********************GradStudentPositions******************** UAdelaide.Australia.Ancient.DNA.Mammals We are currently looking for two enthusiastic PhD students to work on a new project preventing extinctions of Australia's threatened mammals with DNA. These PhD projects will be based at the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute and Australian Centre for Ancient DNA. They will be part of a recent Linkage Project funded by the Australian Research Council, involving several senior and postdoctoral scientists, and conservation practitioners. The successful candidates will work closely with this diverse and highly skilled group of researchers. Background: Australia's unique mammals have suffered the highest rate of recent extinctions of any continent. Reversing further declines, and averting new extinctions, requires more detailed understanding of past distributions and preferred habitats. These PhD projects will use ancient DNA extracted from sediment and bulk-bone deposits to reconstruct changes in mammal and plant diversity across Australian landscapes through time. Their significance is that they will establish historical distributions and habitats of Australian threatened mammals at geographic scales and spatial resolutions needed for evidence-based ecological restoration. Position 1: Establishing past mammals and their habitats using sedimentary DNA Ancient DNA from sedimentary archives is now providing information on the former distribution and diversity of life that was previously invisible in the fossil record. This PhD project will leverage methodological breakthroughs in sedimentary ancient DNA to provide a direct window into how pre-European patterns of mammal and plant diversity once varied across Australian landscapes. Specifically, the successful PhD candidate will use high throughput analysis of sediment and high performance computing to generate inventories of pre- and post-European assemblages of Australian native mammals and their vegetation communities at a geographic scale never done before. This will deliver the very information conservation organisations need to optimise future efforts to restore and safeguard Australia's most threatened mammals. Supervision and mentoring: will be provided by A/Prof. Damien Fordham, Dr Jamie Wood and A/Prof. Jeremy Austin at the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute and Australian Centre for Ancient DNA. These supervisors and their labs are international leaders in the fields of environmental genomics, ancient DNA and biodiversity conservation. They will collaborate with staff from Australia's three largest non-profit conservation organisations: Bush Heritage, World Wildlife Fund-Australia, and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Position 2: Quantifying losses of mammals at key conservation areas using bulk bone metabarcoding Bulk bone metabarcoding is enabling effective species identification of fragmentary bones from archaeological and paleontological excavations. This project will establish past mammal assemblies by applying these new ancient DNA techniques to highly fragmented and morphologically indistinct late-Holocene aged fossil bones collected from caves across Australia. Specifically, the successful PhD candidate will use bulk bone metabarcoding and high performance computing to generate inventories of pre- European assemblages of Australian native mammals in priority conservation areas, spanning broad climates and environments. New scientific understandings will allow current-day patterns of mammal diversity to be contextualised, recovery targets for threatened species strengthened, reintroduction programs optimised. Supervision and mentoring: will be provided by A/Prof. Damien Fordham, Dr Jamie Wood and Dr Liz Reed at the University of Adelaide's Environment Institute and Australian Centre for Ancient DNA. These supervisors and their labs are international leaders in the fields of environmental genomics, ancient DNA, biodiversity conservation and paleoecology. They will collaborate closely with staff from the Australian Museum and NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, as well key conservation organisations. More information can be found here: https://scholarships.adelaide.edu.au/Scholarships/postgraduate-research/faculty-of-sciences-engineering-and-technology-set/arc-phd-3 Email applications to A/Prof. Damien Fordham (damien.fordham@adelaide.edu.au) and Dr Jamie Wood (jamie.wood@adelaide.edu.au). This should include: - your résumé/Curriculum Vitae - letter addressing the selection criteria - residency status - names, addresses and/or email details of two referees Damien Fordham (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** We are seeking a motivated graduate student to join our research team for a project funded by the National Science Foundation. Project Overview: Our project aims to unravel the genetic basis of gene expression and phenotypic variation in birds and mammals. We will utilize cutting-edge techniques in genomics, tissue imaging, metabolomics, and single-cell spatial transcriptomics to investigate how dynamic changes in gene regulation during development influence phenotypic traits. Your Role: As a research assistant, you will play a crucial role in: * Conducting in-depth analyses of gene and allelic expression, as well as metabolite levels, in crossbred chickens. * Identifying gene and metabolic regulatory networks associated with fundamental cellular processes and