********************GradStudentPositions******************** We invite applications for a fully funded three-year Doctoral Researcher position at the Finnish Museum of Natural History. The successful candidate will join the research group of Dr. Sergei Tarasov and an international network of collaborators. The position is part of a broader project on dung beetle evolution funded by the Research Council of Finland. The PhD project will aim to uncover the macroevolutionary mechanisms driving dung beetle phenotypic diversification. The PhD candidate will investigate how dung beetle phenomes evolved during adaptive radiations by integrating phylogenomic and phenotypic data, high-dimensional phenotypic datasets, and advanced evolutionary models. A central focus will be on testing how major environmental transitions such as the K-Pg extinction and the Late Miocene grassland expansion reshaped dung availability and triggered shifts in phenotypic evolutionary rates. The position will remain open until March 16th, or until a suitable candidate is found. For more information, please visit: https://jobs.helsinki.fi/job/Helsinki-Doctoral-Researcher-in-Macroevolution-and-Phenotypic-Diversification-of-Dung-Beetles/1352799257/ Sergei Tarasov, Ph.D. Curator of Coleoptera (beetles) Associate Professor Finnish Museum of Natural History (LUOMUS) P.O. Box 17 (Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu 13) FI-00100 University of Helsinki Phone: +358 294128853 Email: sergei.tarasov@helsinki.fi Website: https://www.tarasovlab.com ********************Jobs******************** Faculty Position. Systematic Ornithology Institute of Biology. Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico https://www.ib.unam.mx/ibunam/Convocatoria_Inv_Ornitologia_21Feb26.pdf The Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM, www.unam.mx) is the preeminent public higher-education center in Mexico and is among the highest-ranking Spanish-speaking and Latin American universities. UNAM's Institute of Biology is a research center on the University's main campus in Mexico City. Its mission is to discover, describe and systematically document biota, conducting scientific research about the evolutionary processes that originate and maintain it, its composition, distribution and interactions, and its sustainable use. The Institute of Biology houses the National Biological Collections of Mexico, including ten zoological collections, and the National Herbarium. Its Faculty include over 160 scientists and academic technicians who conduct research, teach and supervise undergraduate and graduate students, and participate in outreach activities, all to contribute to the understanding and conservation of biological diversity and to improve scientific advancement and the well-being of society. To fulfill its mission, the Institute of Biology seeks qualified applicants for one tenure-track position as full-time Research Scientist (Investigador/a Asociado/a C de Tiempo Completo) in the field of Systematic Ornithology, in the Department of Zoology. Candidate's profile: We seek a scientist to conduct research in systematic biology of Class Aves (e.g., species discovery and description, classification, phylogenetic relationships), applying innovative theoretical concepts and methodological tools for phylogenetic reconstruction with genomic data, or for comparative phylogenetics, to investigate evolutionary processes above the species level (e.g., morphological diversity and evolution, species richness, diversification, distribution), combining field work and development of biological collections, including museomics. Requirements: - Doctorate or Ph.D. degree in zoology, ornithology, systematics or evolution. - Preferably with postdoctoral experience. - Knowledge and professional experience of at least three years in research in phylogenetic systematics and evolution of a group of Class Aves. - Experience in field work. - Experience using biological collections, as well as interest and ability to continue the development of Mexico's National Bird Collection (Coleccion Nacional de Aves, CNAN). - Ability to teach and supervise undergraduate and graduate students from UNAM's School of Science and Graduate Programs, as well as to participate in outreach and institutional activities. - Develop their own line of independent research, including procurement of funds for research, and interaction and collaboration with other research groups. - Non-native speakers must be fluent in the Spanish language. - Because this position is available through the Subprograma de Incorporacion de Jovenes Academicos de Carrera (SIJA) UNAM, aimed at incorporating early-career faculty, female applicants should be 39 years old or younger, and male applicants should be 37 years old or younger on the day of hire approved by the Consejo Tecnico de la Investigacion Cientifica (CTIC, Technical Council for Scientific Research). Application and supporting documents: To apply, please send the following documents to sacademica@ib.unam.mx, with copy (Cc:) to secacad_vl@ib.unam.mx 1. Curriculum vitae (CV), including academic degrees, publication history and experience in systematics of Class Aves. 2. Description of research conducted during at least the past 3 years (maximum 2 pages). 