********************GradStudentPositions******************** We are looking for a PhD candidate in biology theoretical and statistical modeling (m/f/x) In the Statistical Genetics group at LMU Munich (Germany) we develop and analyze probabilistic models for evolutionary processes and ecological interactions. Based on such explicit models we develop computational methods for statistical data analyses in population genetics and evolutionary genomics. Here we offer a PhD position supervised by Prof. Dirk Metzler (https://evol.bio.lmu.de/_statgen/) in a joint project with Dr. Luisa Pallares (MPI Tübingen) on the evolution of transcriptional variability and its role in adaptation and evolutionary innovation. (https://g-evol.uni-muenster.de/newprojects/projectpagenew/#AnkerNoise) The project is part of the DFG priority program "Genomic Basis of Evolutionary Innovations", in which we collaborate with many researchers at LMU and other German and international universities and research institutions (https://g-evol.uni-muenster.de/). Your tasks and responsibilities: -> Contribute to the modeling of the propagation of stochastic variation in evolving gene network models. -> Develop software to simulate data according to the models. -> Contribute to the improvement of computational-statistical methods to fit the models to data, combining generalized linear mixed-effects models with novel phylogenetic models and Markov-chain Monte-Carlo methods. -> Fit the models to data of our collaboration partners and other available data set. -> Contribute to scientific publications and present research results in meetings and on conferences. Your qualifications: -> You have completed or will soon complete a Master's degree in a field related to biology, bioinformatics, statistics or mathematics. -> Of advantage is knowledge and experience in: o mathematical modeling in evolutionary genomics and transcriptomics o stochastic modeling of network interactions o applying and extending statistical methods like GLMs and mixed-effect models o phylogenetic methods o programming, e.g. in R, python or C/C++ o theoretical evolutionary biology and population genetics o working on Linux servers and with software like LaTeX and git -> You have good communication skills in English. -> You are highly motivated to work in a team and independently according to best scientific standards within an international and collaborative research environment, and enthusiastic about learning new methods and developing independent research expertise. Benefits: -> Being part of a large network of researchers in genome evolution -> Working at the LMU Munich, one of Germany's and Europe's top universities -> A supportive mentorship environment -> Employment according to the German public service pay agreement, including health insurance, 30 days of vacation per year, pension contributions, and other social security benefits. -> In addition, you can benefit from the various LMU corporate benefits -> Remuneration depending on qualifications and experience according to TV-L E13 People with disabilities who are equally as qualified as other applicants will receive preferential treatment. Contact: Please send your application letter including a letter of motivation, CV and scans of degrees/certificates, transcripts of your university education, and links to thesis, publications and other research output (e.g. git repositories) all in one pdf, by 15th of December via e-mail to Prof. Dr. Dirk Metzler Where knowledge is everything. LMU researchers work at the highest level on the great questions affecting people, society, culture, the environment and technology supported by experts in administration, IT and tech. Become part of LMU Munich! In the course of your application for an open position at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München, you will be required to submit personal information. Please be sure to refer to our LMU Privacy Policy. By submitting your application, you confirm that you have read and understood our data protection guidelines and privacy policy and that you agree to your data being processed in accordance with the selection process. see also: https://job-portal.lmu.de/jobposting/6a8b9208b560e8b1abe95e8a6fa3e4a1bebb35840 Dirk Metzler (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** We have a PhD position available in the University of Glasgow's College Futures Themes PhD Programme. This position is fully funded for stipend and tuition fees, and includes a research budget. The studentship is hosted at the University of Glasgow School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine and supervised by Kathryn Elmer, Maureen Bain, and Neil Evans. Please find more information here https://www.gla.ac.uk/colleges/mvls/graduateschool/phd-research-opportunities/futures-programme/projects/fundamentals-of-life/fol22kathrynelmer/ The project is offered within the Future Themes programme, with final candidate selection handled by the programme committee. Project: FUNDAMENTAL MECHANISMS OF REPRODUCTION: VIVIPARITY IN AN EVOLUTIONARY CONTEXT Summary: Live-bearing reproduction (viviparity) is a key evolutionary innovation in amniotes, enabling extended maternal-foetal communication and influencing traits such as immune tolerance, nutrient transport, and birth timing. While viviparity is well-known in mammals, it has evolved independently in other lineages, making it difficult to reconstruct its origins. This project uses the European lizard Zootoca vivipara, a uniquely bimodal species with both egg-laying and live-bearing populations, to investigate the physiological and gene regulatory basis of viviparity. Its recent evolutionary transition and simple placental structure