in natural populations TITLE: Coping with uncertainty: the role of
genotype versus epigenotype to overcome environmental challenges
Genetic components often explain only a small proportion of variation in
evolutionarily important behavioural and life-history traits. Whilst it
is imperative that we understand genetic mechanisms underlying these
traits, there is increasing recognition that "non-genetic" or epigenetic
DNA modifications generate important phenotypic variation which can
constrain the evolution of adaptive alleles. This project will quantify
the relative impact of genetic and epigenetic contributions to behavioural
polymorphisms using the bank vole (Myodes glareolus) as a study system,
where individuals face both strong seasonal and multiannual challenges
in selection pressures. Our recent work has concentrated on the two
neuropeptides (vasopressin and oxytocin) and their receptors that
play integral roles in social and reproductive behaviour in mammals,
but we aim to characterize more candidate genes that affect individual
socio-reproductive behaviour in vertebrates.
We are looking for a motivated postgraduate who has strong interest
in evolutionary questions and is ready to work hard to reach his/her
goals. The student will join an international group of motivated people
that has an excellent know-how to conduct studies on experimental
evolution both in the laboratory and in the field. The background of
the student can vary from evolutionary ecology to molecular biology,
as the project can be planned to include different amounts of work in
DNA-lab versus experimental and empirical field work.
Please contact esa.m.koskela(AT)jyu.fi for further information!
The deadline for applications is at 4:15 pm on 22 November
2013. Application is exclusively through the online procedure available
at: www.jyu.fi/science/en/applicationformphdstudents and should be
accompanied with updated CV, a letter of motivation or research plan,
and contact details of two references.
Esa Koskela:
http://users.jyu.fi/~emk/
More from the group:
https://www.jyu.fi/bioenv/en/divisions/eko/research/tmappes
Publications:
http://users.jyu.fi/~tmappes/publications2.html
Esa Koskela, PhD
University lecturer
Dept of Biol and Env Science
PO Box 35
FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, FINLAND
http://users.jyu.fi/~emk/
