POST DOC POSITION IN GENOMICS AND LIFE-HISTORY EVOLUTION AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF HELSINKI, FINLAND
Applications are invited for 24 month post doc (with a possibility of up
to 2 year continuation) in the research group of Marjo Saastamoinen as
part of the ERC funded META-STRESS project (Starting Grant scheme). The
successful applicant will join the Centre of Excellence in
Metapopulation Research at the University of Helsinki.
The project aims to understand the mechanisms that allow organisms in
the wild to cope with environmental stress. The large metapopulation of
the Glanville fritillary butterfly gives a unique opportunity to study
processes operating from genes within individuals all the way to
metapopulation-level dynamics (> 20 years of data). In this project
ecological studies will be integrated with molecular approaches to
unravel the significance of different mechanisms – candidate genes,
epigenetic inheritance and intestinal microbial communities –
potentially influencing individual responses to environmental
challenges. Molecular and genomic tools (including the genome; Ahola et
al. 2014, Nat Comm) are available for this species to apply to
ecologically relevant traits.
Recent relevant publications include:
* Saastamoinen M, Norio H & Van Nouhuys S (2013) Direct and
trans-generational responses to food deprivation during development in
the Glanville fritillary butterfly. Oecologia 171: 93-104.
* Saastamoinen M, Ikonen S, Wong SW, Lehtonen R & Hanski I (2013)
Plastic larval development in a butterfly has complex environmental and
genetic causes and consequences for population dynamics. Journal of
Animal Ecology 82: 529-539.
* Kvist J., Wheat C. W., Kallioniemi E., Saastamoinen M., Hanski I. &
Frilander M. (2013). Temperature treatments during larval development
reveal extensive heritable and plastic variation in gene expression and
life history traits. Molecular Ecology 22: 602-619.
The successful candidate should have PhD / post doctoral experience in
evolutionary genetics, bioinformatics, microbiology, evolutionary
biology or similar, and a strong interest in working with natural
populations. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, and the
ability to think independently and creatively are required. You must
demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team, and participate in
supervision of more junior group members.
More information: http://www.mv.helsinki.fi/home/msaastam ;
www.helsinki.fi/science/metapop
Starting date: April 2015
Application deadline: 13 February 2015
Mail your application with title post-doc META-STRESS (CV with
publications included, contact details of two references, and a letter
(MAX 1 page) with a description of your research interests and why you
would be a suitable candidate for the project) as a single pdf file to
[email protected].
Informal inquires to [email protected]
