Opportunities to Join evolVienna

The mathematics and biosciences group (MaBS) at the University of Vienna
is looking for a strong and highly motivated candidate for a university
assistant position in evolutionary modeling. The research focus is
flexible and includes work in population genetics or genomics,
quantitative genetics, and evolutionary ecology. See the MaBS homepage
(www.mabs.at) for further information on our research interests.

In recent years, Vienna has developed into one of the leading centers in
evolutionary biology (www.evolvienna.at). In addition to a stimulating
scientific environment, Vienna also offers an extraordinarily high quality
of life. Affordable housing, excellent public transport, great
restaurants, a range of international schools, two operas, two music
centers, many theaters and museums in combination with a pleasant climate
make Vienna one of the most attractive cities in Europe.

The successful candidate will have a record of high quality research in
evolutionary modeling. S/he is expected to develop and maintain an
independent research profile and to attract extramural funding. In
addition to research, the candidate will contribute to teaching and
supervise students. The position will be offered for 6 years and comes
with a competitive salary. The starting date is October 2013 or later
(negotiable).

Formal requirement is a PhD and a strong background and interest in
quantitative evolutionary research (analytical or computational
modeling). Prior postdoc experience and the proven ability to attract
funding are desirable. The working language is English, German skills are
not essential.

Applications should include:

• Cover letter
• CV with publication list and grants,
• summary of past and future research plans,
• teaching experience,
• names and email addresses of three potential referees.

Full applications (preferably as a single pdf) should be sent via the Job Center to the University of Vienna (http://jobcenter.univie.ac.at, email: jobcenter@univie.ac.at), with cc to Joachim Hermisson (joachim.hermisson@univie.ac.at)

We invite applications from highly motivated and outstanding students with a background in one of the following disciplines: bioinformatics, statistics, evolutionary genetics, functional genetics, theoretical and experimental population genetics. Students from related disciplines, such as physics or mathematics are also welcome to apply.

Topics include:

• Analysing next generation sequencing data and understanding the sampling properties of high throughput technologies
• The 1001 Genomes Project: Population genetics of Arabidopsis thaliana
• Speciation genetics in European columbines (Aquilegia)
• Mutagenesis in the germline with age
• Population genetic inference using Pool-Seq data
• Evolution of gene expression in Drosophila
• Speciation genomics: mapping of hybrid incompatibilities
• Inference of selection from time series data
• Understanding the ecology and genetics of an adaptive trait in Drosophila embryos
• Mathematical models of spatially varying selection in subdivided populations
• Statistical methods for detecting selective sweeps using genome-wide data
• The footprint of adaptive gene introgression after secondary contact
• Probabilistic models for the population genetics of molecular evolution
• Inferring selection using Drosophila whole genome sequence data

Only complete applications (CV, motivation letter, university certificates, indication of the two preferred topics in a single pdf) received by 30.05.2013 will be considered. Two letters of recommendation need to be sent directly by the referees. The yearly salary of successful candidates is based on EUR 34.700,00 before tax according to the regulations of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF).

All information about the about available topics, the training program and the application procedure can be found at www.popgen-vienna.at

A postdoc position in Population Genomics is available in the newly established group of Dr. Pamela Burger in the Institute of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna. We are interested in the (domestication) history of Old World camelids (Bactrian camels and dromedaries) using whole genome approaches on modern and ancient samples. Research topics will focus on (i) detecting selection in the domestic species and (ii) the demographic history of Camelini. Aspects of conservation genomics will be included with the analysis of wild Bactrian camel genomes. The project is embedded in an international collaboration/  network between the Vetmeduni Vienna, the Ludwig Maximillians University Munich, the University of Helsinki, the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the King Faisal University, KSA. Details of the current research projects can be found here.

The position is available for 1.5 (full time) to 2 (part time) years and may be continued depending on successful progress and available funding. A competitive salary and travel opportunities will be offered. The position is expected to start in spring/summer 2013, though a specific start date is negotiable.
In the last several years, Vienna established an internationally leading platform in evolutionary biology (http://www.evolvienna.at) and the Vienna School of Population Genetics (http://www.popgen-vienna.at), which both attract scientists and graduate students from all over the world. Apart from a stimulating scientific environment, Vienna also offers an extraordinarily high quality of life and ranks among the most attractive cities in Europe.

