Butterfly ecological and evolutionary functional genomics Several positions at different levels are now available at the Department of Zoology, Stockholm University in the group of Dr. Christopher W. Wheat: 1 phd 1 postdoc ecological genomics 1 postdoc bioinformatics 1 researcher position in bioinformatics (masters level/starting phd)
Rapid advances in genomic sequencing and bioinformatics now provide the opportunity to find the variation affecting traits that have fitness consequences in the wild. Importantly, these advances allow for species with well studied ecologies to now be the focus of functional genomic study. We have just received extensive financial support from the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Foundation and the Swedish Research Council, for our project Insect life cycle genomics and adaptation in the wild. The project is an Ecological and Evolutionary Functional Genomics (EEFG) collaboration, bringing together researchers with expertise in population genetics, ecology, ethology, morphology, immunology and molecular genetics with the aim to uncover how organisms manifest a life cycle that is adapted to local environmental conditions. The central idea of the project is to address this difficult questions using an integrative approach, leveraging insights gained from two insect systems: the green-veined white butterfly Pieris napi and the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Our goal is to use genomic tools to study P. napi populations adapted to different ecological situations, and when we find genes that are candidates for being involved in such adaptation we will study their effects in the Drosophila system. We will initially target three phenotypes: diapause, wing pattern and immunity. The research will take place within the population genetics and ecology groups, which are composed of internationally recognized leaders in butterfly ecological research with a long history of study on Pieris butterflies. We will make use of existing genomics and bioinformatics platforms at e.g. SciLifeLab (www.scilifelab.se) for next generation sequencing, RNA-Seq and other high-throughput services, including high-performance computational analyses (http://www.uppmax.uu.se). Currently we are in the process of generating a high quality genome for Pieris napi, as we will be using this extensively for our genomic analyses. Projects will include working at all steps from field- and laboratory experiments to analysis of genomic data and gene expression (RNA-Seq). Please see the formal announcements: http://www.zoologi.su.se/en/about/lediga/index.php For the masters level bioinformatics position, please contact Chris Wheat directly ([email protected]) Link to Chris Wheats website http://www.christopherwheat.net http://www.zoologi.su.se/en/about/staff/person.php?suuid=cwhea