myogenesis. * Examining the precise roles of specific alleles in primary muscle cell cultures from various species. * Contributing to the development of novel transcriptomics approaches to advance our understanding of developmental mechanisms. Qualifications: * Strong background in biology, genetics, or a related field * Experience with genomic and transcriptomic data analysis * Interest in programming languages such as Python or R * Excellent research, analytical, and problem-solving skills * A passion for scientific discovery and a collaborative mindset Why Join Our Lab? * Opportunity to work on a cutting-edge NSF-funded project * Collaboration with a team of experienced researchers * Access to state-of-the-art equipment and resources * Potential for publication in high-impact journals If you are interested in joining our research team, please submit your CV, a cover letter, and a transcript to abasht@udel.edu. Behnam Abasht Professor Department of Animal and Food Sciences University of Delaware 531 S. College Ave., 035 Townsend Hall Newark, DE 19716 Phone: 302-831-8876 abasht@UDel.edu "Abasht, Behnam" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** Assistant Professor of Teaching Department of Evolution & Ecology College of Biological Sciences Position Description: Nine-month, tenure track Assistant Professor of Teaching (PoT) position in the Department of Evolution and Ecology (EVE), in the College of Biological Sciences. Faculty in PoT positions are members of the academic senate and are eligible for promotion to Associate Professor of Teaching, the equivalent of tenure for ladder rank faculty. This position is in the fields of Ecology and Evolution. Successful applicants will be responsible for teaching, curricular development, and assessment of existing courses in the general area of Ecology, Evolution and Biodiversity. They will be expected to play a leadership role in the scholarship of teaching and learning, work with faculty to develop, implement and assess new pedagogical initiatives, as well as develop new courses. This PoT appointee will teach four undergraduate courses per year and provide service to the department or campus including, but not limited to, contributions to undergraduate curriculum revision, evaluation and development. Qualified applicants must have a Ph.D. at the time of appointment and documented success in some or all of the following areas: Teaching a variety of courses in areas related to ecology and evolution; teaching large undergraduate classes, both lecture and laboratory classes; use of evidence-based teaching practices; use of modern instructional technology; ability to design and implement online courses; ability to identify and develop effective teaching strategies for diverse student populations; develop a successful portfolio of professional and scholarly activity in discipline-based education; conducting science education or assessment research; mentoring undergraduates, including those from diverse backgrounds; curriculum design and/or course design. The University of California is committed to creating and maintaining a community dedicated to the advancement, application, and transmission of knowledge and creative endeavors through academic excellence, where all individuals who participate in University programs and activities can work and learn together in a safe and secure environment, free of violence, harassment, discrimination, exploitation, or intimidation. With this commitment, UC Davis conducts a reference check on all first-choice candidates for Academic Senate Assistant Professor, Steps 4, 5, or 6 through Professor, Assistant Professor of Teaching, Steps 4, 5, or 6 through Professor of Teaching, and Acting Professor of Law through Professor of Law positions. The reference check involves contacting the administration of the applicant's previous institution(s) to ask whether there have been substantiated findings of misconduct that would violate the University's Faculty Code of Conduct. To implement this process, UC Davis requires all applicants for any open search for these faculty positions to complete, sign, and upload the form entitled "Authorization to Release Information" into UC RECRUIT as part of their application. If an applicant does not include the signed authorization with the application materials, the application will be considered incomplete, and as with any incomplete application, will not receive further consideration. Although all applicants for faculty recruitments must complete the entire application, only finalists considered for these faculty positions will be subject to reference checks. Basic Qualifications (required at application): PhD in Biological Sciences or related disciplines and experience teaching college-level biology courses. Preferred Qualifications: Documented success in some of the following areas: Teaching large undergraduate lecture and laboratory classes; Teaching introductory and advanced courses in ecology and evolution; Experiential learning; Use of evidence-based teaching practices; design and implementation of on-line courses; Ability to develop effective teaching strategies for diverse populations; Use of modern instructional technology including virtual classrooms and online instruction. Application Requirements: For fullest consideration, please review the full position description, which provides guidance on application requirements: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06690. Application packages should include the