland. We have an exciting line-up of invited speakers, and the topic should be of broad interest to the evolutionary genetic community. Abstract submissions are open until 15 December 2025. You can find more information on the website : https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-selfish-elements Best wishes, Luca Soldini PhD Student - Schwander Group Selfish genetic elements and atypical reproductive modes Department of Ecology and Evolution University of Lausanne Luca Soldini (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)