TWO NEW POSITIONS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY

TWO NEW POSITIONS IN EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Available at http://antonelli-lab.net (University of Gothenburg, Sweden)

Closing date: February 28, 2013

1) PhD Position. Fixed-term employment, four years

You will test competing hypotheses of diversification for explaining the outstanding diversity in tropical America (including soil specialisation, temperature increases, polyploidy, habitat shifts, biome conservatism and range expansion). To achieve this goal you will carry out extensive fieldwork in Latin America, especially the tropical Andes and Amazonia, to collect plant and soil samples. You will then produce molecular data using next-generation sequencing techniques. Your analyses will include estimation of phylogenies, divergence times, species trees from gene trees, diversification rates, species distribution modelling, and biogeographic reconstructions.

The choice of plant group will depend on the candidate’s previous experience and interests (e.g. during the Masters project). Ideally, the study group should have a wide Neotropical distribution with a centre of species diversity in northern South America, have been recently revised taxonomically, be already relatively well collected, and included in phylogenetic analyses. Please indicate your suggestion of plant group in the motivation letter (this is recommended but not mandatory).

Good communication skills (written and spoken) in English are necessary. Priority will be given to those candidates who have co-authored at least one scientific publication. Fieldwork experience in the tropics, experience working with molecular phylogenetics and/or next-generation sequence data, and language skills in Spanish and/or Portuguese is advantageous. We are seeking a candidate who is independent, self-motivated, and interested in the use or development of new methods and approaches, in short, a person willing to go beyond the state-of-the-art in the field. We will attach great importance to personal characteristics and independence in learning and working, creativity and documented productivity.

For more information and on-line application click HERE 

2) Post-doc. Fixed-term employment, two years

You will carry out research focused on speciation mechanisms in Amazonian plants, particularly palms. Although sympatric speciation is recognized as a driver of ”island” biodiversity (Howea palms, Cichlid fish, apple maggots), it remains to be discovered how it contributes to the mega-biodiversity in Amazonia. The understory palm Geonoma macrostachys is highly suited for this study because significant progress has been made to quantify and understand its complex variation. Responsibilities include extensive fieldwork across western Amazonia (Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru); development of next-generation sequence data, analyses and publications; and the training and supervision of graduate students.

Highest priority will be given to candidates with a strong publication record who have fieldwork experience in the tropics and experience with next-generation sequence data. Due to intensive fieldwork in Latin America good language skills in Spanish and/or Portuguese is necessary as well as good communication skills (written and spoken) in English.

A strong background in phylogenetics, biogeography, and species delimitation as well as research experience with palms (taxonomy, phylogenetics, and/or ecology) is meritorious.

We are seeking a candidate who is independent, self-motivated, and interested in the use or development of new methods and approaches, in short, a person willing to go beyond the state-of-the-art in the field. We will attach great importance to personal characteristics and independence in learning and working, creativity and documented productivity.

For more information and on-line application click HERE

Best wishes