following documents: current Curriculum Vitae, Cover Letter, Statement of Research, Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Statement of Current and Proposed Teaching, 3 letters of recommendation, and Authorization to Release Information form. Open Date: September 15, 2024 Initial Review Date: November 1, 2024 by 11:59pm PST - Must be completed application and apply by this date to ensure full consideration. Final Review Date: February 21, 2025 by 11:59pm PST - Applications will continue to be accepted until this date, but those received after the initial review date will only be considered if the position has not been filled yet. For more details and to apply, please see: https://recruit.ucdavis.edu/JPF06690. evoldir@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** Assistant Professor - Microbiome Science Location: Open Date: Description The Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor specializing in Microbiome science. We welcome/encourage applications from prospective faculty interested in all areas of microbiome research relevant to human health. Clemson University, the College of Science, and the Department of Biological Sciences are committed to building a community of inclusive excellence and creating a sense of belonging, where faculty scholars are dedicated to working and teaching in a welcoming environment that empowers students to be positive change agents (http://www.clemson.edu/ceba/). We are supportive of the needs of dual career couples. The Department offers (BA/BS) and graduate (MS/PhD) degrees in Biological Sciences and Microbiology, and graduate degrees (MS/PhD) in Environmental Toxicology. In addition, the department offers an online, non-thesis M.S. in biological sciences for teachers and science educators interested in biological sciences. The successful candidates will inspire/enlighten our student body by contributing to the department's teaching mission. The successful candidate will bring an innovative and high-impact research program to Clemson that complement and enhance existing departmental research strengths. Current faculty interests related to microbiome research include host-pathogen interactions, host-symbiont interactions, aquatic and soil ecosystems, and microbial interactions and functions during environmental change. About the University & Department: Located on Lake Hartwell in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Clemson University is South Carolina's public land-grant University with access to multiple state and national parks and forests. As a Carnegie R1 Institution, Clemson has excellent research resources including the globally ranked Palmetto high-performance computing cluster, the Clemson University Genomics and Bioinformatics Facility, the Eukaryotic Pathogen Innovation Center, state-of-the-art light microscopy, electron microscopy, vivarium, animal, aquatic animal, and greenhouse facilities, and a multi-user analytical laboratory. There are many opportunities for collaboration across a wide group of partners on and off campus, including the Center for Human Genetics (https://www.clemson.edu/science/research/chg.html) and Prisma Health. Clemson is also launching a new College of Veterinary Medicine that will commence student enrollment in Fall 2026. There are many opportunities for collaboration across a wide group of partners on and off campus, including faculty in other departments in the College of Science as well as other colleges such as College of Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences. The Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University harnesses faculty expertise across the areas of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology; microbiology; toxicology and molecular, cellular and developmental biology to advance the University's discovery mission and provide strong educational programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. For more information about the Department and its programs, please visit the website https://www.clemson.edu/science/academics/departments/biosci/index.html. For more information about Clemson, please visit the website http://www.clemson.edu/. Qualifications Successful candidates must hold a PhD in biology/microbiology or equivalent terminal degree with an advanced background in biological sciences or a related discipline. Candidates should present evidence of productive postdoctoral research experience as demonstrated by an excellent research record with a high level of productivity in peer-reviewed publications. Strong candidates will show significant potential for external funding in the first two years as well as effectiveness in teaching undergraduate and graduate students (M.S. and Ph.D.) appropriate for the Assistant Professor level online or in person. Application Instructions For full consideration, please apply by November 1, 2024. Review of applications will begin immediately and the search will remain open until filled. The anticipated start date is August 2025. Applicants should submit the following items via Interfolio at: http://apply.interfolio.com/153882 (1) Cover letter, including what draws the applicant to this position in the Department of Biological Sciences at Clemson University (2) CV including at least three references for potential contact after initial review (3) Two-page statement of research interests and future plans (4) One page teaching statement that describes the candidate's teaching pedagogy and how they envision contributing to the teaching mission of the department (5) Up to three reprints combined into one PDF. For inquiries about the position, please contact Barbara Campbell, chair of the search committee (bcampb7@clemson.edu). Qualifications Application Instructions For more information and to apply, visit https://apptrkr.com/5631429 Copyright [??] 