—Qualifications—

• The successful candidate will be highly motivated and should have a PhD in biology, genetics, computer science, statistics, bioinformatics, computational biology, or a related field
• Knowledge of population genetics and next-gen sequencing as well as programming skills are essential, with knowledge of Python (Perl), R, and the Unix shell highly desirable. Other programming expertise (such as Java, C/C++) and complex trait mapping is a plus
• Preference will be given to candidates with a strong publication record, the ability to work well in an interdisciplinary, collaborative environment, and with an interest in camels

—Application—

Application deadline is 24 March 2013.

A three-year PhD position will be available from summer-fall 2013 within the PhD program
of the University of Bologna, Italy (Dottorato di Ricerca in Biodiversity and Evolution)
in collaboration with the Division of Biology and Pathobiology of the Skin, Department
of Dermatology, Medical University Vienna. Experimental studies will be performed in
Bologna and Vienna. The topic of the project is the role of differential gene expression in the
diversification of reptilian skin morphology. Knowledge of molecular biology and basic skills
in cell culture and bioinformatics are required.

For more information please contact
Leopold Eckhart, Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna
leopold.eckhart(at)meduniwien.ac.at

Lorenzo Alibardi, Department of Biology, University of Bologna, Italy
lorenzo.alibardi(at)unibo.it

Infos: www.unibo.it/Portale/Ricerca/Dottorati+di+ricerca/2012/Biodivevoluzione.htm?WB

The Department of Zoology at Stockholm University has just opened a search for a Senior Lecturer / Associate Professor in Population Genetics.

The position involves research, teaching, and supervision in the broad field of population genetics, including conservation genetics and population genomics/proteomics. Teaching experience in statistics is desirable. Average expected time commitment is approximately 30% teaching, 70% research. Recently, significant investments have been made in genomics at Stockholm University, both in-house and in collaboration with the SciLifeLab (http://www.scilifelab.se/). At the Department of Zoology, research is being pursued in ecology, ethology, functional morphology, population genetics and systematics & evolution. The spirit of research in the Department is very collegial and collaborative, both within the department and internationally. The department has 45-50 staff and 45-50 PhD students.Stockholm is one of the true gems of Europe, considered the Venice of the north and commonly ranking in the top 10 most livable cities on Earth. Transportation connections from the University to the center of Stockholm are excellent, and Sweden is a global leader in social services and benefits.

Informal enquiries can be made to Head of Department Prof. Sören Nylin (soren.nylin@zoologi.su.se). Note that applications should be submitted through the Stockholm University website, where further details also are available: http://www.su.se/english/about/vacancies/lecturers-researchers/senior-lecturer-in-population-genetics-1.122514

Closing Date: Monday April 8, 2013

A postdoc position is available at the Institute of Population Genetics, Vetmeduni Vienna. We are looking for a highly motivated postdoc with interest in the evolution of gene expression. Bioinformatic skills and a solid background in evolutionary biology or population genetics are essential.

Possible research topics include:
-       the evolution of plasticity in gene expression
-       the role of cis- and trans-regulatory variation for adaptation to novel environments
-       transgenerational effects on gene expression

Future post holders will benefit from a range of experimental evolution experiments in Drosophila as well as a large collection of Drosophila populations maintained at the institute.

The position is available from March 2013 and can be extended up to 3 years. The minimum salary will be 47334€/year. The application should be emailed to christian.schloetterer@vetmeduni.ac.at as a single pdf containing CV, list of publications, a statement of research interests, and the names of three references with contact details. While the search will continue until the position is filled, applications should be received by February 20, 2013 to ensure full consideration

A two-year postdoctoral position is available in the group of Dr.
Carolin Kosiol at the Institute of Population Genetics at the
Vetmeduni Vienna. The position will be associated with the project
“Empirical codon models for comparative re-sequencing data” and is
funded by a Stand-Alone Grant of the Austrian Science Fund (FWF). The
project builds on a phylogentic model that is aware of polymorphisms
in re-sequencing data and that has recently been developed for
nucleotides in the group. The project will use polymorphism as well as
divergence data from primate and Drosophila populations.

