********************PostDocs******************** Postdoctoral Researcher in Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics of Human-Altered Environments at Penn The Comerford Lab, newly established in the Department of Biology at the University of Pennsylvania, is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Researcher to join our team in the Summer of 2026. This is a foundational role in a brand-new lab. The successful candidate will not only lead cutting-edge research but will also play a key role in the "unboxing" and development of our physical lab space and the cultivation of an inclusive, high-achieving lab culture. Together, our lab will investigate how plant-insect ecology and evolution respond to human-altered environments. We utilize a full-stack holistic approach that combines large-scale field experiments, molecular genomics, and theoretical modeling in order to better understand the rules of life in a changing world. The Postdoc will help to lead two primary initiatives: 1. Diet Breadth & Resilience: Investigating the role of insect herbivore diet breadth in tolerating and adapting to environmental perturbations (e.g., extreme weather, host shifts). 2. Mechanistic Spatial Sorting: Utilizing controlled lab-based microcosm experiments to elucidate the underpinnings of spatial sorting; a critical but under-described evolutionary driver in the wake of anthropogenic disturbance. Required Qualifications Education: A Ph.D. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, or a related discipline. Expertise: Demonstrated aptitude in plant-insect interactions and the design/implementation of complex field or lab experiments. Technical Skills: Proficiency in molecular techniques or computational modeling (e.g., R, Python) is highly preferred. Mindset: We are looking for a scientist who is excited by the prospect of building something from the ground up, someone who is as comfortable designing a genomic pipeline as they are helping to set up a new microcosm array. Position Details Start Date: Summer 2026 (preferred), with some flexibility. Duration: Initial 1-year appointment, with the potential for extension contingent on performance and funding. Location: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. Applicants will be considered starting March 10th and continue until the position is filled How to Apply Interested applicants should submit the following materials as a single PDF to mattheauc@gmail.com with the subject line "Postdoc Application - [Your Name]": Please include: Curriculum Vitae Research Statement (1-2 pages): Detailing past achievements and how your interests align with the Comerford Lab's goals of testing eco-evo dynamics in a human-altered world. Publications: 2-3 representative reprints. References: Contact information for three professional references. For more information on our research and philosophy, please visit: mattheaucomerford.weebly.com or our Penn Faculty Page https://www.bio.upenn.edu/people/mattheau-s Mattheau Comerford (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoc at UNSW Sydney A 3-year postdoctoral position in mathematical phylogenetics is available at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. The postdoctoral fellow will contribute independently and as a team member in collaborative research on the mathematics associated with encodings of phylogenetic trees and networks, on outcomes linked to a grant from the Australian Research Council (CIs Andrew Francis, Mark Tanaka, Michael Hendriksen). About the role - Level A - $113K - $121K AUD plus 17% superannuation and annual leave loading - Fixed term - 3 years full-time (35 hours per week) The role reports to Professor Andrew Francis and has no direct reports. Applications close: March 5th, 2025 For details, see https://external-careers.jobs.unsw.edu.au/cw/en/job/537899/postdoctoral-fellow-mathematics-statistics Please apply online - applications will not be accepted if sent directly to the contact listed. Contact: Andrew Francis Email: a.francis@unsw.edu.au This email and any files transmitted with it may contain confidential information. If you believe you have received this email or any of its contents in error, please notify me immediately by return email and destroy this email. Do not use, disseminate, forward, print or copy any contents of an email received in error. Mark Tanaka (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoc Polygenic Adaptation Vienna A postdoc position is available at the Institute of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna. The position is available from April 1st with up to two years of guaranteed funding. Later starting dates are negotiable. Requirements: - Familiarity with polygenic adaptation and/or quantitative genetics - Keen interest to either analyze experimental time series data available at the Institute or to further develop theoretical concepts of polygenic adaptation - Strong motivation to interact with faculty, postdocs and students of the FWF funded priority program on polygenic adaptation (link) aiming to connect ongoing experimental and theoretical work. The successful candidate will have considerable freedom to develop an independent research project within the framework of polygenic adaptation. The position comes with some priority program associated administrative duties aiming to connect the teams at different institutions. Successful candidates with an empirical research interest would have the opportunity to take some of the experimental Drosophila populations, which have evolved for up to 350 generations, to their next career step. Vienna is an internationally recognized hub of empirical and theoretical population geneticists, with a strong research focus on understanding polygenic. Beyond this, Vienna is home to many research groups with a keen interest in evolutionary biology (This results in fantastic training and network opportunities: - weekly seminar series () provide the opportunity for one to one interaction with internationally renowned evolutionary biologist - regular meetings and exchanges with the members of the priority program as well as associate faculty (e.g. N. Barghi, Plön and K. Swarts) - Evolvienna meetings bringing the Viennese community of evolutionary biologists together - Regular journal clubs and progress reports, frequently joined by member of other research teams Postdoctoral Position in Polygenic Adaptation Institute of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna A postdoctoral position is available at the Institute of Population Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna (Vetmeduni). The position is available from April 1st, with up to two years of guaranteed funding. Later starting dates are negotiable. Research Focus The