2024 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved. https://www.jobelephant.com/ Joe Grant (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** The Department of Biology in the College of Natural and Health Sciences at The University of Tampa invites applications for a tenure track position in Genetics at the rank of Assistant Professor starting in August 2025. The successful candidate will support the mentoring and teaching of students in research and in existing lecture and laboratory courses in genetics and our introductory general biology series. Area of research expertise is open within the confines of this discipline. The successful candidate will demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching, a critical component of our teaching-centered, primarily undergraduate institution. Applicants should be eager to create engaging, inclusive learning environments for our diverse student body that emphasize shared learning objectives across a range of subject areas within the biological sciences. Students majoring in the department choose from among a BS or BA in Biology or a major in Marine Science-Biology, along with minors populated by students from across the University. The required teaching load is 12 contact hours per semester with full-credit for time spent in laboratory sections. Tenure-track professors in the Department typically offer courses at the undergraduate upper-level as well as introductory or general education courses each year. Our most successful colleagues establish an active research program that leads to peer-reviewed publications in respected journals appropriate to their discipline. As a primarily undergraduate teaching institution, we strive to maintain realistic research expectations and value quality over quantity in scholarly output. Start-up funds and research spaces are available but are limited compared to research-intensive institutions. As one of the largest departments in the University, ample opportunities exist for collaboration within the department, and our faculty are routinely successful at securing internal grant funds to support their research. Research plans should be appropriate for the institutional resources and in the context of other employment expectations. Successful colleagues engage undergraduate students in rich scholarly activities as a means of providing greater depth and opportunity to the educational experience at the university. Assistance is available to identify external grant sources, grant writing, and additional sources of funding for equipment that cannot be purchased with start-up funds. Qualifications PhD required, ABD candidates considered. Prior teaching and research experience with undergraduates is desirable/expected in candidates whose experiences have allowed for these opportunities. Review of applications will begin immediately with a final deadline of October 18, 2024, and will continue until the position is filled. Candidates must submit their application, cover letter, and CV by this initial deadline to receive full consideration. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience. To apply or get additional details, please visit: https://utampa.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/Faculty/details/Assistant-Professor-of-Biology---Genetics-_R0008975-2 Any questions, feel free to email: Carlos Santamaria "csantamaria@ut.edu" Carlos A. Santamaria, Ph.D. Assistant Professor of Biology Preferred pronouns: he/his/him Feel free to share your pronouns The University of Tampa Department of Biology Science Wing, Plant Hall. Room 121 csantamaria@ut.edu | www.ut.edu csantamaria@ut.edu (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** Job: UBC and Hakai Institute, BC. Sentinels of Change Alliance Postdoctoral Fellow in Intertidal Parasite-Host Interactions. Use your background in parasitology, evolutionary ecology, and biodiversity research; and your experience with field and experimental design to study ecological and evolutionary dynamics in the Salish Sea. https://tula.org/about/careers/sentinels/post-doctoral-fellow-in-marine-host-parasite get to know us: https://sentinels.hakai.org/about recruitment video: https://vimeo.com/848860161/5e02204921 Michelle McEwan, MSc Projects Manager, Sentinels of Change A Hakai Institute and UBC Alliance Project Co-Funded by Tula Foundation and NSERC michelle.mcewan@hakai.org (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** 2024 Workshop on Demographic Inference Dates: 17-18 November 2024 Format: Hybrid (University of Fribourg, Switzerland + Online) Fee: Free of charge Course website: https://gadmaworkshop.github.io/future_workshops/2024-11-18-19 We are excited to announce a workshop on demographic inference. It is a perfect opportunity to learn how to prepare your sequencing data for demographic inference using ATLAS and to infer demographic history using GADMA. Basic knowledge of UNIX and command-line tools is required. Registration is now open, please apply! If you have any questions, please send email to Ekaterina Noskova ( ekaterina.e.noskova@gmail.com). Ekaterina Noskova (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)