I am currently recruiting graduate students to join my lab as part of the Ph.D. program at UTK's Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. My research is focused on the building, analysis, and fitting of multi-scale mathematical models relevant to evolutionary biology. Specific areas of interest include: 1. Phylogenetics (See Beaulieu et al 2021 MBE and Beaulieu et al 2019 MBE) 2. Protein translation (See Gilchrist 2007 MBE, Shah and Gilchrist 2011 PNAS, GIlchrist et al 2015 GBE, Cope and Gilchrist 2022 BMC Genomics) 3. Host-Parasite interactions and evolution (See Gilchrist and Sasaki 2002 TBP, Gilchrist and Coombs 2006 TPB, and Coombs et al 2007 TPB) General approaches involve development of multiscale models using coupled differential or difference equations and data fitting using customized Bayesian and Likelihood based approaches. Students benefit from careful and attentive mentoring within a small lab situatied within a world class and dynamics EEB department. Additional collaboration opportunities also exist with faculty in the Dept. of Microbiology, Dept. Biochemistry and Molecular Biology within the Division of Biology, as well as other departments on the UT Ag Campus and labs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. EEB PhD Program Highlights Program Highlights * Our graduate students publish dozens of papers annually in journals such as Science, Ecology, Systematic Biology, Proceedings of the Royal Society B, American Naturalist, Biological Invasions, Journal of College Science Teaching, and are awarded external research funds (e.g., NSF GRFP and other fellowships). * PhD graduate placement, for all graduates from 2000-2018: 43 tenure- track faculty, 22 postdocs, 28 government, with the others in NGOs, private business, or non-tenure track jobs. For those at least five years after graduation, 57% tenure-track faculty, 3% postdoc, 17% government. * Resources to support student research: internal funds, DNA sequencing facility, core microscopy, computer clusters, greenhouses, and a field station. * Available training in teaching best practices, including a certificate in college teaching and training consistent with AAAS national recommendations. * Emphasis on creating a positive and welcoming departmental climate for all * Grad students receive health insurance, and tuition and campus fees are covered. * Outreach and service opportunities, including invasive species removal, taxonomic forays with the broader public, participation in Darwin Day Tennessee, and mentoring undergraduates and high school researchers.. * Students commonly develop their research projects in close partnership with NGOs and state and federal agencies to ensure their research has a real-world impact. * Nearby locations for research: Great Smoky Mountains N.P., a biodiversity hotspot; numerous cave systems; campus greenhouses; and experimental plots. * Vibrant community: 86 miles of greenways and trails in Knoxville, many festivals and parades, museums, and live music. * Active departmental graduate student organization (GREBE ) to represent and help graduate students. For more information about the EEB PhD program at UTK, please visit: https://eeb.utk.edu/graduate-students Prior to applying, interested students should email me at mikeg@utk.edu with the following: (1) academic CV, (2) unofficial transcript(s), (3) contact information for 2-3 references, and (4) a brief statement describing your research interests, relevant research experience, and motivation for joining our Ph.D. program. Application deadline for the Ph.D. program closes Dec 1. Michael A. Gilchrist, Ph.D. (He/Him) Associate Professor Ecology & Evolutionary Biology University of Tennesse Knoxville "Gilchrist, Michael" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)