********************GradStudentPositions******************** 20 Nov 2025 Fully funded PhD position: Evolutionary & population genomics of the hexaploid adaptive radiation of Labeobarbus fishes in Lake Tana Supervisor: Dr. Pooja Singh Starting date: 01-03-2026 We would like to fill a PhD position funded for 3.5 years (with possibility of 6-month extension) by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) at the University of Bern (Switzerland). We are seeking an enthusiastic and highly motivated researcher to work towards understanding the evolutionary dynamics of speciation and adaptive radiation in Labeobarbus fishes from Lake Tana in Ethiopia. This project will involve fieldwork in Ethiopia, integration of genomics data with morphology and ecology. This project is conducted in a team consisting of scientists at the University of Addis Ababa (Prof. Abebe Getahun, Prof. Helen Nigussie) and Uni Bern and The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (Prof. Ole Seehausen). Lake Tana, Ethiopia’s largest lake, is a unique biodiversity hotspot that is home to the last remaining species-flock of cyprinid fishes in the world. The genus Labeobarbus is hexaploid and underwent rapid adaptive radiation in Lake Tana as it filled up 15,000 years ago, giving rise to ~17 endemic species. We have recently assembled the first draft hexaploid reference genome for Lake Tana Labeobarbus. In this project we will reconstruct the evolutionary history and speciation dynamics of this radiation and investigate the role of polyploidy and hybridisation in adaptation and speciation. You will be working closely in a team with two other PhD students. A strong commitment to fostering international collaborations is essential, and we welcome an inquisitive approach to shaping projects around your research interests. More information about my research can we found at: https://poojasinghevogen.weebly.com You will be based in the Division of Aquatic Ecology & Evolution (https://www.aqua.iee.unibe.ch) at Uni. Bern and the Department of Fish Ecology & Evolution at The Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology (https://www.eawag.ch/en/department/fishec). Requirements: -     Background in evolutionary biology and genetics (essential) -     Experience with linux and capabilities in coding in R and/or Python (essential) -     Experience handling genomics data and bioinformatics tools (essential) -     Ability to work independently but also synergistically and respectfully with individuals from different backgrounds (essential) -     Good written/spoken English language skills (essential) -     Strong organisations, communication, and collaborative skills (essential) -     Experience studying fishes (desirable but not essential) -     Experience with fieldwork (desirable but not essential) Applications: Single pdf file named as “FirstNameSurname_UBern_PhD2025.pdf”, with the supporting documents in the following order: 1.    1-to-2-page letter of motivation highlighting past research experience, interest in this position, and how it fits into your career goals/vision. 2.    CV with publication/reports/other scientific products list, describing your role in each publication. 3.    Contact details of three referees. 4.    BSc and MSc transcripts. Applications should be sent by email to pooja.singh@unibe.ch. The email subject should be: ‘phd application labeobarbus’ by midnight on the 21st of December 2025 (GMT+1). Salary: Determined according to University of Bern salary scheme for PhD students. Diversity and equity are key values of our team, and we especially encourage women, people of colour, individuals from the Global South, and other underrepresented groups in Ecology and Evolution to apply for this position—particularly those who sit at the intersection of multiple axes of discrimination. Please direct inquiries to Dr. Pooja Singh (pooja.singh@unibe.ch) Switzerland offers a good quality of life and is a great springboard for a successful career globally. pooja.singh@unibe.ch (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** PhD position/Research Assistant in Evolutionary Neurobiology Dept. of Zoology, University of Cambridge A Research Assistant/PhD Student position is available from 1 October 2026 for up to 48 months, to work with Professor Stephen Montgomery. This Research Assistant position would allow for the post holder also undertake a postgraduate course (PhD) at the University in Department of Zoology, located in Central Cambridge. The RA-PhD Student will work on understanding the evolution of neural circuits associated with a major expansion of the insect learning and memory centre, the mushroom bodies, in Heliconius butterflies. They will be part of a team of researchers with complementary expertise in bioinformatics, development and neuroscience, with opportunities for collaboration across the project while also pursuing their own objectives. They will have a dedicated training budget and a supportive and engaged supervision team. This work will be undertaken as part of the recently awarded Wellcome Trust Discovery grant on the developmental control of neural cell number and type and will directly contribute towards the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) studies that the successful candidate will be enrolled in at the Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge. Duties will include Development of species-specific protocols; Running experiments in the laboratory; Data collection, analysis and interpretation; Preparation of manuscripts for publication; Assistance in the maintenance of animal stocks and lab equipment; Co-supervision of project students working on related topics; Collaboration with team members Essential skills: BSc/MSc. degree or equivalent in an appropriate subject (e.g. biological sciences, neuroscience, or similar), completed or completion imminent. Determination