********************GradStudentPositions******************** We have two open PhD positions in the Centre for Ecological Genetics at Aarhus University, Denmark. We are seeking enthusiastic PhD students with interests in landscape genetics / biodiversity / ecosystem services / evolutionary ecology in arthropods from agro-ecosystems. We aim to understand effects of land use and connectivity on population genetic diversity and performance in insects, spiders and soil arthropods, using population genomics and museum genomics coupled with field and lab experiments. https://bio.au.dk/en/research/research-centres/centre-for-ecological-genetics See more about the positions here: https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/open-calls/august-2024/effects-of-landscape-fragmentation-on-population-genomics-and-phenotypic-variation-in-arthropods#c186749 Application 1 August 2024. Starting date from 1 October 2024. Trine Bilde E-mail: trine.bilde@bio.au.dk Trine Bilde (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** The State Fisheries Genomics Lab at Oregon State University (OSU) invites applications for a Postdoctoral Research Associate position. This Research Associate will work with a team of researchers to address the science and management needs of OSU's Coastal Oregon Marine Experiment Station and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. Research will primarily focus on evaluating the reintroduction of threatened spring Chinook salmon but also include opportunities to evaluate the genetic basis of adult run timing in Chinook salmon and steelhead. Primary responsibilities include providing leadership in research, performing laboratory work as needed, population genetic analysis, analyzing genetic and genomic datasets, and writing peer-reviewed papers and technical reports. The State Fisheries Genomics Lab is located at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon; this position is located on-site. Please see the link below for full details including application instructions: https://jobs.oregonstate.edu/postings/157267 "Olsen, Kevin" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Postdoc position / group leader - Plant real-time evolution Mainz, Germany The Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution at the University of Mainz, Germany, invites applications for a postdoc / junior group leader position for an ERC funded project in the department of Evolutionary Plant Sciences, headed by Prof Shuqing Xu (https://plant-x.uni-mainz.de/). The project aims to study the causes, consequences and mechanisms of evolution in natural communities in response to climate change. The successful candidate may start on the 1st October 2024, or as early as possible. The salary will initially be provided for three years, with the possibility of an extension. Supported by other group members, the candidate will use the state-of-the-art multiomics approach to understand plant real-time evolution in natural communities. During this project, the candidate will mature his/her scientific skills and develop independence in project planning and management skills. He/she may have the opportunity to supervise PhD/Masters students and establish a research group. Requirements: We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with a doctoral degree, or an equivalent thereof, in biology, evolutionary genetics, bioinformatics, or computer science. The candidate is expected to design, conduct and organize the projects independently. A training background in bioinformatics, evolutionary genetics/genomics, or community ecology is preferred. Applicants must demonstrate experience in statistics and genomics. Experience with computational modelling is a plus. Our group consists of people of various nationalities and teamwork is essential for all projects in the group. Therefore, excellent communication skills, as well as proficiency in spoken and written English, are expected. The University of Mainz hosts many excellent scientific institutions (http://www.uni-mainz.de/eng/), and Mainz is a historic city located on the Rhine River with many students and a rich social and cultural life. Applications must be in English and include: (1) a motivation letter stating the research interests with reference to the stated requirements in no more than two pages, (2) a detailed CV including academic and extracurricular achievements, as well as details of all research experience, (3) an abstract of the PhD thesis, and (4) contact details of at least two referees. Applicants should send their documents in one single PDF file to Prof Shuqing Xu (shuqing.xu@uni-mainz.de) with the subject line either "Plant real-time evolution postdoc position - Your Name". The application review will commence on 15th August 2024. The position will remain open until filled. Best wishes, Shuqing Xu Prof. Dr. Shuqing Xu Institute of Organismic and Molecular Evolution (IomE) Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz Biozentrum I Hanns-Dieter-Hüsch-Weg 15 D-55128 Mainz Germany Phone: +49 6131 39 26907 E-mail: shuqing.xu@uni-mainz.de Shuqing