Oferta de doctorado en paleogenómica en Barcelona

PhD position available on Paleogenomics of dog population in Europe.

The Botigue lab for “Genomics of ancient crops and domestication” in
the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) in Barcelona is
offering a PhD position under the La Caixa Foundation INPhINIT Programme
to work on the genomic analysis of archaeological dog remains from
Europe spanning from the Neolithic up to the Roman Period with the goal
to understand population dynamics within the continent and gene flow
during that period.


DEADLINE

6 February 2019 (Incoming modality)

27 February 2019 (Retaining modality)


TITLE: Genomic analysis of archaeological dog remains from Europe.


PROJECT DESCRIPTION:

The European continent has played a major role in dog domestication. A
recent genomic analysis of Neolithic dogs from Germany, though revealing
genetic continuity, showed complex admixture patterns, including gene
flow from a population similar to modern Indian dogs. Additionally,
studies examining the mitochondrial genome of ancient and modern dogs
have detected a replacement in Europe that took place some time between
the Neolithic and the Middle Age. In the present project we plan to
unravel this complex demographic scenario of prehistoric European dogs
by analysing the genome of twenty ancient dog samples from the Iberian
Peninsula and Germany from a period of over 4,000 years spanning from
the Neolithic up to the Roman Empire.

Analysis of the whole genome and the mitochondrial genome will be
performed to determine the main demographic events that shaped dog
populations during that period. Population structure and admixture will
be studied in ancient dogs in the context of modern dog variation.


As a result, we will provide for the first time insights into the genetic
structure, variability and admixture of dog populations in Europe over
a period of 4 millennia, prior the generation of breeds. Results will
elucidate demographic events surrounding dog prehistory in Europe and
their relationship with humans migrating through the continent.


JOB POSITION DESCRIPTION

The dearth and the ambition of the current project are ideal for a
PhD candidate. We are therefore looking for a highly motivated student
seeking to pursue his doctoral studies and specialise in genomics and
bioinformatics by analysing whole genome sequencing data, including that
from archaeological samples. The student will receive extensive training
in a broad range of skills, including theoretical population genetics
and biostatistics. She will learn concepts such as population structure,
admixture and adaptation, and be able to recognize the footprints these
processes leave in the genome. Additionally, the student will also learn
how to model demographic inference, gaining knowledge about coalescent
theory and computational simulations. In order to analyse genomic data,
the student will learn how to use and develop her own bioinformatic tools.

This project is an international collaboration with researchers from
the United States and Germany, so the student will have the opportunity
to perform research stays abroad, increasing her network of peers at an
early stage of her career and learning new skills from renowned population
geneticists. Opportunities to assist international meetings and present
her research will also be granted throughout her PhD.

The PhD will be performed in CRAG'S Plant and Animal Genomics
programme. During the first year of their studies, students receive
teaching on state-of-the art technologies offered by the Core Units
and Scientific Services of CRAG, such as genomics and next generation
sequencing, proteomics, metabolomics, and bioinformatics. The student
will also be able to attend internal and external seminars at CRAG and
improve her oratory skills by giving seminars regularly.

By the end of her PhD, the student will have become a population
geneticist specialised in the analysis of modern and ancient genomes
with a strong computational background and a wide network of peers.

REQUIREMENTS


The doctoral fellowship programme INPhINIT “la Caixa” is devoted to
attracting talented Early-Stage Researchers—of any nationality—who
wish to pursue doctoral studies in Spanish or Portuguese territory.


The doctoral INPhINIT fellowships offer a highly competitive salary
and complementary opportunities for training on transferrable skills
(through the collaboration of leading entities such as Vitae and Oxentia),
temporary stays in industry, incentives upon completion of the thesis,
among other elements that make these fellowships some of the most
attractive and complete in Europe.


CONTACT


For questions about the position and further information about the
project, contact Laura Botigué, Email: laura.botigue@cragenomica.es


HOW TO APPLY

Applications should be done using La Caixa INPhINIT online application
system . Please follow the link below to obtain further information
about the PhD position and how to access the online application system:

https://obrasociallacaixa.org/en/investigacion-y-becas/programa-de-becas-de-posgrado/inphinit/programme-description