PhD position opened in Switzerland 

Integrated numerical modelling of interacting physical & biological processes generating variation & complexity during animal development

In the context of a multidisciplinary study combining mathematical modelling (of physical & developmental biology processes), numerical simulations, and biology experiments, we offer one PhD student position for an outstanding, highly motivated, and creative physicist or computer scientist with strong skills & interest in numerical simulations of physical phenomena in biological systems. The position is for 3 to 5 years and can start in August 2014, but not later than January 2015.

A project, funded by the SystemsX initiative, the Swiss National Science Foundation, and the University of Geneva, integrates the expertise of biologists, physicists, and computer scientists for an improved understanding of the mechanisms generating variation and complexity of forms during animal development. 
One sub-project aims at understanding the development & evolution of skin-appendage patterns (hairs, spines, feathers, scales) and skin colour patterns in vertebrates. The successful candidate will (i) acquire high-resolution 3D geometries and colour textures with robotic and microscopy equipment, (ii) perform mathematical analyses of the acquired data, and (iii) model biological and physical processes at multiple scales and developmental stages (from the embryo to the adult). The project will require the intensive use of numerical simulations (for example, reaction-diffusion on arbitrary surfaces in 3D). 

Candidates must have a master's degree in physics, computer science, or engineering. Strong mathematical and programming skills (preferably in C/C++/Java), as well as experience with numerical simulations of physical phenomena, are required. Skills in computer-vision, image processing/analysis, pattern recognition, cell automata, artificial life, robotics, as well as familiarity with softwares such as Maya and MatLab, are useful. The successful candidate will have a genuine interest to interact with researchers from multiple disciplines (Biology, Physics, Computer Science) and will join the large interdisciplinary EpiPhysX team which includes the groups of Michel Milinkovitch, Bastien Chopard, Marcos-Gonzales-Gaitan, Aurélien Roux, and Andreas Wagner.

Relevant references: Milinkovitch et al., Science 339, 78 (2013) -- Chopard & Droz, Cellular automata modeling of physical systems, Cambridge Univ. Press

Geneva is an international city occupying a privileged geographical situation. University of Geneva is world-renowned for its research in Mathematics, Physics & Biology.

Applications: Please send (combined into a single PDF file) a brief letter of interest, your CV, as well as contact information (not support letters) of two persons of reference to:
Prof. Michel Milinkovitch (Michel.Milinkovitch [at] unige [dot] ch), Laboratory of Artificial & Natural Evolution (www.lanevol.org), University of Geneva, Switzerland.

24

2:32 pm

11 Jul 2014

Postdoctoral Positions Available:  Research Associate

Arizona Research Laboratories, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ

NIH-Training Program: Postdoctoral Excellence in Research and Teaching (PERT)

The Postdoctoral Excellence in Research and Teaching (PERT) Program is a comprehensive program which offers up to three years of support to outstanding candidates seeking advanced postdoctoral research training, teacher training and student mentorship opportunities in preparation for an academic career in biomedical and life sciences. Funded by NIGMS through an IRACDA (Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award) training grant, the PERT program also fosters ties between research-intensive institutions and minority-serving institutions.

PERT trainees may select from over thirty-six faculty research mentors at the University of Arizona, representing a broad range of disciplines in biomedicine, bioengineering, genetics, biochemistry, neurobiology, evolutionary biology, molecular/cellular biology, physiology and behavior. The program stresses the use of model organisms for biomedical and life sciences research. The program is administered through the Arizona Research Laboratories Center for Insect Science and is partnered with a Minority Serving Institution, Pima Community College, (http://www.pima.edu/program/biology/.

 
Starting salary is based on the NIH NRSA scale.  An annual allowance for research supplies and travel is also included. Positions are dependent upon continued funding. Additional information about the Center for Insect Science and the PERT program is available at http://cis.arl.arizona.edu/PERT.

Qualifications: Applicants must have, as of the beginning date of the appointment, a Ph.D. in a related field from an accredited institution and must be U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or non-citizen nationals.  Applicants should have no more than two previous years of postdoctoral experience at the time of application. 

Application:  All applicants must apply electronically through the University of Arizona’s Career Track website at:  https://www.uacareertrack.com.  The job number is 55765.  Deadline for receipt of applications is 8:00am, Tuesday, September 2, 2014.