make it an ideal model for studying early pregnancy evolution. The research will compare reproductive tissues and gene expression between oviparous and viviparous individuals, quantify maternal-foetal communication using hormone assays, and explore foetal signalling through maternal tissue responses. These insights will advance understanding of reproductive trait evolution across amniotes. The student will gain training in molecular biology, next-generation sequencing, histology, microscopy, hormone analysis, and bioinformatics. They will also develop skills in animal welfare, data management, and scientific communication. Working within a collaborative and experienced research group, including international partners, the student will contribute to resolving fundamental questions in reproductive biology and evolutionary development. The student will join an active, collegial, and dynamic research group with on-going funded project in this topic. The successful candidate for this project is likely to be someone with a strong theoretical background in evolution, developmental biology and/or genetics, who can show evidence of practical laboratory and analytical experience in an appropriate field, and demonstrated aptitude for and interest in biology research. Experience with lizards and a drivers licence would be an asset. The University of Glasgow ranks in the world's top 100 universities. The School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine is an outstanding research and teaching unit, with many opportunities for collaboration and discussion in a supportive and productive environment. Glasgow is a lively cultural city on the doorstep of the beautifully rugged Scottish Highlands. Start date: Oct 2026. Eligibility: This studentship is open to UK home students only. Deadline: Closing date for applications will be January 12th 2026 Informal inquiries to Kathryn Elmer in advance of the deadlines are welcome. Kathryn Elmer (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Over half of Western Washington University's Biology graduate program faculty advisors are ready to accept and advise new master's level students into their research groups for Fall 2026! February 1, 2026 is the application priority date for admission to the Biology graduate program that features a variety of research areas such as cell and molecular biology, ecology, evolution, marine biology, organismal biology, and animal behavior. We maintain a small enough cohort to allow students an opportunity to build community connections among the faculty, researchers, and other students. We also support many students with teaching assistantships that include a tuition waiver and stipend. For more information and information on how to apply, follow this link: https://biology.wwu.edu/biology-graduate-program. BiologyGradProgram@wwu.edu (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** 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 duration of the position is limited to three years. Your duties: - Participate in the DFG-funded research project: "Synergistic coevolution in mono-specific and multi-species microbial consortia" - Perform long-term coevolution experiments to study the evolution of metabolic cooperation - Generate and characterize bacterial mutants - Perform coculture experiments with different bacterial strains to determine bacterial fitness - Analyse the formation of clusters among bacteria using fluorescence microscopy - Investigate bacteria on a single-cell level using microfluidics and flow-cytometry - Quantify the amino acids production of bacteria via mass spectrometry - Statistical analysis of the resulting data - The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work towards a PhD Required qualifications: - University degree (M.Sc. or comparable) in biology or a related field - Practical experience with microbiological working techniques - Excellent command in written and spoken English Desirable qualifications: - An excellent university degree - Solid knowledge of molecular biological methods - Experience in executing large-scale evolution experiments - Sound knowledge of ecological and evolutionary theories and concepts - Practical experience in the use of mass spectrometry - Experience in high-resolution fluorescence microscopy - Very good knowledge in the application of statistical analysis procedures - Basic knowledge in the use of programming languages (e.g., Python or R) - Strong motivation and curiosity - Ability to work in an interdisciplinary team - Structured and independent way of working We offer: - An exciting and highly topical research project - Supportive working atmosphere - International research team - Participation in the excellent graduate education programs at Osnabrück University (ZePrOS) - Access to state-of-the-art research infrastructure at the School of Biology/ Chemistry (CellNanOs) - Live and work in the vibrant and livable 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, as well as names and contact details of 3 referees) the latest by January 11, 2026 as one PDF file via email to the Dean of the School of Biology/Chemistry (Email: bewerb-bio@uni-osnabrueck.de). Please state the reference number "SKE" in the subject of your mail. Please contact Prof. Dr. Christian Kost (email: christian.kost@uni-osnabrueck.de) with any question regarding the position and check the website of the working group for further information ( www.kostlab.com). We are very much looking forward to receiving your application. Christian Kost (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** PhD student position in Population genomics of an Iron Age Goth community from eastern Poland. Laboratory of Paleogenetics and Conservation Genetics, University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland. PI: Martyna Molak, PhD 3 years stipend (up to 4 years, if needed) Labwork and bioinformatics (in negotiable, flexible proportions) Starting around March 2026 Application deadline: 11 December 2025 Details: https://www.