and enthusiasm to do research. Ability to work effectively and independently in a collaborative research team setting. Strong quantitative and analytical skills, fluency in English Excellent interpersonal and communication skills A commitment to open and inclusive science Enthusiasm to interact with colleagues. FULL DETAILS AND APPLICATION INSTUCTIONS AVAILABLE HERE: https://www.cam.ac.uk/jobs/research-assistant-fixed-term-pf47939 For general enquiries, contact: shm37@cam.ac.uk Prof Stephen Montgomery He/Him www.shmontgomery.co.uk Stephen Montgomery (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************GradStudentPositions******************** Tracing the fitness effects of new mutations across evolutionary timescales SUPERVISORS Dr Rui Borges, Dr. Carolin Kosiol ABOUT THE PROJECT Mutations are the raw material of evolution: they generate the variation on which natural selection acts. Understanding their fate is therefore key to a fundamental question in evolutionary biology: how do species adapt to ever-changing environments? Mutations can be deleterious, advantageous, or neutral, depending on whether they decrease, increase, or have no effect on fitness (Moutinho 2020). While most genetic variation is thought to result from nearly neutral mutations (Kimura 1968; Ohta 1973), debate continues about the relative importance of selection and drift in shaping genome diversity (Kern 2018; Jensen 2018). A powerful way to address this question is through the distribution of fitness effects (DFE), which quantifies the probabilities of different fitness outcomes for new mutations (Eyre-Walker 2007). Despite abundant genomic data, estimating the DFE remains challenging: confounding demographic factors can mimic selection (Galtier 2009), strongly beneficial and deleterious mutations are rarely observed (Keightley 2010), and evolutionary processes vary across timescales (Tataru 2017). This project will develop new theory and statistical methods to estimate the DFE and overcome these challenges. We will build a model of fitness effects that integrates population and phylogenetic timescales of evolution based on Borges (2019, 2025) and Kotari (2024) and infer the DFE using extreme value theory and Bayesian inference. These models will be implemented in the RevBayes software (Höhna 2014; 2016) and applied to microbial genomic datasets, including bacterial and viral systems of epidemiological and medical importance. Comparing DFE estimates across taxa will allow us to explore key evolutionary questions: How conserved is the DFE among microbes? Do species or clades exhibit distinctive DFE patterns? How much variation reflects shared evolutionary history versus independent adaptation? This research will contribute to a deeper understanding of how selection, drift, and mutation jointly shape genome evolution (Hoffmann 2011; Borges 2025). THE UNIVERSITY, SUPERVISORS AND COLLABORATORS The PhD student will join an interdisciplinary environment at the University of St Andrews, benefiting from the GRADskills programme, which supports postgraduate researchers in developing transferable and research skills for careers within and beyond academia. The student will be co-supervised by Dr. Rui Borges at the School of Mathematics and Statistics and Dr. Carolin Kosiol at the School of Biology, gaining comprehensive training in mathematical and computational biology, inferential statistics, and genomic data analysis. Ongoing collaborations with Dr Sebastian Höhna (LMU Munich; phylogenetic inference and RevBayes) and Dr Joseph Hughes (University of Glasgow; microbial genomics and host-pathogen evolution) will provide complementary expertise. HOW TO APPLY Application instructions can be found on the EASTBIO website: https://biology.ed.ac.uk/eastbio/how-to-apply 1. Download and complete the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion survey. 2. Download and complete the EASTBIO Application Form. 3. Please complete an application on our online portal: https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/study/postgraduate-research/apply/ 4. Select the course 'PhD with internship' 5. Your online application must include the following documents: - Completed EASTBIO application form - Academic Qualifications - English Language Qualification (if applicable) - 2 References: this must be completed on the EASTBIO Reference Form, also found on the EASTBIO website. Please download the EASTBIO reference form and send it to your referees. They can either upload it directly to the portal using the automated email they will receive, or they can email it to Robbie Mill at rgmm1@st-andrews.ac.uk. CONTACT Queries on the project can be directed to the project supervisor. Queries on the application process can be directed to Robbie Mill at rgmm1@st-andrews.ac.uk. UKRI eligibility guidance: Terms and Conditions: https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/UKRI-291020-guidance-to-training-grant-terms-and-conditions.pdf International/EU: https://www.ukri.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/UKRI-170321-InternationalEligibilityImplementationGuidance.pdf FUNDING NOTES This 4-year PhD project is part of a competition funded by EASTBIO BBSRC Doctoral Training Partnership. This opportunity is open to UK and International students and provides funding to cover stipend at UKRI standard rate and UK level tuition fees. The University of St Andrews will cover the Home-International fee difference. Rui Pinto Borges (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Jobs******************** The mission of the Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) as a nationally and internationally active research institute is to deliver solutions for an ecologically, economically and socially sustainable agriculture - together with society. ZALF is a member of the Leibniz Association and is located in M�ncheberg (approx. 