Candidates will be expected to have completed a PhD in Bioinformatics,
Computational Biology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science or a
related field. Good programming skills, experience in C, C++ or Java
and a scripting language such as Python or Perl are essential.
Preferably the candidate has prior experience with either phylogeny or
population genetics, but applicants from other areas of bioinformatics
are welcome to apply. My group works on probabilistic models of
sequence evolution, comparative genomics, next generation sequencing,
population genetic aspects of phylogenetics, molecular evolution and
natural selection.

In recent years, Vienna has developed into one of the leading centers
in evolutionary biology (http://www.evolvienna.at). In addition to a
stimulating scientific environment, Vienna is also a liveable city
with affordable housing, good public transport and an exciting
cultural life. Please send a letter of interest, CV, and the names and
contact details of two referees to Carolin Kosiol at
carolin.kosiol@vetmeduni.ac.at Questions and requests for more
information should be directed to the same address. Review of
applications will begin on 15 January 2013 and will continue until the
position is filled.

The Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL; www.mfpl.ac.at) are a recently
established joint venture of the University of Vienna and the Medical
University of Vienna, engaged in top level biomedical research and
training. MFPL houses more than 60 research groups in various areas of
Molecular Biology and is embedded in the Vienna Biocenter Campus. The
working language of the Institute is English. MFPL is committed to
promoting work/life balance, and the campus hosts an international
kindergarten.

In recent years, Vienna has developed into one of the leading centers in
evolutionary biology (www.evolvienna.at). In addition to a stimulating
scientific environment, Vienna also offers an extraordinarily high quality
of life. Affordable housing, excellent public transport, great
restaurants, a range of international schools, two operas, two music
centers, many theaters and museums in combination with a pleasant climate
make Vienna one of the most attractive cities in Europe.

Faculty opening

An independent junior faculty position (roughly equivalent to an assistant
professorship) is offered to strengthen the Computational Biology and
Bioinformatics unit in the area of population genetic modeling. In
particular candidates with a track record in statistical genetics or
population genomic modeling and data analysis are encouraged to apply. The
successful candidate will have a record of high quality research in
evolutionary modeling. S/he is expected to develop and maintain an
independent research group, and to attract extramural funding.

The position holder will be a co-leader of the Mathematics and Biosciences
Group (MaBS), currently led by Joachim Hermisson. Several other groups on
campus are involved in evolutionary genetics research, including the
groups of Magnus Nordborg (Gregor Mendel Institute) and Arndt von Haeseler
(Center for Integrated Bioinformatics Vienna). Moreover, a diverse group
of researchers interact through activities of the Vienna School of
Population Genetics (www.popgen-vienna.at), which attracts an
international body of graduate students. The Vienna Biocenter provides
access to an excellent core facility, including several Illumina
sequencers, bioinformatics services, and a high-speed computer cluster.

The starting date is flexible (spring 2013 or later). The advertised
position is a scientific tenure track position: within the first two years
of employment the University of Vienna may offer a “qualification
agreement” if the scientific performance of the employee suggests that the
required qualification can be reached. This agreement is connected with
the title of “Assistant Professor” [AssistenzprofessorIn]. In case the
goals of the “qualification agreement” are met, the employment will be
made permanent and the title of the employee will be changed to “Associate
Professor” [assoziierte/r ProfessorIn]. We offer a competitive salary and
a start-up package.

Application files:

1. Application letter (max. 5 pages), to be structured as follows: a.
Achievements in research
b. Experience and activities in teaching (and advancement of young
researchers), teaching plans
c. Achievements in knowledge transfer and knowledge management
d. Future plans in research and contribution to the scientific profile
of the Faculty and the University, respectively

2. Enclosures:
a. CV and degree certificates/transcripts
b. List of publications, including journal impact factors and number of
citations, as well as a list of the – in the opinion of the applicant – 5
most important publications
c. Scientific talks, also listing the 5 most important ones
d. “Esteem factors” (e.g. experience as publisher, functions in
scientific societies or program committees)
e. Acquired third-party fund projects (topic, runtime, origin, volume)
f. Teaching (and advancement of young researchers): courses held at
universities, supervised theses, teaching evaluations (if existent) g.
Names of three references with contact details

Applications shall be submitted in English (preferably as a single PDF) to
facultyopenings@mfpl.ac.at, with cc to joachim.hermisson@univie.ac.at .
Informal inquiries can be sent to joachim.hermisson@univie.ac.at . The
application period ends on January 4th, 2013. Women are strongly
encouraged to apply.

