********************Other******************** Nominations for the $5000 Gilbert S. Omenn Prize are open now. The deadline is March 15, 2026. The nomination form takes only a minute to complete. Details at https://isemph.org/Omenn-Prize Please forward this invitation to all who might know about excellent articles in the area of evolution, medicine, and public health. The Omenn Prize is awarded by the International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health https://isemph.org for the best article published in the previous calendar year on a topic related to evolution in the context of medicine and public health. The first author is invited, expenses paid, to present a plenary talk at the Society's annual meeting. This year's meeting will be July 28-31 in Kiel Germany. Abstracts for the meeting are welcome and due March 1. The deadline for nominations for the Omenn Prize is March 15, 2026, but sooner is better. A direct link to the nomination form is below. https://airtable.com/appBV61kAMPLS9JU6/pagV3oO6FX9hian6y/form The winning article is announced in May and the prize is awarded to the first author of the article at the ISEMPH annual meeting. The prize includes travel, lodging, and an invitation to present at talk at the ISEMPH annual meeting. All peer-reviewed articles that use evolutionary principles to advance understanding of a disease or disease process are eligible. The prize committee will give priority to articles with implications for human health, but many basic science or theoretical articles have such implications. Authors are encouraged to nominate their own articles, but nominations of articles by others are also welcome. The prize is made possible by a generous donation by Gilbert Omenn, M.D., PhD. Director of the Center for Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics at the University of Michigan where he is a Professor of Internal Medicine, Human Genetics, and Public Health. Dr. Omenn served as Executive Vice President for Medical Affairs as Chief Executive Officer of the University of Michigan Health System from 1997-2002. He is a past president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Randolph Nesse (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Other******************** The Ecology , Evolution , and Ecophysiology Research Clusters within the School of Biological Sciences , University of Aberdeen (Scotland) are pleased to offer an Early Career Recruitment Bursary. We are specifically looking to attract talented early career researchers (ECRs) to enable travel for development of competitive fellowship applications. The University of Aberdeen, founded in 1495, is among the top 1% of oldest Universities worldwide, boasting excellence in environmental research and a location rich in cultural heritage and natural beauty. What we are offering: We are offering bursaries to facilitate travel of ECRs to Aberdeen for a period of 1-3 weeks, to facilitate co-development of competitive fellowship proposals in collaboration with our existing researchers. We will support return travel and subsistence costs and invite applicants to submit a fully costed budget. Application due date: 15 March 2026 for priority consideration; consideration will continue on a rolling basis afterwards. Eligibility: You must be eligible for a target fellowship opportunity that you have identified and plan to pursue in Aberdeen. Potential fellowship opportunities include but are not limited to: NERC IRF , Royal Society URF , MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships , among numerous other potential funders to be discussed with potential hosts (see below). You must furthermore be eligible to travel to the UK and to arrange any required visas prior to your visit. We can provide guidance on accommodation options and costs in Aberdeen. Application process: Prior to submitting an application, you should reach out to at least one member of staff within the Ecology and Evolution or Ecophysiology Research Cluster (full list of eligible hosts can be found: here and here ) to establish a potential collaboration idea. You must then submit (1) your fellowship idea in writing (approximately 1 page), (2) an indicative budget for travel and subsistence, and (3) a copy of your CV, as email attachments in word or pdf format to the cluster chair, Prof Lesley Lancaster (lesleylancaster@abdn.ac.uk) on or before the deadline, using the subject heading "Cluster Bursary" when you submit. Outcomes: We envisage supporting 2-4 bursaries this financial year subject to the availability of funding and the extent of interest. Outcomes will be communicated by the last week in March, and the planned travel must take place before June 30, 2026. Applications for later visits or which are received after the deadline will continue to be considered on a rolling basis, as future budgeting allows. Informal inquiries can be directed to any eligible host (please follow links above) or to lesleylancaster@abdn.ac.uk. The University of Aberdeen is a charity registered in Scotland, No SC013683. Tha Oilthigh Obar Dheathain na charthannas clàraichte ann an