part of a large project entitled 'The Evolutionary Genomics of Sexual
Recombination'. This ad refers to the 2nd of two postdocs on this
project who will carry out the molecular evolutionary analyses. Using
modern evolutionary comparative genomics approaches we aim to study
the rate and pattern of genome sequence change with and without the
action of meiosis, and across different levels of inbreeding. The
project will be carried out in a phylogenetic design, on a newly
generated nematode multi-genome data set, leading to advances in
understanding the role of reproductive mode in shaping the structure
and diversity of genomes.
The puzzling predominance of sexual reproduction amongst animals has
been repeatedly identified as one of the major outstanding questions
in biology and has received an enormous amount of study. Meiotic
recombination is one of the fundamental forces of evolution and plays
a very significant role in both generating and mixing the genetic
diversity present in sexual organisms. Recombination is also suggested
to be instrumental in shaping the content of eukaryotic genomes. We
are embarking on a three year project to study the role of breeding
system and recombination in shaping the content and diversity of
animal genomes using an exceptionally powerful natural system - the
Root Knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.). We will, for the first time,
be able to take a comparative genomic view of radically different
reproductive modes in a phylogenetic design. Together these studies
will give us a novel and powerful understanding of the role sexual
reproduction plays in shaping genome content.
This project is a collaboration between Dr Dave Lunt at the University
of Hull and Prof Mark Blaxter at the University of Edinburgh. The
goals of the project are to generate complete, annotated genome
sequences for a set of Meloidogyne species (at least 16 genomes),
carefully chosen to represent independent evolutionary contrasts in
reproductive mode, and then to use these whole genome data to
characterise the effect of organismal breeding system on abundance,
diversity and distribution of transposable elements between
amphimicts, automicts, and apomicts. We will also test for adaptive
evolution of genes and gene families using statistical models of gene
family evolution, and test sequence based signatures of adaptive
evolution, relating these to loci involved in reproduction and
plant-parasite interactions.
PDRA2- MOLECULAR EVOLUTIONARY ANALYSIS; UNIVERSITY OF HULL
Applicants with a strong background in evolutionary biology,
bioinformatics and population genetics are invited for this PDRA
position to analyse the new genome datasets. The post-holder will use
modern evolutionary bioinformatic approaches to analyse transposable
elements, gene families and the type of mutational patterns found
across the phylogeny of nematode genomes being generated in Edinburgh.
The PDRA will be based in the Evolutionary Biology Group at Hull
University. The group is a large and interactive community of
evolutionary biologists, with excellent facilities, and provides a
great environment for investigating questions in genomics and breeding
system.
We anticipate the successful candidate will work proactively and
flexibly across the research groups to gain most from this enormous
data set, address fundamental biological questions, and produce some
very substantial publications.
You must have, or shortly obtain, a PhD in evolutionary biology,
bioinformatics, population genetics or other directly relevant
subject. An excellent understanding of the genetic consequences of
sexual reproduction and the bioinformatic skills suitable to analyse
large datasets would be advantageous.
Informal enquiries to Dr Dave Lunt: dave.lunt@gmail.com or d.h.lunt@hull.ac.uk
Vacancy Reference: FS0217 Closing Date: 12 August 2012
Salary range: ?25,251 - ?30,122 pa
Further Information: http://davelunt.net/research/
Official info and online application: http://bit.ly/PYo0QJ
PDRA1- GENOME ASSEMBLY, ANNOTATION, AND ANALYSIS; UNIV OF EDINBURGH
Applications for this position were advertised previously and are now closed.
Dr Dave Lunt
Evolutionary Biology Group
Department of Biological Sciences
University of Hull
HU6 7RX
UK
http://davelunt.net
d.h.lunt@hull.ac.uk