Call 2013

Over the past years, Vienna has developed into one of the leading centres of population genetics. The Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics has been founded to provide a training opportunity for PhD students to build on this excellent on site expertise.

We invite applications from highly motivated and outstanding students with a background in one of the following disciplines: bioinformatics, statistics, evolutionary genetics, functional genetics, theoretical and experimental population genetics. Students from related disciplines, such as physics or mathematics are also welcome to apply.

Available topics include:

• Inferring selection using Drosophila whole genome sequence data
• Analysing next generation sequencing data and understanding the sampling properties of high throughput technologies
• The 1001 Genomes Project: Population genetics of Arabidopsis thaliana
• Speciation genetics in European columbines (Aquilegia)
• Mutagenesis in the human germline
• Population genetic inference using Pool-Seq data
• Evolution of gene expression in Drosophila
• Speciation genomics: mapping of hybrid incompatibilities

Only full applications (CV, motivation letter, university certificates, indication of the two preferred topics in a single pdf) received by 10.01.2013 will be considered. Two letters of recommendation need to be sent directly by the referees.

All information about the about the Vienna Graduate School of Population Genetics, the training program and the application procedure can be found at www.popgen-vienna.at

Call for Fellowship Applications The Konrad Lorenz Institute for Evolution and Cognition Research launches a call for Post-Doctoral Fellowships and Writing-Up Fellowships for 2013/2014. Applications for theoretical research in the fields of evolutionary biology, evolutionary developmental biology, and evolutionary cognitive science will be considered. KLI Post-doctoral Fellowships

• Eligibility: Researchers who obtained their doctoral degree no longer than eight years before the start of their fellowship.
• Duration: One year, extendable for one year (pending review)
• Remuneration: Postdoctoral stipend, travel expenses

KLI Writing-Up Fellowship

• Eligibility: Students who are in the writing-up phase of already completed research for a doctoral thesis.
• Duration: Up to 6 months
• Remuneration: Stipend, travel expenses

Application Procedure Applicants should contact the Scientific Director via the contact form at the KLI homepage www.kli.ac.at/fellowships/contact. Please submit the following:

• Filled-in application form
• Project description
• Curriculum vitae, including list of publications
• Two names of referees with contact details

The applicant may then be invited to give a talk on his/her past research and planned project. The project proposals will be sent out for external review and will be evaluated by the Board of Directors. Applicants of all nationalities will be considered. Application Deadline October 31^st , 2012 Starting Date October 1^st, 2013

Project: This 3-year project will investigate the proximate mechanisms and evolutionary functions of complex, chemical signals in wild house mice. The project and position are funded by the Austrian National Science Fund (FWF).

Ideal candidate: We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD candidate with background in evolutionary/behavioral biology with strong interests in sexual selection or communication.

The ideal candidate would have experience with mice (or other small mammals), chemistry (GC-MS or protein chemistry), and the ability to work independently, as well as part of a team. Excellent writing and communication skills in English are necessary. Experience with molecular genetics, experimental design and/or statistics are desirable, but not essential. A BSc or MSc (or equivalent) in Biology is required.

Location: Our institute is located in the Vienna Woods, it is international and operates in English and German. Vienna is a very attractive international city (English is widely spoken), and it is generally ranked as one of top cities in the world to live. There are many cultural activities, outstanding public transportation, green spaces, and it is easy to leave the city for travel and outdoor activities, such as hiking, climbing and skiing.

To apply send:

1. 1-page cover letter outlining motivations, research interests and relevant experience;

2. CV with list of publications (if any);

3. copies of transcripts with academic qualifications;

4. contact information of 2 academic references; and

5. short abstract describing your previous research experience.

Send enquiries and applications to:

Dustin J. Penn (dustin.penn@vetmeduni.ac.at)

Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria http://www.vetmeduni.ac.at/klivv

Application deadline: 30 September 2012

Starting date is flexible, but preferably before 1 November 2012.

