Fwd: Graduate position: UNewMexico.PlantClimateEvolution

[Ellen Hostert]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: <evo...@evol.biology.mcmaster.ca>
Date: Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Subject: Graduate position: UNewMexico.PlantClimateEvolution
To: <ehos...@maine.edu>

This is for Graduate Student Positions.

I am thrilled to announce that I will be starting as a new Assistant
Professor in the Department of Biology at the University of New Mexico in
January 2026. I will also be joining the Museum of Southwestern Biology
as the Herbarium Curator! Research in my lab will aim to detect general
mechanisms of plant evolution in space and time. Using a comparative
framework, my lab will investigate the role of life history (i.e.,
traits associated with mating system, life cycle, physiology, mutualists,
enemies) in predicting patterns and mechanisms of adaptation (geographic
scale of local adaptation and its genetic architecture, traits and genes
under changing selection). I am actively recruiting motivated and creative
PhD and MS students to join my research group starting in Fall 2026.

My research vision:

Can life history predict mechanisms of adaptation across changing
environments? My lab will investigate this broad empirical question by
integrating plant functional traits, population genomics, and quantitative
genetics. We will also strengthen collections-based research through
evolutionary inquiry in space and time. Large diversity panels of
range-wide genotypes have now been sequenced for many species, including
invasive plants and weed crops. This has facilitated range-wide population
genomics studies and genomic predictions of adaptation to climate. These
growing genomic datasets offer an unprecedented opportunity for performing
comparative studies of plant adaptation in the context of life history
variation and at a global scale. We will also generate range-wide genomic
and functional-trait data for target species. My lab will use herbarium
collections and their geographic information to build range-wide spatially
and temporally extensive datasets on plant functional traits, genomes, and
environments. The plant microbiome, an extended coevolved phenotype, can
also be extracted from herbarium specimens. We will also quantify natural
genetic variation in ecophysiological traits and fitness in controlled
experiments for target species. Target species include southwestern USA
invasive plants and understudied crop weeds. Understanding evolution
of invasive plants and crop weeds in a comparative framework can help
improve biodiversity conservation and food security, while increasing
the value of collections-based research.

The opportunity:

This is a great time to join my lab. As a new group, you will have
a unique opportunity to help shape our lab's research direction and
culture. I am committed to providing hands-on research experience
and one-on-one mentorship to ensure your scientific and professional
success. You will gain a broad range of skills and have the opportunity to
publish and present your work at multiple conferences. I want to shape a
highly collaborative group where lab members can work together on group
projects while also developing independent research based on their own
passions. Graduate students will be fully funded through a combination of
graduate assistantships and teaching assistantships that include tuition,
a stipend, and health insurance. Applicants need a bachelor's degree in
biology, ecology, evolution, or a related field. Previous experience with
quantitative techniques and/or scientific computing languages (e.g., R,
Python, or bash) is a plus.

How to apply:

If you are interested in joining my lab, please visit my personal
website and google scholar to learn more about the breadth of my research
(lab website coming soon!). Please send me your CV, transcripts
(unofficial are fine), a statement of research interests, and contact
information for 2–3 professional references. Email materials
to:dga...@unm.edu.

Please visit https://biology.unm.edu/graduate/index.html for specific
requirements of the Department of Biology at the University of New
Mexico. The Priority Deadline is December 1st 2025 for applications to
the department, but please email me the material above sooner so that I
can support your application in our departmental selection of incoming
students.

Diana Gamba <dgam...@gmail.com>

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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