3. Research plan to be developed in one year, in the context of a longer research proposal, on the systematics and evolution a group of Class Aves, preferably with a focus on groups distributed in Mexico (maximum 10 pages). 4. Cover letter addressed to the Director, Prof. Susana Magallon, stating the motives and interest in developing an academic career at the Institute of Biology, UNAM (maximum 2 pages). 6. Shortlisted candidates should provide 3 letters of academic recommendation. Applications, accompanied by supporting documents, will be received from February 23rd, 2026 until the close of this call, on April 20th, 2026 at 18:00 h (Mexico City time). Shortlisted candidates will be contacted to request recommendation letters, a seminar and a personal interview. Contact: For any questions regarding this announcement, please contact the Office of Academic Affairs of the Institute of Biology at sacademica@ib.unam.mx and/or secacad_vl@ib.unam.mx. s.magallon@ib.unam.mx (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Hi, We have two active applications for 3 year post-doc positions at The Roslin Institute in very exciting area with lots of opportunities for internal and external collaboration! Details below: Postdoctoral Research Associate in quantitative genomics https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/13616 Postdoctoral Research Associate in quantitative genetics and breeding https://elxw.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_1001/job/13615 With regards! Prof Gregor Gorjanc Chair in Selective Breeding, HighlanderLab Head, Quantitative Biology Division The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK Industry Fellow, Royal Society edin.ac/highlander-lab | edin.ac/qb-division | roslin.ed.ac.uk Apply to our new online MSc programme and individual courses in Data-Driven Breeding and Genetics edin.ac/pgt-data-driven-breeding-genetics The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336. Is e buidheann carthannais a th' ann an Oilthigh Dh?n ?ideann, cl?raichte an Alba, ?ireamh cl?raidh SC005336. Gregor Gorjanc (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** I am hiring a Postdoc to study how polyploidy affects sex chromosomes in the plant Silene latifolia, using bioinformatic analyses of RNA-seq and DNA-seq data. Contract starting date: Between May and July 2026. Contract duration: 18 months. Deadline for application: March 24th, 2026. Full details available on Euraxess: https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/412961 For inquiries, please contact me at: aline.muyle@cnrs.fr Thanks for your help in spreading it. Best wishes, *Aline Muyle* CNRS researcher Website Équipe Stratégies Reproductives des Plantes (SRP) Bâtiment 22, Institut des Sciences de l'Évolution de Montpellier (ISEM) Université de Montpellier, campus Triolet, cc065 2 Place Eugene Bataillon 34095 Montpellier cedex 05 France ISEM Webpage Researchgate Linkedin (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear all, We're happy to share an upcoming online course on Gene Set Enrichment Analysis in R, taking place 11-15 May. Course website: [ https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/gse-in-r/ ] Gene set enrichment analysis is a cornerstone of modern transcriptomics, proteomics, and multi-omics studies - but it's also easy to misuse or over-interpret. This course is designed to help you really understand what enrichment results mean, how they are computed, and how to use them responsibly in your research. The course is strongly hands-on and flexible. Alongside the core topics, we adapt the pace and focus to participants' interests, and you're very welcome to bring your own data to work on during the practical sessions. During the course, attendees will learn how to: Understand the biological and statistical logic behind enrichment analysis Choose appropriate gene set databases and annotations Run and interpret ORA, GSEA, CERNO, and other ranking-based methods Deal with gene identifiers and annotation pitfalls Reduce redundancy and make sense of overlapping results Visualize and communicate enrichment results clearly Apply advanced approaches, including topology-based, multivariate, single-cell, and spatial methods Design and validate