PhD position in Evolutionary Genomics of Drosophila Adaptation at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland

[FLATT Thomas]

PhD position in Evolutionary Genomics of Drosophila Adaptation at the University of Fribourg, Switzerland

A 4-yr PhD position in Evolutionary Genomics is available in the Flatt lab in the Department of Biology, University of Fribourg, Switzerland, to study the adaptive role of chromosomal inversions in fruit flies.

The PhD student will work on a project entitled "The Role of Chromosomal Inversions in Clinal Adaptation", recently funded by the SNSF (Swiss National Science Foundation) and embedded in a designated project team consisting of three postdocs and a technician and supported by several international collaborations.

Using an adaptive inversion polymorphism (a 'supergene') in Drosophila as a tractable model system, the aim of this project is to use genome sequencing, phenotypic assays, population cage experiments in the lab and field, population genetic modeling, genetic mapping (deficiency complementation mapping) and genome engineering (CRISPR/Cas9) to address how selection acts on inversions: (1) What are the genetic loci, i.e. the targets of selection, contained within the inversion? (2) How does the inversion and the candidate loci contained in it affect fitness-related traits? (3) What form of balancing selection (e.g., overdominance, frequency-dependent selection) maintains this adaptive inversion polymorphism?
The Department of Biology at the University of Fribourg is a highly dynamic, international and interdisciplinary environment, spanning a wide range of research in evolution and ecology, population genomics, and bioinformatics, developmental genetics, neurobiology, biochemistry and proteomics, across 27 groups (https://www3.unifr.ch/bio/en/). Research in our group is focused on understanding the genetic underpinnings of life-history adaptations, trade-offs between fitness traits, and the evolution of aging; for more information on our lab see: https://www3.unifr.ch/bio/en/groups/flatt/

Candidates must be highly motivated and driven, have excellent oral and written communication skills, be able to work independently as well as in a team, and have a solid background or a strong interest in evolutionary genetics and a good working knowledge of statistics. Prior experience with Drosophila genetics and/or analyzing next-generation sequencing data and/or population genetic modeling would be a plus. The working language is English.

The starting date is flexible; the earliest start of the position would be January/February 2019. A master’s degree (or equivalent) is required to apply. The salary follows the doctoral salary rates set by the SNSF.

Please submit your application via email by 30 November 2018 to
Prof. Thomas Flatt: thomas...@unifr.ch<mailto:thomas...@unifr.ch>

Applicants must submit a single merged PDF file that includes a letter of motivation, a CV, names and contact details of two referees who should send their recommendation letter separately by email, and copies of their publications and/or their MSc thesis.
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Prof. Thomas Flatt
Department of Biology
University of Fribourg
Chemin du Musée 10
CH-1700 Fribourg
Switzerland

E-mail: thomas...@unifr.ch<mailto:thomas...@unifr.ch>

Tel. Office: +41 26 300 88 33
Tel. Secretary: +41 26 300 88 50
Fax: +41 26 300 97 41

Web1: https://www.unifr.ch/biology/research/flatt/
Web2: http://www.unil.ch/dee/page94630_en.html

European Drosophila Population Genomics Consortium: http://droseu.net/

Mechanisms of Life History Evolution: http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9780199568765.do