postdoc will work in the broad area of polygenic adaptation, with substantial freedom to develop an independent research project. The position is embedded in an FWF-funded priority program on polygenic adaptation, aiming to closely connect experimental and theoretical approaches across institutions. Depending on interests and expertise, the successful candidate may: * Analyze existing experimental time-series data available at the Institute, and/or * Further develop theoretical frameworks of polygenic adaptation. Importantly, candidates with an empirical research focus will have the opportunity to take long-term experimental Drosophila populations which have evolved for up to 350 generations with them to their next career stage, providing a unique platform for establishing an independent research program. Requirements * Background in polygenic adaptation and/or quantitative genetics * Strong motivation to pursue independent research within the field of polygenic adaptation * Keen interest in active collaboration with faculty, postdocs, and students within the FWF priority program * Willingness to contribute to limited program-related administrative and coordination tasks aimed at strengthening collaboration across institutions Research Environment Vienna is an internationally recognized hub for empirical and theoretical population genetics (www.evolvienna.at), with a strong research focus on polygenic traits and evolutionary genomics. The city hosts a vibrant evolutionary biology community, offering excellent training and networking opportunities, including: * Weekly seminar series with internationally renowned evolutionary biologists, enabling close scientific exchange ( www.popgen-vienna.at/news/seminars/) * Regular meetings and exchanges with members of the priority program and associated faculty (e.g. N. Barghi, Plön; K. Swarts) * EvolVienna meetings, bringing together the Viennese community of evolutionary biologists * A Graduate School dedicated to population genetics (www.popgen-vienna.at)/ * Journal clubs and progress report meetings, often joined by members of other research groups Application Applications and informal enquiries should be submitted to Christian Schlötterer (schlotc@gmail.com) by February 25th for full consideration. The search will remain open until the position is filled. Christian Schlötterer Institut für Populationsgenetik Vetmeduni Vienna Veterinärplatz 1 1210 Wien Austria/Europe Zoom: https://bokuvienna.zoom.us/j/99886139039?pwd=dnZXUHZlK2dkWVBxU1NXQ2NCRXhwUT09 phone: +43-1-25077-4300 fax: +43-1-25077-4390 http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/en/population-genetics/ Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics http://www.popgen-vienna.at Christian Schlötterer (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** The 14th Annual Yosemite Symbiosis Workshop 2026 An integrative meeting of biologists focusing on symbiosis research April 17-19, 2026 Sierra Nevada Research Station, Wawona, Yosemite National Park Register here: https://snri.ucmerced.edu/form/symbiosis-workshop-2026 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: John McCutcheon, Arizona State University Why: Our goal is to better integrate scientists who focus on symbiosis research, including researchers that study animal-microbe and plant-microbe systems, as well as broader topics related to microbiomes, cooperation, and mutualism. This will be our 14th annual meeting and we have been consistently attracting scientists from all over the country and overseas. Who: The meeting is small and intimate by design (45 participants). We typically cover a range of symbiosis topics from ecology and evolution to molecular mechanisms in different model and non-model systems. We are limiting registration to four people per lab, with priority for graduate students, postdocs, and PIs (undergraduate students are welcome to attend if we have space). What: The meeting will consist of two half-days of talks and one poster session. Other than the keynote (~1 hour), talks are 15 minutes long (including time for questions). Posters are flexible for size, but the ideal poster should be no larger than ~4 feet square. When you apply for the meeting, you will provide your preference for a talk or poster. We usually strike a good balance but were a bit poster heavy in 2025, so talks are encouraged. When: A welcome party will occur for everyone arriving on the evening of Friday April 17th. The talks and poster sessions will be held Saturday and Sunday April 18-19, 2026. Where: This is the best part! The meeting takes place at the Sierra Nevada Research Station, in Wawona California, within the border of Yosemite National Park! What will it cost? Thanks to generous support from the Moore Foundation, this meeting is free for graduate students and postdocs --! We charge $300 for PIs and other types of participants (e.g. industry/foundation/journalist). PIs must pay a registration fee of $300. The registration deadline is March 15, 2026. We ask that graduate students and postdocs plan to present their work. Everyone who registers on time gets to present a talk or poster (your choice). What does registration include? Registration includes lodging Friday and Saturday nights, a welcome party with light refreshments on Friday night, all meals on Saturday, and breakfast and lunch on Sunday. Dietary offerings will include meat, vegetarian/vegan/dairy-free, and gluten-free options. The cabins are rustic with shared, dorm-like rooms and bunk beds. There are no single rooms. Please don't register unless you are comfortable with the idea of staying in a rustic cabin or sharing a room. For questions about travel or lodging, please feel free to email Carolin Frank ( cfrank3@ucmerced.edu). Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate guests The Yosemite field station is getting busier every year with researchers, and so must prioritize participants over guests. If you want to bring guests, we kindly ask that you make your own arrangements with the nearby Wawona hotel. If you are breastfeeding, we can try to accommodate your baby and partner, but there's no guarantee. Please email Carolin if this is your situation (cfrank3@ucmerced.edu). Please fill out the registration form below. If you are a PI, you need to pay the registration fee in order for your registration to be complete. Payment is by credit card only. Cancellations are not allowed, but in the event that we need to cancel the workshop (e.g. due to weather), you will get a refund. Register here: https://snri.ucmerced.edu/form/symbiosis-workshop-2026 Please direct any questions to the organizers: Joel Sachs joels@ucr.edu A. Carolin Frank cfrank3@ucmerced.edu joel.sachs@ucr.edu (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)