All applications are to include:

--a letter of interest with a statement explaining how the PERT program will assist the applicant in his/her research and career goals.

--a CV

--a three to six page research proposal developed with the intended PERT faculty research mentor describing the project to be undertaken during the training period

--three letters of reference

--a letter of support from the intended faculty research mentor

Potential applicants are encouraged to contact relevant Program Faculty as soon as possible to discuss research projects and the application process.  Original letters of reference and the letter from the proposed faculty research mentor should be mailed to:  PERT, Center for Insect Science, 1007 E. Lowell Street, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ  85721-0106.  Emailed letters will be accepted only if accompanied by an electronic signature. The letter of interest, CV and research proposal must be submitted online through the UA Career Track website listed above. As an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer, the University of Arizona recognizes the power of a diverse community and encourages applications from individuals with varied experiences and backgrounds.  Please contact Teresa Kudrna for more information, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.,

520-621-9310. 

23

2:33 pm

07 Jul 2014

 POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN EVOLUTION OF DEVELOPMENTAL MECHANISMS
Three-year, NSF-supported postdoctoral position is available at University of California San Diego, Department of Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, USA to study “Evolution of Left-Right Asymmetry in Chordates using Cephalochordates as a Proxy for the Ancestral Chordate.”  A major outstanding question is how left/right (LR) asymmetry evolved. Vertebrates are superficially symmetric, but internal organs are asymmetrically arranged across the left/right (LR) axis. This study aims to elucidate the fundamental genetic mechanisms of LR asymmetry in chordates by comparing two distant amphioxus genera (Branchiostoma and Asymmetron). Pharyngeal structures in larvae of both genera are asymmetrically arrayed, but asymmetries differ between them with gill slits opening on the right in B. floridae and ventrally in A. lucayanum.Applicants with a background in evo/devo and/or developmental mechanisms of amphioxus are preferred. A PhD is required. Interested applicants please submit a curriculum vitae, names, addresses and e-mail addresses for three references to Dr. Linda Z. Holland, Marine Biology Research Division, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, La Jolla CA, 92093-0202 (tel 858-534-5607; fax 858-534-7313; email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)" style="color: rgb(17, 85, 204);" target="_blank">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). UCSD is an equal opportunity employer.

22

12:09 am

04 Jul 2014

POSTDOC OPPORTUNITY:

An NSF-funded postdoctoral position is available immediately in the lab of Andreas Madlung in the Department of Biology at the University of Puget Sound, a small liberal arts college in the state of Washington. A highly motivated, independent and well-organized person with excellent oral and written communication skills is sought to study phytochrome responses in tomato as part of a new Plant Genome Research Project. The successful applicant will be principally involved in a comparative proteomic/transcriptomic approach and the production and characterization of RNAi-induced knock down mutants. The initial appointment is expected to last one year, and may be renewed upon mutual agreement for up to 5 years. Candidates should have a Ph.D. in plant molecular biology, plant physiology or a related field. Bioinformatics skills related to RNAseq analysis and molecular biology skills are desired. The University of Puget Sound is an undergraduate institution; therefore the successfu!
> l candidate must be interested in mentoring undergraduate research projects together with the PI and must have the leadership skills to supervise routine lab managerial tasks. Depending on the candidate?s teaching skills and interests, and the needs of the department, the successful applicant may have the option to apply for teaching opportunities at Puget Sound during their tenure to gain independent teaching experience in a liberal arts college setting. Interested candidates are encouraged to contact the PI at 253.879.2712 for more information and to specify such interest in their application materials. For general information on the lab and the university visit http://www.pugetsound.edu/academics/departments-and-programs/undergraduate/biology/research/faculty-research/andreas-madlung/
> Compensation and Benefits: Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations. The position is a staff position exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit:http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/offices--services/human-resources/overview-of-university-benefit/ . All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background inquiry. Please submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter briefly describing current research and professional goals. Please also include the names and email addresses of three references. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. For complete job description and application instructions, visit: http://apptrkr.com/484641 . As a strategic goal and through ou!
> r core values, University of Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. EOE/AA
>
>
> Andreas Madlung
> University of Puget Sound
> Biology Department
> 1500 N Warner St
> CMB 1088
> Tacoma, WA 98416-1088
> Tel: 253-879-2712
> Fax: 253-879-3352
> http://www.pugetsound.edu/faculty-pages/amadlung

21

8:22 am

20 Jun 2014

Dear friends of EvoDevo,

the deadlines for abstract submission and early registration for the 2014 EED meeting in Vienna are 30 April 2014. The meeting will be held from 22 to 25 July 2014 at the Campus of the University of Vienna.

