********************GradStudentPositions******************** PhD Position JGU, Mainz, Germany Molecular manipulation of host phenotype via regulatory interference Supervisor: Susanne Foitzik Co-Supervisors: Peter Baumann Project Overview: Explore the fascinating world of parasitic manipulation with a PhD project focusing on the molecular mechanisms used by the parasitic cestode Anomotaenia brevis to alter the phenotype of its ant host, Temnothorax nylanderi. This project investigates how the parasite interferes with host gene regulation through epigenetic processes, aiming to understand the transcriptional and epigenetic changes that lead to altered host behavior, physiology, and extended lifespan. Key Techniques and Skills: � Evolutionary biology with a focus on parasite-host interactions � Epigenetic molecular techniques: CUT&TAG, Bisulfite sequencing, RNAseq, microRNA, RNAi � Bioinformatics analysis and scripting � Ant colony collection and behavioral studies Qualifications: Applicants should have a Master's or 4-year Bachelor's degree in biology, molecular biology, or bioinformatics. Knowledge of bioinformatics, molecular genetics, and evolutionary biology is important. Experience with social insect biology and parasitology is advantageous but not required. Publications: Seistrup et al., 2023 - Molecular Ecology, Hartke et al., 2023 - Molecular Ecology, Sistermans et al., 2023 - Molecular Ecology, Beros et al., 2021 - Royal Society Open Science, Beros et al., 2015 - Proceedings of the Royal Society B Apply now to contribute to cutting-edge research on the molecular manipulation of host phenotypes by parasites! This projects is part of the international PhD training program Gene regulation in Evolution https://www.genevo-rtg.de/. In GenEvo, 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. Offered position will be located at the Faculty of Biology of JGU in Mainz. All PhD students will become a member of the International PhD Programme (IPP). Mainz is a history lively city with a large student population, located at the river Rhine. Application webpage: https://www.genevo-rtg.de/application Registration deadline: 15 July 2024 Interviews: 9-10 September 2024 Starting date: 1 January 2025 Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Biozentrum Hanns Dieter Hüsch Weg 15 D-55128 Mainz Germany Tel: +49 (0) 6131 39 27 840 Fax: +49 (0)6131 39 27 850 Email: foitzik@uni-mainz.de ---- PhD Position JGU, Mainz, Germany Epigenetic Regulation of Division of Labor in Ants Supervisor: Susanne Foitzik Co-Supervisors: Peter Baumann, Susanne Gerber, Hanna Kokko Project Overview: Join an exciting PhD project focused on uncovering the molecular mechanisms regulating division of labour in the ant Temnothorax longispinosus. This project aims to identify epigenetic processes and their impact on gene networks, exploring how external and internal signals influence task-specific behaviours. You will delve into the roles of histone acetylation, transcription factors, and odorant receptors in shaping worker specialization. Key Techniques and Skills: Behavioural genomics and evolutionary biology Behavioural observations and field ant collection Epigenetic molecular techniques: CUT&TAC, RNAseq, microRNA, RNAi Bioinformatics analysis and mathematical modelling Qualifications: Candidates should hold a Master's or 4-year Bachelor's degree in biology, molecular biology, or bioinformatics. Knowledge of bioinformatics, molecular genetics, and behavioural or evolutionary biology is a plus. Experience with mathematical modelling and social insect biology, especially ants, is beneficial but not mandatory. Publications: Caminer et al., 2023 - Communications Biology; Kohlmeier et al., 2023 - Biology Letters, Libbrecht et al., 2020 - Iscience, Kohlmeier et al., 2019 - Molecular Ecology, Kohlmeier et al., 2018 - PLOS Biology Apply now to be part of groundbreaking research at the intersection of evolution and epigenetics! This project is part of the international PhD training program Gene regulation in Evolution https://www.genevo-rtg.de/. In GenEvo, 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. Offered position will be located at the Faculty of Biology of JGU in Mainz. All PhD students will become a member of the International PhD Programme (IPP). Mainz is a history lively city with a large student population, located at the river Rhine. Application webpage: https://www.genevo-rtg.de/application Registration deadline: 15 July 2024 Interviews: 9-10 September 2024 Starting date: 1 January 2025 Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Biozentrum Hanns Dieter H�sch Weg 15 D-55128 Mainz Germany Tel: +49 (0) 6131 39 27 840 Fax: +49 (0)6131 39 27 850 Email: foitzik@uni-mainz.de "Foitzik, Susanne" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** The Department of Life Sciences at the University of Bath is recruiting academics working on various aspects of microbiome research. There is a total of six positions that cover all ranks, with all positions being open to researchers working on topics linked to evolutionary biology and ecology. The full set of posts are described here: https://www.bath.ac.uk/campaigns/join-the-department-of-life-sciences/ They include: Two Assistant/Associate Professorships (Lecturer/Senior Lect.): One advertised as ‘microbiomics’: https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?id%693 and one as ‘human microbiomics’: https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?id%715 Both of these positions explicitly include research linked to evolution, community ecology, biodiversity and conservation. Two Prize Fellow positions working on microbiome related research: https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?id%618 These positions are for a three-year fixed term, but successful candidates will be offered permanent positions. So they have some similarity to tenure track posts. Prize fellows are eligible to apply for externally funded fellowships and grants. They may also supervise PhD students. Professor in Environmental Microbiomics: https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?id%612 GSK Chair (Professor) in Pharmacomicrobiomics: https://www.bath.ac.uk/jobs/Vacancy.aspx?id%691 Jason Wolf (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** OsnabrueckU_Germany, SynergisticCoevolution The Department of Ecology at the School of Biology/Chemistry is seeking to appoint a Research Assistant (m/f/d)(salary grade E 13 TV-L, 65%) to commence at the earliest possible date. The position is fully funded for three years. Background: A major challenge in evolutionary biology is to understand how interactions between different organisms shape the process of coevolution. While this issue is well-understood for antagonistic interactions (e.g. between parasites and their hosts), our knowledge on synergistic coevolution is rather poorly developed. Specifically, it remains unclear how ecological interactions determine the evolutionary dynamics of coevolving populations and thus the mutational trajectories of the individuals involved. This includes in particular the question whether and how synergistic coevolution affects the rates of molecular evolution and phenotypic diversification within interacting consortia. This project will address these issues by taking advantage of a previously performed coevolution experiment, in which a cooperative mutualism evolved between two genotypes of the bacterium Escherichia coli. In collaboration with Dr. Alexander Herbig (MPI for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig), both isolated strains and whole populations will be longitudinally sequenced to unravel the order and distribution of mutations that arose during synergistic coevolution. In addition, isolated and genetically reconstructed strains will be subjected to carefully designed coculture experiments to clarify how individual mutations affect the evolutionary dynamics of interacting genotypes on both a cell- and a population-level. In this way, the experimental tractability of the focal model system will help to identify the underlying eco-evolutionary mechanisms and thus help to understand other types of mutualistic interactions, in which similar analyses are frequently not possible. Your Duties: - Participate in the DFG-funded project "Eco-evolutionary causes and genomic consequences of synergistic coevolution " - Perform coculture and coevolution experiments with different bacterial strains - Reconstruct mutations in different genetic backgrounds - Conduct growth experiments to analyse fitness consequences of mutations - Determine the cooperativity of bacterial strains by quantifying their amino acid production rates (LC-MS/MS) - Spatio-temporal analysis of bacterial aggregates using tools of microfluidics and fluorescence microscopy - Flow cytometric analyses - Close collaboration with cooperation partners Dr. Alexander Herbig (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Antrhropology) and Dr. Alexander Grünberger (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) - The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work towards a PhD Requirements: - Completed degree (M.Sc. or comparable) in biology or a related field - Solid practical experience in microbiological techniques and molecular biological methods - Excellent command in written and spoken English Additional Qualifications: - Sound knowledge of ecological and evolutionary concepts and theory - An excellent university degree - Creative way of working - Strong motivation and curiosity - Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team - Structured and independent way of working - Experience in using high-resolution fluorescence microscopy - Knowledge of quantitative working methods and statistical analysis procedures - Working knowledge in using programming languages (e.g. Python) - Ability to develop and analyse theoretical models (population dynamics, individual-based models) is a plus We Offer: - An exciting and highly topical research project - Working in an interdisciplinary and international research team - Collaboration with other partner groups - Participation in the excellent graduate education programs at Osnabrück University (ZePrOS, IRTG) - Access to the state-of-the-art research infrastructure at the School of Biology/Chemistry (CellNanOs) - Live and work in the vibrant and liveable city of Osnabrück Osnabrück University is a family-friendly university and is committed to helping working/studying parents balance their family and working lives. Osnabrück University seeks to guarantee equality of opportunity for women and men and strives to correct any gender imbalance in its schools and departments. If two candidates are equally qualified, preference will be given to the candidate with disability status. Please submit your application (including a letter of motivation, CV, copies of certificates) by 28.07.2024 as one PDF file via email to the Dean of the School of Biology/Chemistry (Email:bewerb-bio@uni-osnabrueck.de). Please contact Prof. Dr. Christian Kost (email: christian.kost@uni-osnabrueck.de, homepage:kostlab.com) for further information. We are very much looking forward to receiving your application. Christian Kost (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Other******************** SMBE IDEA 2024 call for proposals SMBE, through the IDEA (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Access) task force, aims to address systemic racism, sexism, colonialism and other exclusion in our SMBE society. With this in mind, a budget of up to $25,000 per year will be dedicated to initiatives that help reduce inequities in molecular biology and evolution research. The task force would therefore like to invite members of SMBE to propose initiatives that would take place in the year 2024/2025. Examples of initiatives could include, but are not limited to, workshops, symposia, training opportunities, stand-alone featured talks, or inequity data collection in particular groups, countries, or regions (to name a few). If you are interested in knowing what projects have previously been funded, please visit SMBE IDEA tab of the SMBE website. We especially encourage initiatives that could potentially be sustainable beyond the funded year. We welcome proposals that require the full or only a portion of the budget, (budget justification will need to be provided). Special emphasis will be given to projects that directly benefit the members