PhD position for 3 years at the University of Mainz
The (epi-) genetic basis of division of labor in social insects
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Division of labor is key to the ecological
success of insect societies and fundamental to their social organization.
In most social insects, behavioral and
morphological castes are not genetically determined, but develop through
phenotypic plasticity. Division of labor becomes
more pronounced in larger colonies both within and between species.
Moreover, behavior and task allocation typically
changes in workers with age, a phenomenon known as polyethism.
This project aims at a deeper understanding of
the evolution and ontogeny of division of labor in ants. We are
interested in the identity, regulation and
selection of genes, whose differential expression are important for the
division of labor in workers. We will analyze how
behavioral performance, epigenetic signature and gene expression
patterns change over a workers life and which
factors other than age influence worker behavior, such as
morphology or experience. Our model species of
the genus Temnothorax are characterized by small colonies,
monomorphic, long-lived workers with a clear
division of labor into different behavioral castes.
We are looking for an excellent, highly motivated
and enthusiastic PhD student with a
strong background in evolutionary biology.
Candidates should be interested in combining
behavioral experiments, molecular lab work
(RNA-seq, qPCR, RNAi) and bioinformatic data analysis.
Previous experience in one or more of these fields is desirable.
The PhD position will be part of GeneRED (Gene
Regulation in Evolution and Development),
a joint research initiative of the Institute of
Molecular Biology and the Faculty of Biology
of Mainz University
(<http://www.imb.de/GeneRED>www.imb.de/GeneRED).
Candidates will profit from an established
international PhD Programme (<http://www.imb.de/PhD>www.imb.de/PhD),
including courses and from close interactions with various research groups
The deadline for application is November 25th
2013, position will start in March 2014.
Detailed information on the application process
can be found on the homepage of
the international PhD Programm
(<https://www.imb-mainz.de/students/international-phd-programme/applyipp/>https://www.imb-mainz.de/students/international-phd-programme/applyipp/).
For application related questions please contact
the IPP coordinator, Dr. Elmar Uherek
(<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]).
For project-related questions contact Prof Dr.
Susanne Foitzik (<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected])
or Dr. Barbara Feldmeyer (<mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]).
Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik
Evolutionsbiologie
Institut für Zoologie
Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz
Johannes von Müller Weg 6
D-55099 Mainz
Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 6131 39 27 840
Fax: +49 (0)6131 39 27 850
Email: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
Prof. Dr. Susanne Foitzik
Evolutionsbiologie
Institut für Zoologie
Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz
Johannes von Müller Weg 6
D-55099 Mainz
Germany
Tel: +49 (0) 6131 39 27 840
Fax: +49 (0)6131 39 27 850
Email: <mailto:[email protected]>[email protected]