35 minutes by regional train from Berlin-Lichtenberg). The institute also maintains locations in Dedelow and Paulinenaue. Within the DFG-funded project "MEGAFORP - Mechanisms of gene flow among spatially isolated forest herb populations in European agricultural landscapes", we want to study how the landscape structure determines the gene flow among small forest fragments that are imbedded within a matrix of agricultural land. We will use population genetic and landscape ecological methods to investigate whether gene flow occurs primarily via bumblebee-mediated pollen dispersal or via animal-mediated seed dispersal. Together with partners from France, Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and Poland, we will be able to include various agricultural landscapes and different gradients of landscape structure. Genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from both the nuclear and chloroplast genome will allow us to quantify both contemporary and past gene flow. We are offering a 65% position over 36 months, starting preferably on March 1, 2026, at our location in M�ncheberg as Doctoral candidate in Landscape Genetics (f/m/d) Your tasks: - Conducting field work in two regions (NE Germany and NW Germany) - Coordination of field work with European partners - Molecular lab work (DNA extraction, DNA quality check) - Bioinformatic processing and analysis of next-generation sequencing data - GIS-based landscape analysis - Statistical modelling of the relationship between genetic measures and landscape metrics - Preparation of manuscripts for publication Your qualifications: - M. Sc. in Biology, Landscape Ecology, or a related field - Experience with molecular lab work - Command-line experiences (favorable using Linux OS) - Desirable: experiences in sequence bioinformatics and working with NGS data - Basic skills in GIS (ArcGIS Pro or QGIS) - Sound skills in statistical data analysis (R) - Excellent command of English (oral and written) - Driving license We offer: - An interdisciplinary working environment that encourages independence and self-reliance - Salary according to the German public sector wage agreement (TV-L), up to EG13 level, including an annual special payment - The option to work remotely for up to 40% of your monthly working hours - Support in reconciling work and family life - Various training courses for PhD students - Access to a subsidized job ticket for public transportation - A well-equipped, quiet workplace in the green environment of M�ncheberg (commuting to Berlin is possible) - Contacts with national and international project partners, in particular the FLEUR network (https://fleur.ugent.be/) - PhD supervision in collaboration with the University of Bremen ZALF promotes equality among all employees and welcomes applications regardless of ethnic, cultural, or social background, age, religion, ideology, disability, gender, or sexual identity. It is generally possible to work in the position on a part-time basis. Are you interested? Please, send your application including a letter of motivation (max. 2 pages), a CV with contact details of two references, and a copy of your master certificate, and stating the reference number 71-2025 until January 6 2026. Please, send your application preferably online (https://jobs.zalf.de/jobposting/7a690e6b9749b9756f287ee1e388bd8a9f7b5e3b0?ref=homepage). For e-mail applications, create a single PDF document (one PDF file, max. 5 MB; packed PDF documents, archive files like zip, rar etc. Word documents cannot be processed and therefore cannot be considered!) and use the button "e-mail application" (https://jobs.zalf.de/jobposting/7a690e6b9749b9756f287ee1e388bd8a9f7b5e3b0?ref=homepage). If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us: Dr. Tobias Naaf, naaf@zalf.de, Tel. +49 (0) 33432/82-114. For cost reasons, application documents or extensive publications can only be returned if an adequately stamped envelope is attached. If you apply, we collect and process your personal data in accordance with Articles 5 and 6 of the EU GDPR only for the processing of your application and for purposes that result from possible future employment with the ZALF. Your data will be deleted after six months. "Naaf, Tobias" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoctoral position available in the laboratory of Steve Vollmer at Florida Atlantic University, Davie, Florida A two-year postdoctoral position is available in the Vollmer Lab at Florida Atlantic University focused on the evolutionary genomics of corals, including the genomics of disease resistance and thermal resilience, speciation genomics, pangenomics, demographic modeling, and coral host-pathogen interactions. Ideal candidates will have a strong computational genomics background with proficiency in population genomic analyses and bioinformatics pipelines, and a successful publication record. Knowledge of reef corals is a plus. The position will be based on FAU's Fort Lauderdale campus in Davie FL. The lab group will work closely with our research partners in the Florida Keys, Panama and Bonaire. The Vollmer lab is part of FAU's School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS), providing our postdocs with access to Florida's coral reefs, the Everglades, and urban coastal communities a living laboratory for environmental research and world-class research facilities. The position offers competitive salary and benefits, is available immediately, and is open until filled. To apply, send CV, research statement describing relevant experience and future research interests, and contact information for three references to Steve Vollmer at svollmer@fau.edu. Cheers, Steve Steve Vollmer, Ph.D. Director | School of Environmental, Coastal, and Ocean Sustainability (ECOS) Professor | Department of Biology |Charles E. Schmidt College of Science Florida Atlantic University | 3200 College Avenue, Davie