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cent-47-2025-doktorant_DOP.pdf Project title: All roads lead to¦ Masłomęcz. The cosmopolitanism and uniqueness of the Goth community of the late Roman Period Hrubieszow Basin in the light of fine-scale multidisciplinary analysis. Project description: The main aim of the project is to supplement archaeological knowledge about the Masłomęcz Group (an archaeological culture representing the Gothic peoples) with genomic data obtained from the anthropological material associated with the group. As a result of the proposed project we expect to provide: 1) the position the Masłomęcz group on the genetic map of Eurasia by determining their affinities to other earlier and contemporary groups, 2) give insight into the pattern of locating graves of different family members within and between burial grounds, 3) investigate the kin relatedness between persons and/or dismembered skeletal fragments buried together, 4) test the localness of the individualsʼ provenance, particularly the ones exhibiting burial practices atypical for Goths or grave goods typical of other cultures and infer where they migrated from, or whether in fact they were local people who had adopted some external customs, 5) determine connectivity level between particular subgroups utilizing different cemeteries as well as isolated graves; to name just a few. With the very high planned sampling density, we also predict to be able to reconstruct family trees, of at least a part of the community members. Key responsibilities include (in flexible proportions, depending on experience and preferences): - Extracting DNA from ancient anthropological material. - Preparing DNA sequencing libraries for sequencing on an Illumina platform. - Analysis of sequencing data, including population genomic analyses. - Active contribution to preparing data for scientific publications. Profile of candidates/requirements: The competition is open for persons who meet the conditions specified in the regulations on the allocation of resources for the implementation of tasks financed by the National Science Centre for OPUS 28 grant. - MSc degree in biology, archaeology or related discipline. The MSc degree should be obtained before the date of employment in the project. Other requirements: - Basic knowledge of molecular and population genetics, and/or bioarchaeology. - Ability to work in a group, curiosity, and motivation to learn. - Willingness to work in an interdisciplinary and international team. - Fluency in written and spoken English. Additionally appreciated: - Experience in work with ancient DNA. - Experience in high-throughput sequencing on Illumina platforms (i.e. DNA library preparations). - Knowledge of Linux operating system, - Familiarity with R or python programming language. - Familiarity with bioinformatic analyses of raw high-throughput DNA sequencing data and genomic analyses are highly valued. Required documents: see: https://www.uw.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/cent-47-2025-doktorant_DOP.pdf We offer: - work in a friendly and motivating working environment - participation in an exciting research project using the state-of-the- art research techniques - participation in scientific courses and conferences funded by the project - access to fully equipped ancient and modern DNA laboratories Please submit the following documents to: m.molak@cent.uw.edu.pl Application deadline: 11.12.2025 Selected candidates will be invited for an interview in person at the Centre for New Technologies, University of Warsaw, or online. The interviews will be held between 15 and 17.12.2025. Candidate selection will be carried out in accordance with the regulations of the National Science Centre. Date of announcing the results: 21.12.2025 Martyna Molak (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** Position Function: The Department of Biological Sciences at Mississippi State University (MSU) invites applicants for 9-month, tenure-track Assistant Professor positions. We anticipate hires in two broad research areas, Microbiology and Evo-devo. Salary Grade: UC For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department. Area of Specialization: Microbiology and Evo-devo. Anticipated Appointment Date: August 16, 2026 Tenure Track Status: Tenure-Track Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Successful candidates are expected to establish an externally funded research program and contribute to the service mission of the department. Faculty are also expected to teach one course each semester in support of the undergraduate and graduate curricula (M.S. and Ph.D.). Appointment will be at the rank of Assistant Professor (tenure-track) with an anticipated start date of August 16, 2026. We further encourage applicants who are passionate scholars conducting hypothesis-driven research, especially those involving interdisciplinary and collaborative initiatives. We are also interested in candidates that combine wet lab or field-based research with computational or quantitative approaches. Minimum Qualifications: Minimum requirements include a Ph.D. in a relevant field and evidence of sustained productivity and teaching competence. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Microbiology position: We seek candidates studying fundamental questions in microbiology or host-microbe interactions/microbiome sciences, including but not limited to bacteriology, eukaryotic microbiology, virology, pathogenesis, immunology, microbial ecology, and environmental microbiology. Evo-devo position: We seek candidates studying fundamental questions in the evolution of development, including but not limited to genetic regulation, phenotypic novelty, epigenetics, phenotypic plasticity, and evolution of behavior. Candidates studying model or non-model organisms are equally encouraged to apply. Working Conditions and Physical Effort The majority of the work is performed in a classroom or lab environment. Some duties include hands on instruction, which could involve moderate exposure to extreme temperatures, dirt, dust, unpleasant odors, and/or loud noises. Department Profile The Department of Biological Sciences provides in-house research infrastructure including new imaging and high-performance computing resources. Core facilities within the department also include a BSL-2 AALAC-accredited animal care facility, a forest reserve, and common-use molecular and imaging facilities. The department also houses the Mississippi State University herbarium (MISSA), which is part of a campus-wide museums and galleries group (www.museums.msstate.edu). The department offers B.S. (Biological Sciences, Medical Technology, and Microbiology), M.S., and Ph.D. (Biological Sciences, Computational Biology) degrees. Faculty in the department have diverse research interests in bioinformatics, cell biology, developmental biology, ecology, evolutionary biology, genetics, microbiology, and systematics, and have been recently funded by a variety of agencies including NIH, NSF (including four current CAREER awards), DOE, DARPA, USDA, USDT, and DOJ, as well as state and private organizations. Biology faculty interact with other campus research centers and institutes (www.research.msstate.edu/centers-institutes) and have ongoing collaborations involving all eight of the university's colleges. Mississippi State University is a comprehensive Carnegie R1 "Very High Research Activity" campus and a top-100 university by research expenditure. The campus is situated in a small, inclusive community boasting an exceptional standard of living (https://starkville.org). Within a short drive of Starkville are more than 120,000 acres of state and federal natural areas, with abundant opportunities for research and recreation. This includes the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge (https://www.fws.gov/refuge/sam-d-hamilton-noxubee), and the Tombigbee National Forest. We are Mississippi's land-grant institution and principal research university with an enrollment of 23,000 students. Instructions for Applying: Applicants must upload the following: - a cover letter synthesizing your experience and interest in the position. - a CV - a statement of research expertise and goals (3-page maximum). - a statement of teaching interests and competency (2-page maximum). - contact information for three references. - reprints of up to three publications. Your research and teaching statements should include plans for mentoring undergraduate and graduate students of different backgrounds and experience levels in a supportive and productive team environment. Screening of applications for both positions will begin December 15, 2025. At this time, MSU is unable to offer H-1B visa sponsorship for this role. This applies until further notice. Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839. What do I do if I need an accommodation? In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired. "Davidson, Phillip" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Other******************** The Society for the Study of Evolution offers the International Travel Stipends to provide funding to attend the Evolution 2026 meeting (https://www.evolutionmeetings.org/) in Cleveland, OH, USA on June 20-24, 2026. Recipients receive meeting registration and funds for transportation to the conference, meals, and lodging. All career stages are eligible, and preference will be given to students and early-career researchers. Applications are now open. Apply by January 30: https://www.evolutionsociety.org/content/society-awards-and-prizes/travel-awards.html#internatltravelsupp communications@evolutionsociety.org (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Other******************** Researchers at the University of Bern are running a digital learning experiment to understand whether interactive web apps help biology students become better modellers in evolution, ecology, & population biology. We need evolution lecturers to help us recruit bachelor (i.e., undergraduate) student participants by advertising our study to their students. The study is run by Dr. Stephan Peischl and Dr. Ana-Hermina Ghenu in collaboration with a researcher in psychology of digital learning, Dr. Sandra Grinschgl. It is ethics-approved, pre-registered, and funded entirely by the University of Bern. The experiment takes ~30 minutes for participants to complete, and they receive 5 Swiss francs (~6 USD) compensation, as approved by our ethics board. More information about our study can be found at our website: https://peischllab.github.io/MEEW.html Please contact ana-hermina.ghenu@unibe.ch to receive the material for advertising via your teaching platform, showing in class, or printing. Kind regards, Ana-Hermina Ghenu (ana-hermina.ghenu@unibe.ch) project leader Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, Universit�t Bern "ana-hermina.ghenu@unibe.ch" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Open post-doctoral position in Theoretical Evolutionary Biology at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. The postdoc will join a team