of the SMBE society. This form allows applicants to submit their proposal. You will find specific information for each requirement below. At least one of the organisers must be a member of SMBE. Please note that students from underrepresented regions may apply for free membership by contacting SMBE directly. More information on how to do this is found in the SMBE webpage under membership: https://www.smbe.org/smbe/MEMBERSHIP.aspx Timeline: 16th of August - Submit your initial description via this form: Initial description of the proposed idea must be submitted via the present form. More information regarding format and requirements are below. ATTENTION: Regardless of the number of organisers, each proposal should be submitted only once. Once submitted, you can no longer edit this form. You can choose to have the form sent to your email by clicking "send me a copy of my responses" at the bottom of this page. 13th of September - Be notified on whether your project is pre-selected or not: Initial submissions will be reviewed and pre-selected by the IDEA task force and candidates will be notified with a decision on whether their proposal was pre-selected or not. 11th of October - Submit your full project plan: If your initial submission is pre-selected, organisers will be informed and will be expected to submit a full project plan by email to smbe.idea@gmail.com. This must include a budget and time plan, as well as relevance and expected short and long-term impacts of the initiative on inclusion, diversity, equity and/or access. You will receive more information regarding the requirements for the full proposal if your project was pre-selected. 8th of November - Hear whether your project will be funded or not: Successful proposals will be notified. SMBE treasury will be notified of the selected proposals so that the funds can be transferred as soon as possible. At least one of the organisers must be a member of SMBE. Please note that students from underrepresented regions may apply for free membership by contacting SMBE directly. More information on how to do this is found in the SMBE webpage under membership: https://www.smbe.org/smbe/MEMBERSHIP.aspx All deadlines are 5pm local time. Organisers of successful proposals are expected to submit a report (around 2 pages) to the SMBE IDEA task force (smbe.idea@gmail.com) within 3 months of its completion. Successful proposals will have the opportunity to present their progress at the IDEA symposium during the 2025 SMBE meeting - however we are unable to provide travel funding at this time. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at smbe.idea@gmail.com SMBE IDEA taskforce (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** The Koski Plant Evolutionary Ecology Lab is seeking a postdoctoral scholar to conduct research on floral color evolution in a Southeastern annual plant. Specifically, we are examining the roles of pollinator shifts, abiotic shifts, and sensory drive in shaping flower color diversity among populations. The postdoc will be responsible for collecting and analyzing data, mentoring undergraduate and graduate researchers, and writing manuscripts. Research will be conducted in the greenhouse, growth chambers, and natural field populations. The primary projects will be a multi-generation experimental evolution study combined with growth chamber and field experiments. The ideal candidate would also take advantage of opportunities to study population genomics and metabolomics of the focal species, and/or engage in a community science project on flower color evolution. Funding is available for up to three years based on performance. For more information about the department, please visit the Department's website at https://www.clemson.edu/science/academics/departments/biosci/index.html For more information about Clemson, please visit the website http://www.clemson.edu/. Qualifications The applicant should have a PhD in evolutionary biology, ecology, plant biology or a closely related field. They should exhibit strong skills in the following: statistics, scientific writing, experimental design, and research mentorship. Desired (but not required) expertise includes the following: selection analyses, statistics in R, bioinformatics with a focus on population genomics, plant biochemistry. Application Instructions Review of applications will begin immediately; however, the position will remain open until filled. Applicants should submit the following items via Interfolio at: http://apply.interfolio.com/148925 (1) Cover Letter highlighting research and mentoring initiatives (2) CV (3) Contact information for 3 references For more information, please contact Matt Koski (mkoski@clemson.edu) Matthew Harold Koski (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** Accepting Proposals for Symposia at The American Society of Naturalists stand-alone meeting in Asilomar 2025 (Due July 15, 2024) The American Society of Naturalists will be going back to Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California, to hold our stand-alone conference - Asilomar 2025 - on 3-7 January 2025! Have an idea for a 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 (michelle.afkhami@miami.edu) no later than midnight Eastern Time on July 15, 2022. Send your proposal as a single pdf attachment, under subject heading "ASN Asilomar 2025 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 attracting substantial audience and stimulate discussion, the significance and timeliness of the topic, and on the topic's differing substantively from recent symposia hosted by the Society. Applicants will be notified of the decision before the end of August 2025. In cases of financial hardship, requests for assistance to allow participation in symposia can be made to the American Society of Naturalists and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Michelle Afkhami ASN Symposium Committee Chair Department of Biology University of Miami michelle.afkhami@miami.edu Michelle E. Afkhami, Ph.D. *Associate Professor &* *UM Greenhouse Director* University of Miami Department of Biology Coral Gables, FL *michelleafkhami.wordpress.com* she/her/hers Michelle Afkhami (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)