We are currently looking for a PhD student to join us on the FlyInnovation project – deadline for applications 11th of February 2024

 

This 3 year PhD studentship is part of the DFG grant FlyInnovation awarded to Prof. Lena Wilfert and Dr Pete Czuppon (University of Münster). This evolutionary genetics project studies the evolution of genomic cooperation and conflict between transposable elements (TEs) and their host genomes via experimental and theoretical approaches. Specifically, FlyInnovation aims to understand if the TEs that inhabit the ends of Drosophila chromosomes are an evolutionary innovation or merely selfish genetic elements by combining experiments, OMICS approaches and theory. 

The advertised PhD will work on the experimental aspects of the project, which also offers the opportunity to study the evolutionary trade-offs between ageing and fecundity and how it is resolved in multiple species. This will involve large scale laboratory experimentation with multiple Drosophila species, molecular analyses (qPCRs, preparing samples for sequencing), bioinformatics, quantitative genetics and potentially cytological analyses (oligopainting and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization). The project will also entail analyzing molecular and phylogenetic data. In the theoretical part of the project, based at the University of Münster (Dr. Pete Czuppon and PhD candidate Daniel Omole, https://g-evol.uni-muenster.de/projectpage/#AnkerTransposons), ecological methods are applied to model the evolutionary dynamics of TEs. The advertised studentship will test these models experimentally, and link TE abundance and diversity to host fitness to understand if TEs and hosts are cooperating, or in conflict. 

We are looking for candidates with a keen interest in evolutionary ecology and a relevant undergraduate degree or, ideally, postgraduate degree. Experience in any of the mentioned experimental and molecular techniques or insect husbandry are desirable. Statistical skills and the desire to work in an international and interdisciplinary team are essential.

This project is part of a multi-team program across Germany focusing on genetic innovation in insects (http://www.g-evol.com). The goal of the DFG funded Priority Programme GEvol is to collaboratively and interdisciplinarily exploit new computational and OMICS methods to reveal the history of genomes in the insect taxon by comparative genomics. This priority project offers additional excellent opportunities for training, collaboration and networking with leading institutes in evolutionary biology. At the Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, an interactive and international team studies diverse topics in evolutionary ecology, including host-pathogen interactions (Prof. Wilfert), insect evolutionary genetics and metabolomics (Dr. Ruth Archer), conservation genomics (Prof. Sommer) and pollinator ecology (Profs. Ayasse and Tschapka), with the possibility to collaborate with Prof. Niessing (Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology) on FISH analysis.

For more information, please contact Lena Wilfert (lena.wilfert(at)uni-ulm.de) or Ruth Archer (rutharcher0(at)gmail.com). To apply, please send a cover letter, a CV and relevant degree certificates to lena.wilfert(at)uni-ulm.de by the 11th of February 2024. The preferred start date is in spring, as early as the 1st of March.

We study the ecology and evolution of host-parasite interactions.  In particular, we are interested in the ecology and evolution of emerging diseases. Using rapidly evolving RNA viruses that infect the community of pollinating insects, we study the ecological and genetic risk factors that may lead to disease emergence in this system. Our work focuses on viral sequence evolution and the dynamics of pathogen adaptation, for example studying the evolutionary drivers of viral host range.

Our main study system are the fast-evolving viral parasites of pollinating insects such as bumblebees and hoverflies. With this natural system, we are asking fundamental questions such as identifying ecological and genetic risk factors that promote the emergence of novel diseases. As healthy pollinators are crucial for all flowering plants, our research is also motivated by the potential to improve conservation biology and agriculture, for example collaborating with the Eden Project. Within this framework, we study the importance of honeybee pathogens and parasites for bumblebees, the influence of pathogens on pollinator ecology in India, disease emergence and sustainable pollination in China and effect of environmental antibiotics on bee fitness and evolution and mobilisation of antimicrobial resistance.

Our core focus is currently on projects exploring the effects of environmental change on disease transmission and effects:

For more information on bee viruses, please feel free to watch this presentation by Lena Wilfert.
https://vimeo.com/venueav/download/603742548/05d6df8eda