Registration:

The meeting fee is 250€ for non-student members and 190€ for students (300€ and 250€ after the early fee deadline of 30 April 2014). The meeting fee includes lunches on 23, 24 and 25 July 2014. Registration also includes temporary membership in the EED society. The membership fee is 20€ both for non-student members and students.

To register, please go to the conference page at our website: http://evodevo2014.univie.ac.at/registration

Abstract submission:

Abstract submission is open: the deadline for abstract submission will be 30 April 2014.

We are pleased to present an exciting scientific program of keynote lectures and symposia/minisymposia. (Whereever possible submitted abstracts will be associated with one of the symposia or minisymposia).

Keynote speakers:

Veronica Grieneisen (John Innes Centre, Norwich, United Kingdom) Jean-Jacques Hublin (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany) Stuart Newman (New York Medical College, United States) Ulrich Technau (University of Vienna, Austria)

Symposia and Minisymposia:

N.B. for a full listing of the symposium speakers, see the Symposia and Minisymposia Vienna 2014 Webpage

Mechanisms of development Organizers: Annemiek Cornelissen, Naomi Nakayama

Ecological and environmental impacts in the evolution of organismal development Organizers: Chris Lowe, Angelika Stollewerk, John Willis

How does developmental robustness facilitate the evolution of biodiversity? Organizers: Rainer Melzer, Günter Theißen

EvoDevo of cranial neural crest populations across developmental systems. Organizer: Georgy Koentges

Less is more: loss of gene functions as a driving force of developmental evolution Organizers: Ingo Braasch, Cristian Cañestro

Uncovering the genomic bases of phenotypic change in the NGS era Organizers: Manuel Irimia, Ignacio Maeso, Juan Pascual-Anaya

EcoEvoDevo – beyond the Modern Synthesis Organizers: Scott Gilbert, Yoav Soen

«Living fossils», myth or reality? Organizers: Patrick Laurenti, Didier Casane

Form and function of structural colour: convergent evolution across multiple kingdoms Organizers: Beverley Glover

NEPTUNE ITN: the evolution of sensory systems in the marine environment Organizers: Maria Ina Arnone, Andreas Hejnol

Quantitative EvoDevo in model and non-model organisms Organizers: Benedikt Hallgrimsson, Chris Klingenberg, Ruth Flatscher, Philipp Mitteroecker

Developmental basis of quantitative variation Organizers: Mihaela Pavlicev, Günter Wagner

Perspectives on Wnt signaling Organizers: Wim Damen, Cornelius Eibner

Origin and diversification of regeneration Organizers: Florian Raible

Towards an Extended Evolutionary Synthesis Organizers: Gerd Müller, Werner Callebaut

Quo vadis EvoDevo? Organizers: Manfred D. Laubichler, Cassandra Extavour

What should bioinformatics do for EvoDevo? Omics contribution to EvoDevo Organizers: Ann Burke, Paula Mabee, Günter Plickert, Mark Blaxter

EvoDevo of symmetry in animals and plants Organizers: Sophie Nadot, Catherine Damerval

Plant EvoDevo – Linking cross-species genetic and morphological variation Organizer: John Bowman, Mitsuyasu Hasebe

Structural organization in vertebrate dentitions: molecules, morphology and function Organizers: Moya Smith, Abigail Tucker

EvoDevo as an approach to understanding communication Organizers: Ulrike Griebel, Oller Koller

Local Organizing Committee

Philipp Mitteröcker Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna

Gerd B. Müller Department of Theoretical Biology, University of Vienna

Isabella Sarto-Jackson Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research

Uli Technau Department of Molecular Evolution and Development, Univ. of Vienna

Kristin Tessmar-Raible Max-Perutz Laboratories, Vienna Biocenter

We look forward to seeing you in Vienna,

The executive committee of the EED:

