‘Sociality and the reversal of the fecundity/longevity trade-off’ (FOR 2281)
funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG)
Why do organisms age? The genetic underpinnings of ageing seem to be highly conserved from nematode worms to humans. Across animals, ageing is characterized by a trade-off between fecundity and longevity, with an increase in fecundity commonly associated with accelerated senescence and a drop in lifespan. A major exception to this pattern is found within the social insects. Some social insect queens are record holders with respect to longevity whereas their sterile workers are short-lived. The aim of the Research Unit is to explore, in a highly integrative and interdisciplinary fashion, the ultimate and proximate reasons for the apparent reversal in the fecundity/longevity trade-off associated with sociality by using all major clades of social insects, with Drosophila melanogaster as model non-social organism. Projects will apply a broad range of approaches from experimental manipulation, field-based studies and molecular genetic studies (e.g. qt RT PCR, NGS) to theoretical evolutionary modelling and bioinformatics analysis.
PhD positions will be available on the following topics:
The physiological and metabolic basis of the fecundity/longevity trade-off in Drosophila (Prof. Dr. Thomas Flatt, University of Lausanne; thomas.flatt@unil.ch)
The fecundity/longevity trade-off in an orchid bee at the cusp of sociality (Prof. Dr. Robert Paxton, University of Halle; robert.paxton@zoologie.uni-halle.de)
The genomic tool box to transform a short-lived social bee into a long-lived parasite (Prof. Dr. Robin Moritz, University of Halle; r.moritz@zoologie.uni-halle.de)
Fecundity/longevity reversal in a social insect with alternative reproductive strategies (Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik /Dr. Barbara Feldmeyer, University of Mainz; foitzik@uni-mainz.de, feldmeye@uni-mainz.de)
Remoulding of the fecundity/longevity trade-off in a fungus-growing termite (Prof. Dr. Judith Korb, University of Freiburg; Judith.Korb@biologie.uni-freiburg.de)
Postdocs will work on:
The fecundity/longevity trade-off in a clonal ant (Prof. Dr. Jürgen Heinze, University of Regensburg; Juergen.Heinze@biologie.uni-regensburg.de)
Towards a quantitative evolutionary theory of caste specific ageing (Prof. Dr. Ido Pen/Prof. Dr. Franjo Weissing/Dr. Sander van Doorn, University of Groningen; i.r.pen@rug.nl)
Comparative evolutionary analysis of the fecundity/longevity trade-off in social insects (Prof. Dr. Erich Bornberg Bauer, University of Münster; ebb@wwu.de)
Comparative cross-taxon transcriptome analysis of the fecundity/longevity trade-off in social insects (Prof. Dr. Judith Korb, University of Freiburg; Judith.Korb@biologie.uni-freiburg.de)
All applicants should have a strong background in evolutionary biology and, depending on the project, in bioinformatics and/or modelling. For further details of specific projects, email the relevant contact person listed above. Within your application, please state your preferred project, in ranked order from 1 (most preferred) to 3. The research consortium will jointly select candidates for the positions. Skype/phone interviews are scheduled for the 2nd&3rdweek of August.
Start of Position is anticipated to be 1. Oct 2015
Interested candidates should send their applications (incl. CV, letter of motivation, and contact details of two academic references) as single file pdf by3. Aug 2015to:
Judith.Korb@biologie.uni-freiburg.de
For further information please contact:
Prof. Dr. Judith Korb
Zoology : Evolutionary Biology & Ecology
University of Freiburg
Hauptstrasse 1
D-79104 Freiburg
Germany
Judith.Korb@biologie.uni-freiburg.de
Deadline for applications: 3. Aug 2015