Alba, Àir. SC013683. "Fisher, David" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** A Postdoc position in Genomic signatures of adaptive evolution along the fast-slow life history continuum is open at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). The position is part of the ERC Starting Project "Tipping dynamics and resilience in adapting ecological systems" aimed to understand how the capacity of populations to adapt influence ecological resilience. Within this project, the postdoctoral researcher will investigate how genomic signatures of selection vary along the fast-slow life-history continuum, with a particular focus on disentangling the relative contributions of coding and regulatory evolution to adaptive potential. To address this question, the postdoc will combine comparative genomic and phylogenetic approaches with exploratory analyses of both proximal and distal regulatory elements, including the use of emerging sequence-based genomic foundation models (e.g. DNABERT, AlphaGenome, etc). We are looking for a motivated early-career researcher with a PhD in computational evolutionary biology or related field. Experience with comparative genomics and phylogenetic methods is required. The candidate should be comfortable working with large multi-species genomic datasets and have a strong conceptual background in evolutionary theory. Experience analyzing noncoding regulatory regions and an interest in regulatory evolution and life-history theory would be advantageous. Experience with, or interest in, modern sequence-based machine-learning approaches and genomic foundation models is an asset. The working language in the group is English; fluency in speaking and writing is required. The position is fully funded for two years (with possibility of extension to one more year) and is expected to start in Q2 of 2026. Deadline for applications is 10 March 2026 or until the position is filled. Your application should include a letter explaining your research background and motivation to apply for this position, a CV, university diplomas, and the names and contact information for three references (all in one pdf file). For details about the position and how to apply, follow this link https://apply.refline.ch/673277/1341/pub/1/index.html Catalina.Chaparro@eawag.ch (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoctoral Position in Evolutionary Genomics and Bioinformatics, at the Center for Interdisciplinary Neuroscience at University of Valparaiso, Valparaiso, Chile. The Center for Interdisciplinary Neuroscience of Valparaiso (CINV) in Valparaiso, Chile, invites postdoctoral researchers to apply for a Postdoctoral Fellowship focusing on understanding the evolution of genes and molecular pathways that play a role on inflammatory processes driving diseases affecting the central nervous system. The postdoctoral researcher will contribute to this project using a combination of evolutionary and comparative genomics, as well as a diverse set of bioinformatic approaches for data analysis and integration (e.g., transcriptomics, genomics, phenotypic data). This position offers a unique opportunity to integrate diverse state-of-the-art genomic and phenotypic datasets across different model organisms to understand the role of genes, molecular pathways in the origin of complex diseases. CINV provides a highly collaborative and multidisciplinary environment using a variety of computational and experimental approaches, including genetically tractable animal models as well as expertise in genetics, behavior, glia-neuron communication, metabolism, biophysics, genomics, bioinformatics, host-microbe communication, and biomolecular modelling. The new postdoc will be part of one of our labs which focuses more generally on the intersection between molecular evolution and disease biology. Required qualifications are a PhD in evolutionary biology, computational biology, bioinformatics, or closely related fields. Candidates must have excellent verbal and written communication skills (working language is English), as well as an established record of productivity (e.g., at least one previous peer-reviewed publication). Candidates with a past record of publications in bioinfomatics, computational biology, population genetics or evolutionary genomics are strongly preferred. Ideal candidates should have experience in analyzing genomic and phenomic data, performing comparative evolution or population genomic analyses, as well as in collaborating with experimentalists. Interested candidates should first contact Evandro Ferrada at . Please include the following: (1) a cover letter addressing your interest in the position and how your expertise meets the position requirements, (2) a CV, (3) contact information of at least 2 references. A short online interview will follow to discuss specific proposals. Candidate materials will be reviewed as soon as possible until the position is filled. For further information, please visit: https://cinv.uv.cl/cinv-postdoctoral-fellowship-program-2026/ Dr. Evandro Ferrada Associate Profesor Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia (CINV) Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Valpara�so. Pasaje Harrington 287, Playa Ancha, Valpara�so, Chile. Tel. +56 (32) 250 8453 www.cinv.cl Evandro Ferrada (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** A Postdoc position in Experimental eco-evolutionary dynamics of resilience is open at the Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, an internationally networked aquatic research institute within the ETH Domain (Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology). The position is part of the ERC Starting Project "Tipping dynamics and resilience in adapting ecological systems" aimed to understand how the capacity of populations to adapt influence ecological resilience. In this project, the postdoctoral researcher will design, conduct, and analyze an experimental evolution study to examine how adaptation contributes to demographic, population- and community-level resilience. Using plankton communities as a model system, the project will examine how plastic and evolutionary changes in life-history traits affect population and community resilience across a gradient of environmental stress. We are looking for a motivated early-career researcher with a PhD in evolutionary biology, ecology, or a closely related field. Experience with experimental evolution is highly desirable, including lab work with micro/macro-organisms. A strong conceptual background in ecological and evolutionary theory, as well as strong data analysis skills are expected. The working language in the group is English; fluency in speaking and writing is required. The position is fully funded for two years (with possibility of extension to one more year) and is expected to start in Q2 of 2026. Deadline for applications is 10 March 2026 or until the position is filled. Your application should include a letter explaining your research background and motivation to apply for this position, a CV, university diplomas, and the names and contact information for three references (all in one pdf file). For details about the position and how to apply, follow this link https://apply.refline.ch/673277/1340/pub/1/index.html Catalina.Chaparro@eawag.ch (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Call for Applications Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sedimentary Ancient DNA (Marine sedaDNA Postdoctoral Fellow) We invite applications for a full-time Postdoctoral Fellow (PDF) position associated with a new NSERC Alliance-funded collaboration between the McMaster Ancient DNA Centre and the Hakai Institute (Tula Foundation). This position will join a coordinated program to improve sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) methods and reconstruct past ecosystems from terrestrial permafrost and marine sediment archives, while helping to build the Canadian Ancient DNA (Can-aDNA) Network. This position will be a joint appointment between McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada) and the Hakai Institute???s Ancient DNA Lab on Quadra Island, BC (Canada). You will work closely with Dr. Hendrik Poinar (McMaster University) and Dr. Tyler Murchie (Hakai Institute), alongside collaborators Dr. Duane Froese at the University of Alberta, Cooper Stacey at Natural Resources Canada, and other partner institutions such as the Yukon Government, the University of Victoria, and the University of British Columbia. Project overview Our program aims to: - Experimentally improve/optimize sedaDNA workflows (extraction/purification, library preparation, capture enrichment, and metagenomic analysis) for terrestrial permafrost and marine sediments. - Use these improved methods to reconstruct long-term terrestrial and marine ecosystem dynamics across the Quaternary, focusing on Canadian relic permafrost deposits and Pacific marine cores around Vancouver Island and the Canadian Arctic. - Build the Canadian Ancient DNA (Can-aDNA) Network, a national platform for methodological sharing, training, and coordinated method comparisons/validation across Canadian ancient DNA labs. Focus: Marine sediment cores from Barkley Canyon (deep sea) and Saanich Inlet (nearshore, varved sediments) among other sites with available cores (such as Howe Sound and seamounts in Queen Charlotte Sound) to reconstruct long and short-term marine biodiversity and food-web dynamics, and to develop improved marine sedaDNA protocols. Example activities: - Lead sedaDNA work on archived cores from the Institute for Ocean Sciences and related repositories, spanning the late Pleistocene and Holocene. - Combine DNA metabarcoding, ddPCR, and hybridization capture to track changes in plankton, macrophytes, and fish communities through time. - Link sedaDNA signals to known oceanographic records (e.g., productivity, oxygenation, carbon cycling) and physical core stratigraphy. - Help benchmark and refine marine sedaDNA workflows for broader use in palaeo-oceanography and conservation applications. Responsibilities - Lead an independent but collaborative research program within your thematic area (permafrost, marine, or bioinformatics), including experimental design, data