PhD position on Genomic Basis of Alternative Life-History Evolution in Swordtail Fishes
The <http://www.orn.mpg.de/IMPRS> International Max Planck Research School (IMPRS) for Organismal Biology is jointly organized by the Max Planck Institute for Ornithology in Seewiesen and Radolfzell and the University of Konstanz. More than 25 internationally recognized research groups actively participate in the PhD program and offer challenging, cutting-edge PhD projects in the fields of Behavioral Biology, Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, Physiology, and Neurobiology. Project description In some species of live-bearing fish of the genus Xiphophorus males become sexually mature at different sizes. These size differences result in differences in mating strategies that these males deploy. Females tend to prefer to mate with larger males, and larger males court females. But smaller males persist in the populations although they are at a disadvantage compared to larger males and small males sneak copulations by coercing females to mate without courtship. We are interested to better understand the genomic basis of the differences in the onset of sexual maturity in these species. The research would involve QTL analyses and comparative transcriptomic work combined with behavioral and field work in Central America. Main advisor <http://www.evolutionsbiologie.uni-konstanz.de/?section=25> Axel Meyer, University of Konstanz Our offer All students accepted to the program will be supported by stipends or contracts. Besides their own research, the IMPRS fellows attend laboratory courses and workshops in relevant transferable skills like scientific writing and project management. Talks by invited speakers during our annual IMPRS symposium, student retreats, and conference participation complete the individually tailored curriculum. The working language is English. Each PhD student receives individual supervision and mentoring and is guided in her/his research work by a PhD advisory committee. Your application Outstanding students of all nationalities with a deep commitment to basic research in Organismal Biology are invited to apply. Deadline for the application is January 15, 2014. Interviews with the applicants are scheduled for Mid-March. Candidates accepted into the program may start latest September 2014. The Max Planck Society and the University of Konstanz are equal opportunity employers. Qualification: Applicants should hold a MSc or equivalent degree in biology or a related discipline at the point of enrollment. Queries should be mailed to the program office: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] Application : For the online application process visit <http://www.orn.mpg.de/2383/Application> www.orn.mpg.de/2383/Application. More information on the current PhD projects at http://www.orn.mpg.de/projects and <http://www.facebook.com/OrganismalBiology> www.facebook.com/OrganismalBiology.