West | Davie, Florida Google Scholar | GitHub | LinkedIn ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Unlock the full potential of your transcriptome data RNA-Seq Analysis RNA-Seq analysis training - live online course covering experiment design, data QC, alignment, gene expression, DESeq2 differential expression, PCA, visualisation, and functional analysis. ONLY 8 PLACES LEFT! https://prstats.org/course/rna-seq-analysis-rnaa01/ Join our four-day live online workshop:RNA-Seq Analysis (RNAA01). If you're working with RNA-Seq or planning to generate bulk transcriptome data, and you want to take your analysis from raw reads through to biological insight, this is the course for you. What you will learn How to design a robust RNA-Seq experiment and avoid common pitfalls. How to perform quality control on raw RNA-Seq data, align reads, and assess alignment quality. How to quantify gene expression and apply the widely-used DESeq2 workflow for differential expression analysis. How to visualise high-throughput data using principal component analysis (PCA), volcano plots, MA plots and other techniques. How to perform functional interpretation of differential expression results, turning numbers into biological insight. Who should attend Researchers, postgraduate students and industry professionals working with bulk RNA-Seq data. Anyone who has basic experience with R, RStudio and the fundamentals of molecular biology or transcriptomics. Those who want to move from raw sequence data to actionable biological conclusions with confidence. 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 exercises and dedicated discussion time. Course materials, code and datasets will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring their own data for discussion when possible. Recordings of sessions available after each day for participants across different time zones. Why this course stands out It offers an end-to-end workflow from design through QC, alignment, differential expression and functional analysis designed specifically for researchers working in transcriptomics. It emphasises not just how to run the tools, but how to interpret results, understand the assumptions and recognise where things can go wrong. Designed by experienced bioinformaticians, the course balances theory, practice and discussion in an accessible 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 advisable, as places may be limited. For any questions about suitability, prerequisites or logistics, please contact the course organisers. https://prstats.org/course/rna-seq-analysis-rnaa01/ Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats Oliver Hooker (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** Dear all, We are very excited to announce that the 33rd International Dynamics & Evolution of Human Viruses conference will be held May 19-22, 2026 at the UBC Okanagan Campus, Kelowna, BC, Canada. This will be a hybrid meeting, which will include a live in person meeting and a virtual option. Scientific sessions will be May 20-22, 2026. Conference website: https://dynamicsevolution.org/event/7/ This meeting series was designed to promote discussion between specialists in quantitative and computational approaches in two areas in the field of virology where these are particularly important: Modeling of viral and cellular dynamics Viral evolution and population genetics Many of these approaches were originally developed for HIV but are now applied to many viruses where extensive data are available. We encourage the submission of abstracts relating to evolutionary work on HIV, SARS-CoV-2 and other human viruses. We consider topics on statistical, mathematical, computational, and integrative approaches to analyzing the dynamics and evolution of human viruses within the scope of this meeting. Abstracts are being accepted under the following topics from which the final conference schedule will be constructed: Evolutionary Dynamics of HIV Vaccines & Immune escape Zoonoses & Emerging Infections Genomics & Bioinformatics Software Tools & Methods Transmission Dynamics & Clusters Within-Host Dynamics & Adaptations Phylodynamics & Phylogeography Plenary Speaker Our plenary speaker will be Dr. Kanta Subbarao from Universit� Laval. Abstracts and Registration We will be using the Indico platform for abstract submission and review. You will be prompted to create a user account to submit an abstract if you do not already have one. We actively encourage participation of researchers from around the globe, including junior scientists and members of minority groups. Registration payment is handled through Worldline's Bambora platform (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bambora). Visa Details If you require a Visa to attend, you may request early abstract review, in this case please email dynamics@bccfe.ca. Travel Grants A limited number of travel grants may be available for young investigators from underserved populations to attend this program. If you wish to be considered, please email dynamics@bccfe.ca a letter of request no later than January 3, 2026. Include details on your present role, and why you should be considered for an award. Please note that in order to receive a travel grant, you must submit an abstract and have it accepted. Gala Dinner The gala dinner will be held at Grey Monk Winery's "The Lookout Restaurant" overlooking Okanagan Lake. Course Chairs Manon Ragonnet, PhD - University of Chicago, USA Jeffrey Joy, PhD - University of British Columbia, Canada and BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS Please visit our website for more information, registration, and abstract submission https://dynamicsevolution.org/event/7/ We look forward to the usual fantastic scientific program and hope to see you in Squamish. Best regards, Manon Ragonnet and Jeff Joy Jeffrey Joy (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)