generation, analysis, and manuscript preparation. - Mentor and collaborate with PhD candidates and other trainees working on related sedaDNA projects (with 1-2 PhD and/or MSc students). - Contribute to the Can-aDNA Network, including organizing and moderating online seminars, helping coordinate annual symposia, and engaging with the national community through the online forum. - Spend time at both the Hakai Institute Biodiversity Genomics facilities on Quadra Island, BC (near the city of Campbell River on Vancouver Island) and McMaster University (Hamilton, Ontario), and other collaborating institutions as needed. - Present research at national and international conferences and contribute to open, reproducible data and method sharing. Qualifications Required: - PhD (completed or near completion) in a relevant field such as ancient DNA, molecular ecology, biomolecular archaeology, evolutionary genomics, bioinformatics, marine science, Quaternary science, or a related discipline. - Demonstrated experience with ancient or environmental DNA and/or high- throughput sequencing data, with contamination control for the wet-lab- heavy roles, or with large-scale sequence data analysis and pipelines for the bioinformatics role. - Strong quantitative, analytical, and writing skills, with evidence of peer-reviewed publications commensurate with career stage. - Ability to work collaboratively within a multi-institution, interdisciplinary team and to mentor junior trainees. Preferred: - Background in marine ecology, oceanography, marine genomics, or sedimentary records; familiarity with metabarcoding, ddPCR, or marine monitoring data is an asset. Terms and compensation - Appointment length: 2 years (with the possibility of extension subject to funding - Annual salary: CAD $70,000 plus benefits (provided in accordance with McMaster University guidelines.) - Postdoctoral fellows will be employees of McMaster University, working closely with and spending time at the Hakai Institute. - normal hours of work are 35 hours per week. How to apply Please submit the following as a single PDF file in MOSAIC: 1. Cover letter (1???2 pages) describing: - How your previous experience fits the project(s) and your research interests. - Your earliest possible start date and any constraints. 2. Curriculum vitae (including full publication list). 3. Contact information for 2???3 referees (no letters required at the initial stage). Review of applications will begin on February 24, 2026 and continue until the positions are filled. Informal inquiries are welcome (please contact Dr. Hendrik Poinar poinarh@mcmaster.ca and Dr. Tyler Murchie tyler.murchie@hakai.org). . Only applicants under consideration will be contacted. Employment Equity Statement McMaster University is located on the traditional territories of the Haudenosaunee and Mississauga Nations and within the lands protected by the ???Dish With One Spoon??? wampum agreement. The diversity of our workforce is at the core of our innovation and creativity and strengthens our research and teaching excellence. In keeping with its Statement on Building an Inclusive Community with a Shared Purpose, McMaster University strives to embody the values of respect, collaboration and diversity, and has a strong commitment to employment equity. The University seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, who will contribute to the diversification of ideas and perspectives, and especially welcomes applications from indigenous (First Nations, M??tis or Inuit) peoples, members of racialized communities, persons with disabilities, women, and persons who identify as 2SLGBTQ+. As part of McMaster???s commitment, all applicants are invited to complete a confidential Applicant Diversity Survey through the online application submission process. The Survey questionnaire requests voluntary self-identification in relation to equity-seeking groups that have historically faced and continue to face barriers in employment. Please refer to the Applicant Diversity Survey - Statement of Collection for additional information. Job applicants requiring accommodation to participate in the hiring process should contact: Human Resources Service Centre at 905-525-9140 ext. 222-HR (22247), or Faculty of Health Sciences HR Office at ext. 22207, or School of Graduate Studies at ext. 23679 to communicate accommodation needs. Pay Transparency Statement The starting salary will not be less than $47,500 /year. Hybrid Work Language To ensure an ongoing and vibrant University community that meets the needs of our students, staff and faculty and supports the University mission, ability to work on-site continues to be a requirement for most University positions. The University is supportive of exploring flexible work arrangements that effectively balance operational needs and employee interests. Interview Experience At McMaster University, we believe in a comprehensive and inclusive interview process. Our interview methods encompass a variety of approaches that allow our hiring teams to provide a flexible and accessible experience for engaging with our candidates. Throughout your recruitment