********************GradStudentPositions******************** PhD position available from April 2026 on Ecological interactions of coexisting cryptic Gammarus species at Charles University, Prague, Czechia. Apply in November 2025 to petrusek@natur.cuni.cz. More details below, and on http://bit.ly/4hC0Orc Within a joint Austrian-Czech project focusing on the freshwater amphipod Gammarus fossarum in the streams of Western Carpathians and Eastern Alps, we will explore feeding ecology, functional morphology, reproductive interactions and direct competition for resources of various lineages of this species complex, which differ in the extent of divergence but occur in mountain streams in syntopy. The project combines field sampling, molecular identification of specimens, stable isotope and gut content analyses, morphological characterization of functionally relevant traits, and lab experiments. We are looking for a motivated PhD student to join the Prague team. The student will contribute to fieldwork in eastern Czechia and will be involved in most of the above-mentioned research lines, but particularly strongly in the work package focusing on trophic ecology of the coexisting cryptic species. The ideal candidate for this PhD position is interested in both ecology and evolutionary biology, has some experience with work in the lab, and is willing to learn new methods and contribute to both field- and labwork (DNA, stable isotopes) and laboratory experiments. A car driving licence (and experience with manual gear shift), and ability to successfully collaborate within a wider team of students, and with other national and international research groups, is a must. Good knowledge of written and spoken English is essential for candidate of any nationality. The student will work under supervision of prof. Adam Petrusek at the Department of Ecology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague. The department has suitable facilities for the DNA work, and offers supporting work environment in an international team. The project will be conducted in close collaboration with teams at University of Ostrava (Czechia) and University of Graz (Austria), where the student may also spend several months of the study in an internship. The position is available for up to four years, starting in April 2026. The PhD candidate's net monthly income will start at ca 32.000 Czk (ca 1330 EUR) in the first year, and may increase over time. To be eligible, the candidate must have obtained a degree equivalent to M.Sc. (B.Sc. is not sufficient due to local legislation) by March 2026 at the latest. If interested, send a motivation letter outlining your past research, motivation for this position and specific experience (max. 2 pages), CV, list of publications or conference presentations (if available), abstract of Master or Diploma thesis, and contact details of 2-3 senior scientists that can provide references on you in a single PDF file to petrusek@natur.cuni.cz until November 30, 2025. Pre-selected candidate(s) will be invited for interviews over Zoom, and encouraged to submit a formal application through the university study system. Adam Petrusek (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Graduate position: University of Melbourne. Evolution of colour defences. We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student interested in the ecology and evolution of warning signals, and with a passion for insects and invertebrates. The project will involve exploring potential links between dispersal, invasiveness, and anti-predator colour strategies. Background in ecology and evolution is expected. The project will involve analysing large datasets, so programming experience in R (and interest in programming) is desirable. There will be opportunity for some fieldwork as well. Location: University of Melbourne (Australia), ranked one of the best cities to live in the world. There is also opportunity to travel to Swansea University (UK) to visit co-supervisor A/Prof Will Allen, and other locations depending on fieldwork. Qualifications: MSc (Preferred) or Honours in biology with experience in evolutionary biology, animal ecology or behavioural ecology. Funding: Selected applicants will be asked to apply to the University of Melbourne International Scholarship. CV must be competitive. Start date: Between July and September 2026, but flexible. Details here: https://study.unimelb.edu.au/find/courses/graduate/doctor-of-philosophy-science/how-to-apply/#nav If interested, please send an e-mail to iliana.medina@unimelb.edu.au with a CV, academic transcripts, and your research interests (max 2 pages). Link to our website for more information on our group: https://www.ecomedina.com Iliana Medina (she/her) School of BioSciences University of Melbourne Please note I sometimes send emails outside of normal work hours, but responses are never expected outside normal working hours. Iliana Medina Guzman (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear all, Are you interested in learning how to assemble eukaryotic genomes using long-reads data? This is your last chance to join the upcoming Physalia online course: EUKARYOTIC GENOME ASSEMBLY USING PACBIO AND HI-C Dates: 10-14 November Course website: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/pacbio/ ) This hands-on course will guide participants through a complete genome assembly workflow from raw PacBio and Hi-C reads to chromosome-level assemblies. Participants will gain both theoretical insight and practical experience using state-of-the-art tools for assembly, scaffolding, and quality assessment. If you work with genomic data and want to learn how to build high-quality eukaryotic genomes, don't miss this opportunity. For the full list of our courses and workshops, please visit our website: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/pacbio/ ) 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)