Oferta de doctorado en biologia evolutiva de plantas (Austria)

The Research Group of Plant Ecological Genomics (http://plantgenomics.univie.ac.at) of the Department for Botany and Biodiversity Research at the University of Vienna, Austria is recruiting a

PhD student in Plant Evolutionary Biology (m/f)
Whole genome doubling and hybridization profoundly shaped plant genome
evolution. However, to be successful, first generations allopolyploids
must quickly adjust their genome and function, thereby altering their
ecological properties and adaptive success, as a function of their
environment. The duplicated nature of polyploids buffers more effectively
deleterious alleles and provides genome-wide opportunities for adaptive
evolution. Recurrent origins of polyploids are widespread and provide
natural replicates to study the links between whole genome doubling and
rapid adaptation to divergent environments.

A 3-years PhD position funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF)
is immediately available in our group, focusing of a fairly young
polyploid group in Dactylorhiza, comprising sibling European orchids
with divergent ecological preferences. Specifically, to complement
ongoing analyses of the nature of the extant molecular diversity in the
Dactylorhiza allopolyploids, we will interrogate the adaptive value of
this diversity within reciprocal transplant experiments in the Alps and
Scandinavia. We will shed light on the links between genotype, epigenotype
and environmental conditions, by focusing on the environmental sensitivity
of gene expression (with RNAseq) and of post-transcriptional regulation
by small RNAs (with smRNAseq), exploring also in detail the link between
DNA methylation patterns, TE activity and expression of duplicated genes.

The candidate should have
• a background in experimental or computational fields, such as
experimental population genetics, evolutionary/functional
genetics, molecular ecology, bioinformatics or similar;
• high motivation, enthusiasm and interest in new developments in
the field;
• an excellent academic past record;
• a demonstrated computer literacy, including R knowledge or Unix;
• preferred: experience with NGS methodology (wet lab and/or
bioinformatics);
• excellent organization and communication skills;
• fluency in English (NB German knowledge is not essential);
• driving license class B (for field work).

We are an international team with English as the working language. The
successful candidate will highly benefit from the advantages of being
integrated in the Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics
(http://www.popgen-vienna.at). The position offers in addition a
competitive salary (according to experience min. €28,500 per year
before tax, including social and health insurance), the opportunity
to attend at least one workshop/summer school and two international
conferences, and to shortly visit one of the labs of our international
collaborators. Field work across large Western European areas will be
undertaken for ca one month every year.

To be considered please send your application as a single pdf file to
ovidiu.paun@univie.ac.at, including a motivation letter with a statement
of research interests (max. 2 pages), your CV and, if applicable,
publication list, university certificates including grades, and the names
and contacts of three referees. Please note: Incomplete applications
will not be considered.


AssProf Dr Ovidiu Paun
Department for Botany and Biodiversity Research
University of Vienna
Rennweg 14, A - 1030 Vienna
http://plantgenomics.univie.ac.at