process at McMaster, you may be requested to participate in a variety of formats, that may include in-person, virtual or recorded interviews. If you have any questions as you move through the hiring process, please reach out to talent@mcmaster.ca or the HR contact associated with your position of interest. Hendrik Poinar (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoc position in population genetics at the University of Copenhagen. A 2 year postdoc position is available jointly at the Dept of Mathematical Science and at the Dept of Biology, commencing according to arrangement. The position is open until filled. The project is concerned with the development of statistical and computational tools to understand the genetic exchange across species boundaries through migration and introgression, which today is recognized as a common phenomenon in evolution. Understanding how different species are connected in evolutionary networks is of fundamental interest in biology, but current methods to infer the evolutionary relationship among closely related species fall often short. The project seeks to develop new statistical and computational methods to disentangle the genetic relationship between species based on data from wild and domestic cattle (the Bos genus), with a special emphasis on detecting selection acting on genes that have crossed species boundaries. How do we measure and quantify exchange? Current methods are typically discrete, and based on a graphical representation. The new methods might be based on modelling, for example by extending the concept of Admixture Graphs to allow for continuous events or movements in space, or by applying Deep Learning as well, for example using generative diffusion models. The ideal candidate has a quantitative background within (applied) math, statistics, engineering, computer science or quantitative biology. You need not have experience in population genetics but a keen interest to develop and apply your skills in a real-world context. If you're interested, send me (Carsten Wiuf, wiuf@math.ku.dk) an email with your CV and publication list, and a short motivation for applying. Carsten Wiuf (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** ABSTRACTS are due March 1, 2026 for the 11th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health in Kiel, Germany, July 28-31. Researchers, clinicians, and students are all welcome at this congenial meeting about the most recent developments in the field. Full information at https://ISEMPH.org. PLEASE FORWARD this invitation to all who have an interest in how evolutionary biology can improve understanding, prevention, and treatment of disease. KEYNOTE SPEAKERS -Johannes Krause - Max Planck Institute Jena, Germany -Trevor Graham - Institute of Cancer Research London, UK -Lynette Leidy Sievert - UMass Amherst, USA -Brendan Bohannan - Univ. of Oregon, USA -Marisa Azad - Univ. of Ottawa, Canada REGISTER NOW to get the discounted rate, you can get a refund if you later find you can't make it. Be sure your membership is up to date to get meeting registration discounts. If you are not an ISEMPH member, you may wish to join ISEMPH before registering for the meeting in order to take advantage of the substantial member discount. DEADLINES March 1, 2026: Abstract submission deadline and travel award decision announcement April 1, 2026: Abstract decision announcement April 15, 2026: Early-bird registration deadline; all presenters must be registered and paid June 15, 2026: Regular registration deadline PROGRAM COMMITTEE Michelle Blyth, Louisiana State University School of Medicine New Orleans, USA Emily Emmott, University College London, UK Manuel Irimia, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain Monica Kidd, physician in Calgary, Canada Susie Lee, Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research, Germany Michael Muehlenbein, Baylor University, USA Dipongkor Saha, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, USA Lisa Stabryla, University of Illinois Chicago, USA Misty Thomas, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, USA LOCAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE John Baines, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Barbara Cania, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Hinrich Schulenburg, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany LOCAL GENERAL COMMITTEE Philipp Altrock, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany John Baines, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Barbara Cania, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Tal Dagan, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Mathieu Groussin, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Ben Krause-Kyora, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Almut Nebel, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Olivia Roth, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany Hinrich Schulenburg, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany We are looking forward to seeing you all in Kiel! Randolph Nesse (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)