working mainly on developing and analysing mathematical models to understand the evolutionary dynamics of social traits and human behavior. Interests include, but are not limited t, the evolution of preferences, cultural transmission, life-history, transition to large-scale societies, social interactions, and ESS theory. Information about the position and how to apply can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/37uhtbne Informal inquiries should be sent tolaurent.lehmann@unil.ch Laurent Lehmann Laurent Lehmann (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear all, registrations are now open for the Physalia online course on RNAseq Data Analysis for Beginners, running from 10th to 19th February 2026. This seven-day hands-on course is specifically designed for wet-lab biologists and researchers with no prior programming experience who want to learn how to process raw RNA sequencing data into publication-ready results. Participants will work with pre-configured cloud environments and reproducible pipelines, gaining practical skills in command-line basics, quality control, alignment, differential expression analysis, and visualization. The course also covers advanced topics such as batch correction and functional enrichment, ensuring you leave equipped to analyze your own RNAseq data confidently. If you want to gain practical RNAseq analysis skills from raw data to biological interpretation, please have a look at: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/rnaseq-4-beginners/ ) For the full list of our courses and workshops, please visit: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/rnaseq-4-beginners/ ) 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) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis Live online training covering all stages of single-cell transcriptomic data analysis from experimental design to data QC, normalization, clustering, differential expression, and biological interpretation. https://prstats.org/course/single-cell-rna-seq-analysis-scrn02/ Join our four-day live online workshop: Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis (SCRN02). If you're working with single-cell transcriptome data or planning to dive into single-cell workflows, this course will guide you from raw data to interpretable biological insight. What you will learn How to design a robust single-cell RNA-Seq experiment, including strategies for cell capture, sequencing depth and batch control. How to perform quality control and filtering of single-cell data to ensure high-quality downstream analysis. How to normalize and process data, cluster cells, and identify cell types or states. How to conduct differential expression analysis, trajectory inference or other advanced single-cell analyses. How to interpret results biologically linking clusters, cell types or trajectories to meaningful insights. Who should attend Researchers, postgraduate students and industry professionals working with single-cell RNA-Seq data. Anyone with basic experience in R, data analysis, and transcriptomics who wants to build confidence in single-cell workflows. Those who want to confidently move from raw single-cell data to actionable biological conclusions. Course format Four days of live online sessions (approximately 3½ hours each day) in a UK / Western European time zone. Interactive lectures, hands-on practical sessions and discussion time. Course materials, code and example datasets will be provided participants are encouraged to bring their own data for discussion when possible. Recordings available after each day to support participants in different time zones. Why this course stands out It offers an end-to-end workflow specifically tailored for single-cell data from design through QC, clustering, differential expression and biological interpretation. It emphasises not just how to run analysis pipelines, but how to understand assumptions, interpret results, and avoid common pitfalls in single-cell data analysis. Developed and delivered by experienced bioinformaticians, the course balances theoretical foundations with applied, hands-on training in a live-online format. How to register / next steps Visit the PR Stats website for full course details, upcoming dates and registration information. Early registration is recommended, as places are limited. https://prstats.org/course/single-cell-rna-seq-analysis-scrn02/ Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats Oliver Hooker (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** Dear friends and colleagues, We are thrilled to announce that the 10th International Barcode of Life Conference will be held November 2-6, 2026, at the Siam Kempinski Hotel in beautiful Bangkok, Thailand! Please, mark your calendars and spread the news! We are inviting colleagues to join us for a unique opportunity to exchange the latest scientific discoveries and advancements in biodiversity genomics. DNA barcoding has sparked a movement in the widespread use of genetic and genomic information for biodiversity analysis and has led to a wide range of applications as well as new scientific endeavours such as DNA metabarcoding, environmental DNA and museum/herbarium genomics. The theme of the conference is: Building on Barcodes: Impacting Science and Society More info will be available soon at http://dnabarcodingconference.com Registration and abstract submission will open February 2026 Dirk Steinke on behalf of the Conference Organizing Committee Dr. Dirk Steinke (he/him) | Research Scientist - Centre for Biodiversity Genomics - University of Guelph CBG Room 109 | 50 Stone Road E | Guelph, Ontario | N1G2W1 | "dsteinke@uoguelph.ca" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)