Xu (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************PostDocs******************** Ohio Wesleyan University seeks a postdoctoral researcher committed to undergraduate teaching to work on a National Science Foundation-funded project on invasive populations of the common wall lizard in Ohio. The post-doc position combines training in research, mentorship, and teaching toward the goal of developing a strong profile for a successful research career at primarily-undergraduate institutions such as ours. We seek a person committed to excellence in research, mentoring, and undergraduate teaching to work with PI Eric Gangloff on the project "BRC-BIO: Success in the Anthropocene: Evolutionary Ecology of the Common Wall Lizard in Ohio". Public abstract available here: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=2217826&HistoricalAwards=false The postdoctoral researcher-teacher will contribute to this project by bringing expertise in urban evolution/ecology, thermal biology, functional morphology, ecophysiology, behavior, genomics, or a related discipline. Research projects will include mentorship and collaboration with undergraduate students. Additionally, the postdoctoral position will design and instruct one upper-level Biology course per year in their area of expertise, contingent on student demand and departmental needs, with support from the PI, department, and other faculty. The successful candidate will join a vibrant Biological Sciences community and will benefit from extensive support, including a range of workshops and mentoring programs. This position is designed explicitly to offer training and experience for a candidate interested in a career as a tenure-track faculty member with a successful research program at a primarily-undergraduate institution. Start date is variable, preferable between January and May 2025. Salary is $60k/year plus full benefits. We are especially interested in candidates who can mentor students from a great diversity of backgrounds and model being a successful researcher. For more information about Academic Affairs and its commitment to DEI, visit https://owu.edu/dei. Ohio Wesleyan University (OWU) is a private, residential, liberal arts college located in the thriving city of Delaware, Ohio. OWU enrolled 1,410 students in fall 2022. This is a full-time, 12-month position eligible for university benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage, tuition remission for dependents, robust 403(b) contributions by the university, short-term and long-term disability insurance, life insurance, vacation and sick leave, and more! Responsibilities --In conjunction with PI Gangloff and other collaborators, develop research questions and projects in field studies and lab experiments --Lead students in experimental design, data collection, data analysis, presentation of research, and writing of scientific manuscripts --Present research at local, national, and international meetings --Publish manuscripts, with undergraduate collaborators, in peer-reviewed journals --Design and teach one class per year as instructor of record, with support and guidance --Engage effectively with students inside and outside the classroom, maintaining a high level of accessibility --Work proactively to identify students having trouble and help them achieve success Minimum Qualifications --Ph.D. in Ecology and/or Evolutionary Biology (or related field) --Ability to effectively mentor undergraduate students in research experiences --Commitment to working with people from diverse backgrounds and to helping students from diverse racial, social, and cultural groups attain their full potential Preferred Qualifications --Evidence of preparation for a teaching-intensive career at the undergraduate level Applicants should submit the following: --Cover letter (1-2 pages) --Combined Research and Mentoring statement (a statement outlining the central aims of your research program and how this work had included or will include mentoring undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds; no more than 2 pages total) --CV Please submit all materials to: https://tinyurl.com/5edjwwt3 Here you will find additional information about working at OWU. Additional materials and reference letters may be requested at a later time and can be sent directly to facultyjobs@owu.edu. Please make sure to include the program name (Lizard Postdoc) in the subject line. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted by 20 September 2024. WHAT WE OFFER: Ohio Wesleyan University offers a rewarding place to work! To discover why this should be your next work home, visit our website. Learn more about our benefits at Discover our Benefits. As an equal opportunity institution, OWU has a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism. We do not discriminate on any basis including: race, religion, color, culture, national origin, sex and/or sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and/or expression, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, economic barriers, or any other legally protected factor. Eric J. Gangloff (he/him) Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences *Ohio Wesleyan University* Office: Schimmel/Conrades Science Center 331 Mail: 61 S. Sandusky Street, Delaware, OH 43015 Phone: 740-368-3892 E-mail: ejgangloff@owu.edu Website: https://glare-owu.wixsite.com/glare *"Did you know that whales returned to the water? // It went like this: water, land, water. Like a waltz." **-**Ada Limón, from "The Whale & the Waltz Inside of It" (2015)* Eric Gangloff (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear all, We're excited to announce our upcoming online course, "Genomic Data Visualization with R," taking place from November 18-20. This course is designed to help you master essential genomic data visualization techniques using R. Course website: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/genomic-data-viz/ ) In this course participants will learn how to create and interpret a variety of graphs crucial for genomic studies. From volcano plots and heatmaps to phylogenetic trees and synteny plots, our comprehensive sessions cover it all. Session Details: Monday: Expression study graphs (e.g., volcano plots, heatmaps) Tuesday: Genomic study graphs (e.g., Manhattan plots, genome stats plots) Wednesday: Comparative genomics graphs (e.g., phylogenetic trees, Venn diagrams) For the full list of our courses and workshops, please visit: ( https://www.physalia-courses.org/courses-workshops/ ) Best regards, Carlo Carlo Pecoraro, Ph.D Physalia-courses DIRECTOR info@physalia-courses.org mobile: +49 17645230846 "info@physalia-courses.org" (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** Dear colleagues, We would like to remind you about the first workshop for the "Internal Conflicts and Organismal Adaptation" Special Topic Network (STN), funded by the European Society for Evolutionary Biology, which will take place on 14-15 October 2024. This workshop will be held at the Linnaeusborg on the Zernike campus of the University of Groningen, The Netherlands. Registration for the workshop is free, and can be arranged through our website (https://internalconflictsSTN.wordpress.com/ ). The deadline for in-person registration is August 15, 2024; note however that in-person spots are limited and may fill up before then. In-person participants will be asked to give a (short) talk about an internal conflict of their choosing*. This can be something that you work on, but also something that you would like to know more about. We would like these talks to be more like the "introduction" section of a manuscript than the "results" section that we typically see in talks, but this is not a strict requirement; instead, see this as an opportunity to switch up your usual presentation routine. As a whole, we would like to use these presentations to survey the field of internal conflicts. We expect talks to take approximately 10 minutes, but will provide exact details once we know how many people will be attending in person. * Opting out is possible, but discouraged! We intend for this to be a low-stakes, easy-going thing, like a potluck of talks. We will also host a number of group discussions - both general and in "breakout room" format - to work out specific goals for the STN. One aim for these discussion sessions is to decide on the possibility of writing a large review paper, generating a special issue, or some similar alternative on the study of internal conflicts and how these affect organismal adaptation. Other potential topics include the atlas of internal conflicts, and we hope to identify some topics organically based on talks and chats at the workshop itself. We understand that traveling across the globe to attend these meetings can be an impediment for many people for many reasons, and additionally that travel-related emissions represent a major component of the associated ecological footprint. Therefore, we will set up a live stream of the talks so that people can join the workshop virtually. Additionally, we aim to host an online group discussion to allow people to contribute there as well. We do not intend to host talks by virtual attendees at the workshop. If you would like to present your work virtually, please get in touch with us to see if there is a possibility to do so in one of our seminars instead. We look forward to seeing you in October. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact us through email ( internalconflictsSTN@gmail.com). Sincerely, The STN organising committee Martijn Schenkel, Arvid Ågren, Manus Patten and Nina Wedell ESEB-funded Special Topic Network "Internal Conflicts and Organismal Adaptation" https://internalconflictsstn.wordpress.com/ https://eseb.org/prizes-funding/special-topic-networks/ Internal Conflicts STN (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************WorkshopsCourses******************** ONLINE COURSE - Introduction to Metabarcoding and Metagenomics Analysis (IMAM01) 10 X EARLY BIRD PLACES! PR stats have added 10 early bird places with 10% off reducing fees to 432.00. The first 10 tickets are first come first serve basis when you book via our