custom gene sets Course format Fully online, to encourage international participation Sessions run daily from 14:00 to 19:00 (Berlin time) Short lecture blocks combined with hands-on exercises, discussion, and Q&A For the full list of our courses and workshops, please visit: [ https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/ ] Best regards, Carlo Carlo Pecoraro, Ph.D Physalia-courses DIRECTOR info@physalia-courses.org mobile: +49 17645230846 [ Bluesky ]( https://bsky.app/profile/physaliacourses.bsky.social ) [ Linkedin ]( https://www.linkedin.com/in/physalia-courses-a64418127/ ) (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Hello EVOLDIR members AI-Powered Image Analysis led by Nikolay Oskolkov (Group Leader (PI) at LIOS) is now available as an on-demand streaming seminar. This seminar on AI-powered image analysis offers powerful tools for researchers to quantitatively extract phenotypes, cell counts, and morphological features from diverse biological images. Evolutionary biologists and geneticists can leverage deep learning methods like semantic and instance segmentation to precisely delineate and measure traits, track developmental changes, or identify genetic markers across large datasets. Participants will gain hands-on experience with reproducible Python workflows, including uncertainty quantification and model interpretability, enabling them to generate robust, publication-quality data for their studies on adaptation, development, and genetic variation. Access this seminar (https://instats.org/seminar/ai-powered-image-analysis-1) at your own pace and please share this with colleagues and students who might benefit! Best wishes Michael Zyphur Professor and Director Instats | instats.org mzyphur@instats.org (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** Dear EvoDevo researchers, The EuroEvoDevo abstract submission deadline is only one week away, on Thursday 5th March! Come together in Glasgow to share ideas, build collaborations, and celebrate the field of Evolutionary Developmental Biology. Check the conference website here: https://www.evodevoconference26.com/ *Please **click here* * to submit an abstract. *(Note that registration is required for your abstract to be considered, please *click here* to register) *Please visit the conference website page for updates and further information, please **click here* *.* Should you have any questions at all about the meeting, please do not hesitate to contact us at events@hg3.co.uk Best wishes, Organisers of the 10th European Society for Evolutionary Developmental Biology Meeting 2026 (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** Microbial Predation Conference 2026 Monte Verità, Switzerland July 27-31, 2026 Join us in lovely Ticino, Switzerland to discuss what microbial predation looks like, how it originates and evolves, and how it shapes microbial communities. Researchers studying diverse aspects of microbial predation with different predator-prey systems will gather to promote conceptual synthesis across systems and questions. Conference website: https://microbialpredation.ethz.ch Register for conference updates at https://microbialpredation.ethz.ch/registration.html Registration and program structure are expected to be available in early March. Invited speakers include: Lutz Becks - University of Constance, Germany Yen-Ping Hsueh - Max-Planck Institute for Biology, Tuebingen, Germany Andrew Lovering - University of Birmingham, UK David Queller - Washington University in St. Louis, USA Renske van Raaphorst - University of Groningen, The Netherlands Joan Strassmann - Washington University in St. Louis, USA With the Conference on Microbial Predation 2026, we seek to bring together microbial-predation researchers who rarely meet under a single scientific umbrella, including molecular microbiologists, ecologists, evolutionary biologists, theoreticians, and biocontrol researchers, promoting integration across microbial systems and connection with concepts largely associated with macroscopic predators. The conference provides a forum where diverse perspectives can converge to build shared conceptual frameworks, new interdisciplinary collaborations can be initiated, and the global community of microbial-predation researchers can more deeply interconnect. We welcome researchers working with animals who want to think more about microbial predation. Major themes: Molecular mechanisms Behavior Ecology Evolution Social aspects of predation Applications Scientific organizers: Marie Vasse, CNRS - University of Bordeaux, France Greg Velicer, ETH Zurich, Switzerland For administrative questions, please contact us at microbialpredation2026@ethz.ch gregory.velicer@env.ethz.ch (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)