Frietson Galis Ronald Jenner Gerd B. Müller Peter Olson Michael Schubert Charlie Scutt

20

11:28 am

29 Apr 2014

Dear Colleagues,

The microMORPH RCN is pleased to announce a funding opportunity for graduate students, postdoctorals, and assistant professors in plant development or plant evolution. Grants of up to $3,500 are available to support cross-disciplinary visits between labs or institutions for a period of a few weeks to an entire semester. We are particularly interested in proposals that will add a developmental perspective to a study of the evolution of populations or closely related species. We are also interested in developmental studies that will incorporate the evolution of populations or closely related species. The deadline for proposals is March 31, 2014. More information about the training grants and the application process may be found on the microMORPH website:

http://www.colorado.edu/eeb/microMORPH/grantsandfunding.html

To be eligible for microMORPH training grants, applicants must meet one or more of the following criteria: 1) be a U.S. citizen, or 2) be affiliated with (enrolled in a degree granting program or employed by) a U.S. college, university, or institution, or 3) propose to train in and be hosted by a lab at a U.S. college, university, or institution.

These grants are supported by a five-year grant from the National Science Foundation entitled microMORPH: Molecular and Organismic Research in Plant History. This grant is funded through the Research Coordination Network Program at NSF. The overarching goal of the microMORPH RCN is to study the diversification of plants by linking genes through development to morphology, and ultimately to adaptation and fitness, within the dynamic context of natural populations and closely related species.

Best wishes, Pam Diggle

5

10:09 pm

26 Feb 2014

Dear evo-devo colleagues,

It is my pleasure to announce a special symposium at the 3rd International Congress on Invertebrate Morphology in Berlin, 3-7 August 2014 (http://icim3.org/) titled: “The role of ontogeny in phylogenetic reconstruction.”

The description: “The study of ontogeny as an integral part of understanding the pattern of evolution dates back more than 150 years to Fritz Müller and Ernst Haeckel. Recently have ontogenetic data been more and more incorporated into phylogenetic analyses. Taken together, data from ontogeny and phylogeny can reciprocally illuminate many areas of research, such as homologies and heterochronies in body plan evolution, reconstructing stem and ancestral states, and resolving deep phylogenetic questions.”

I would like to invite members of the community to participate and submit an abstract. Please also encourage your students/postdocs to do so (we are interested in getting early-career participants). If we receive enough submissions, I will be able to curate a half or full day on ontogeny and phylogeny. Otherwise, the meeting is still very much worth attending and the audience for this type of work is great.

The abstract deadline is March 31 (can be submitted as described here http://www.icim3.org/submission.htm). You would indicate the ontogeny symposium (first on the right-hand column). Please feel free to email me with any additional questions (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).

This is going to be a fantastic meeting; very much looking forward to seeing you there!

Best, Jo Wolfe

4

10:08 pm

26 Feb 2014

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS/AMHERST POSITION AVAILABLE Plant Developmental Evolution

The Bartlett lab, recently started at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, is looking for a qualified applicant to fill a Research Fellow position. This is a non-benefited position. In the Bartlett lab we use a number of approaches, including molecular genetics, protein biochemistry, and phylogenetics, all with the ultimate goal of understanding the evolution of floral development, particularly in the monocots. Tasks associated with this position will vary, but may include molecular lab work (e. g. next-gen sequencing library prep, DNA, protein, and RNA extraction, PCR, electrophoresis), lab management, summer fieldwork growing corn, plant care (e. g. Arabidopsis, barley, Brachypodium, corn, tobacco), and training undergraduate researchers.

Initial appointment for one year; reappointment beyond first year is contingent upon availability of funding and job performance. A Bachelors degree in biology or related field and at least 6 months experience working in a molecular lab are required. This position is perfect for someone thinking about pursuing a graduate degree in plant biology. The position needs to be filled before our summer field season, but an earlier start date is possible (even preferred). Salary commensurate with experience and contribution toward the cost of health insurance negotiable.

To apply online, please go to: http://umass.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=46449 and submit a resume, cover letter, and contact information for references. Review of applications will begin on March 3, 2014 and continue until the position is filled. The University of Massachusetts is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. Women and members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

2

8:31 pm

18 Feb 2014

What if i were to post a job ad here?

1

6:00 pm

17 Feb 2014