website* https://www.prstats.org/course/introduction-to-metabarcoding-and-metagenomics-analysis-imam01/ Instructor- Edinburgh Genomics 7th - 10th October 2024 Please feel free to share! COURSE OVERVIEW-Metabarcoding and metagenomics study genetic material recovered from environmental samples. Both methods provide a comprehensive view of microbial communities which are present in various ecosystems. The ability to identify organisms from traces of genetic material in environmental samples has reshaped the way we see life on earth. Especially for microorganisms, metagenomic techniques have granted us unprecedented insight into the microbiome of animals and the environment more broadly Metabarcoding and metagenomics are both methods to study the composition of these complex communities. Where metabarcoding focusses on looking at a single or a combination of marker genes, metagenomics looks into everything within a community. During this course we will look at the differences and similarities between these two methods. We explain how to process the data using both short and long reads data, we take a look at the pros and cons and some of the pitfalls. We will guide you through the different approaches to take when processing the data and walk you through using some of the tools which are considered to be golden standard in the field. You will have hands on experience processing real data. By the end of the course, participants should: Understand the basic concepts behind metabarcoding and metagenomics Work with both short and long read data for both metabarcoding and metagenomics Be able to use Qiime2 and NanoClust for analysis of metabarcoding Know different methods (metaphlan, humann) for marker based taxonomic and functional annotation of metagenomics data Create and annotated metagenome assembled genomes (using megahit, checkm, gtdb-tk) Be able to annotated antibiotic resistance genes in metagenomics data Please emil oliverhooker@prstatistics.com with any questions. A full list of our live courses can be found here Best wishes, Oliver Oliver Hooker PhD. PR stats Oliver Hooker (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca) ********************Conferences******************** Extended Deadline for Proposals for Symposia at The American Society of Naturalists Meeting in Asilomar 2025 (Due August 11, 2024) The American Society of Naturalists will be going back to Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California, to hold our stand-alone conference - Asilomar 2025 - on 3-7 January 2025! Have an idea for a special symposium? We want to hear it! The ASN Symposium Committee invites you to submit proposals for a special symposium. Proposed symposium topics should support the Society's goal to advance the conceptual unification of the biological sciences and to further knowledge in evolution, ecology, behavior, and organismal biology. Topics could center around important emerging issues in evolution, ecology, or behavior or focus on a pivotal historical paper, tracing its impact and exploring current cutting-edge research inspired by this work. Proposals should include (1) a title; (2) a description of the symposium topic (up to one page); (3) a list of six speakers, including institutional affiliations, who have agreed to participate in the symposium; (4) a justification for the symposium, explaining why the topic and speakers are appropriate for an ASN symposium (up to one page). Please submit proposals by email (michelle.afkhami@miami.edu) no later than midnight Eastern Time on August 11, 2024. Send your proposal as a single pdf attachment, under subject heading "ASN Asilomar 2025 Symposium Proposal". In line with the ASN's commitment to diversity, we encourage including speakers from groups who have been historically excluded from STEM. Therefore, proposals that include a diverse list of speakers from a range of backgrounds, institutions, career stages, geography, gender, race etc. are especially encouraged. Further, we especially encourage early career researchers to propose sessions as organizing symposia can advance their careers through building broader scientific networks and a record of scientific leadership. Additionally, the Society's selection committee will evaluate proposals based on their potential to attracting substantial audience and stimulate discussion, the significance and timeliness of the topic, and on the topic's differing substantively from recent symposia hosted by the Society. Applicants will be notified of the decision before the end of August 2025. In cases of financial hardship, requests for assistance to allow participation in symposia can be made to the American Society of Naturalists and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Michelle Afkhami ASN Symposium Committee Chair Department of Biology University of Miami michelle.afkhami@miami.edu -- Michelle E. Afkhami, Ph.D. *Associate Professor &* *UM Greenhouse Director* University of Miami Department of Biology Coral Gables, FL *michelleafkhami.wordpress.com she/her/hers Michelle Afkhami (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)