Fwd: Graduate position: UCalifornia_SantaBarbara.EvolGeneticsGenomics

[Ellen Hostert]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <evo...@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca>
Date: Tue, Oct 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Subject: Graduate position: UCalifornia_SantaBarbara.EvolGeneticsGenomics
To: <ehos...@maine.edu>

Deal EvolDir community,

The Sharbrough Lab (http://sharbroughlab.com) in the Ecology, Evolution, &
Marine Biology (EEMB) Department at UCSB is looking for one PhD student to
join the lab in Fall 2026.

Our lab is interested in evolutionary genetics and genomics, especially,
but not exclusively, in plants. Research in the lab is particularly focused
on polyploidy, cytonuclear interactions, and how cytonuclear co-evolution
shapes phenotypes and fitness.

Ongoing projects in the lab include:

   - Genome architecture of organelle gene expression regulation
   - Photosynthetic and respiratory performance in diploid vs. polyploids
   - Mitochondrial genome evolution in the context of hybridization and
     introgression
   - Gene vs. genome dosage and its relationship to epistasis
   - Regulation and gene co-expression of cytonuclear interactions
   - Genomic patterns and evolutionary consequences of diploidization
   - Plant-herbivore interactions and co-evolution, particularly in the
     context of invasive pests
   - Eco-evolutionary dynamics of runaway polyploidy in
     mycoheterotrophic plants

Graduate students in our lab develop independent projects integrating
approaches from genetic/genomic, molecular/cellular, organismal, and
computational perspectives, all within a positive and collaborative
environment. Strong candidates will have a record of prior research
experience and a keen interest in evolutionary biology, genomics,
bioinformatics, and/or plant biology.

Support for the position is guaranteed for 5 years, either as a Graduate
Student Researcher (GSR) or as a Teaching Assistant (TA), with the minimum
salary being set by collective bargaining agreement and years of
experience. In addition, your tuition, campus registration fees and
university student health insurance will be covered by fee remission as a
benefit of this academic employment.

*How to apply / next steps:*
Prior to applying to the EEMB graduate program, interested parties should
email Dr. Sharbrough at jsha...@ucsb.edu, including the following items:
(1) CV including contact information for up to 3 references, (2) an
unofficial transcript, and (3) a brief statement (1 pg max) describing your
research interests and prior research experience. I’d be happy to discuss
potential project ideas and answer questions about the EEMB program. The
application deadline for the EEMB program is December 1st.

For more information about the EEMB Graduate program and requirements, see EEMB
Graduate Program – UCSB (https://www.eemb.ucsb.edu/academics/graduate) and EEMB
application instructions (https://www.eemb.ucsb.edu/academics/graduate/apply
).

If you have colleagues or students who might be interested, please feel
free to forward this email.

Joel Sharbrough, Ph.D.
(he/his)
Assistant Professor
Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
University of California, Santa Barbara
website: http://sharbroughlab.com
email: jsha...@ucsb.edu

--

Important!  I check email once a day, and often not at all on weekends.  I will respond to your message.  Thank you for your patience.

Ellen E. Hostert, Ph.D. (she/her)
Professor of Biology
University of Maine at Machias
116 O'Brien Avenue
Machias, ME 04654
(207) 255-1301
ehos...@maine.edu