The mathematics and biosciences group (MaBS, homepage www.mabs.at) led by Joachim Hermisson at the University of Vienna is looking for a strong and highly motivated candidate for a PhD position in evolutionary modeling and statistical data analysis. Project: * Genetics of Hybrid Zones and Introgression * Hybrid zones are a fascinating study object from a population genetics perspective since they provide us prime examples of “evolution in action”. As the two “species” that meet at a hybrid zone are not yet fully separated, several questions arise: Is a narrow hybrid zone is a natural first step towards full speciation? If so, how do the barriers to gene-flow build up along the chromosome? And how long does this take? Is there a lasting potential for adaptive gene-flow through these barriers — and could adaptive gene-flow inhibit speciation? Finally, can we detect “footprints” of these processes in DNA sequence variation? In this project, we address these questions with a combination of analytical and statistical modeling, and application of these models to next-generation DNA polymorphism data. The core work of the Vienna PhD student will be the development of models and methods. The project is a collaboration with the Natural History Museum London. At the NHM, data from about 400 populations from a bluebell hybrid zone across Spain has been collected. The analysis of these data will be a joint endeavor. To this end, a six-month placement of the PhD student in London is part of the project. INTERCROSSING: We are an EU funded excellence program for early career training and research. Further information can be found here: http://intercrossing.wikispaces.com/What+is+INTERCROSSING%3F Research environment: Vienna is not only one of the world’s most liveable cities, but also offers an excellent research environment and is currently developing into one of the main centers in evolutionary research in Europe. The position will be located at the Max F. Perutz Laboratories, part of the Vienna Biocenter Campus, which houses a vibrant community of researchers from several institutes. As a member of the MaBS group, the student will also interact with Magnus Nordborg and members of his group, and will be part of a larger community of evolutionary biologists and population geneticists through the activities of the Vienna Graduate School for Population Genetics (http://www.popgen-vienna.at) and EvolVienna (www.evolVienna.at). Conditions: The position is for three years, salary is according to the (very generous) EU rates. The starting date is October 2012 (with some flexibility). Application: We are looking for a candidate with a strong background in quantitative methods (analytical or computational modeling or data analysis) and interest in evolutionary research. Applicants should have a Master / Diploma degree in natural science (e.g. biology or physics), mathematics, or bioinformatics. Programming skills are highly appreciated. The working language in the group is English. German skills are not essential. All formal applications run through the INTERCROSSING Webpage. The application deadline is July 5th 2012. The application form is here: http://intercrossing.wikispaces.com/Apply+here%C2%A0 For informal inquiries and further information, interested candidates are encouraged to contact Joachim Hermisson (joachim.hermisson[AT]univie.ac.at) before submitting a formal application. In this case, please send a brief statement of interest and CV.

A NERC-funded postdoc position for up to 3 years is available at the Institute of Evolutionary Biology to develop and apply methods for demographic inference for genomic data. The project represents an excellent opportunity to combine advancement of theory with exploration of empirical data in haploid systems. The project has two aims. First, to develop new inference methods (in collaboration with project partners Prof Nick Barton (Institute of Science and Technology Austria) and Prof Mike Hickerson (Queens College – City University of New York)); and second, to use these methods to reconstruct the Pleistocene history of two natural insect communities from population genomic data. Genomic data will be processed and assembled by a project-dedicated bioinformatician. Interested candidates are invited to contact Konrad Lohse (Konrad.lohse@ed.ac.uk) or Graham Stone (graham.stone@ed.ac.uk) informally if they wish to discuss the project. Applicants must have, or shortly obtain a PhD. We are seeking a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in either population genetics theory and/or analysis of high-throughput sequencing data. Interest in both coalescent theory and model-based inference are essential, although the balance of theoretical and empirical work is flexible and can be adjusted to fit the interests of the candidate. The candidate will be based in Edinburgh with Prof. Graham Stone’s group and Dr. Konrad Lohse, with strong links with project Co-PI Prof. James Cook at the University of Reading and the NERC Genepool facility, Edinburgh. For an introduction to the population genetic exploration of the oak gallwasp system see Stone GN et al. (2012), Current Biology 22:1-6 for an overview of a possible theory framework for genome analysis see Lohse et al. (2011) Genetics 189, 977–987.