Casola Lab at Texas A&M University CONIFER EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS

Post date: Dec 5, 2015 11:19:20 PM

Ph.D. POSITION IN CONIFER EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS

A Ph.D. position is available in the Casola Lab at Texas A&M University

http://agrilife.org/casolalab/

We study the evolution of genome size and gene content in conifers and other

gymnosperms using a blend of bioinformatics and wet lab approaches.

One of our primary goals is to understand the evolutionary dynamics of

transposable elements (TEs) in conifers, with a particular emphasis on horizontal transfer

events, TE-mediated gene regulation, and host silencing of TEs. We are also

investigating the origin of conifer-specific genes by analyzing patterns and

mechanisms of gene duplication. At the population level, we use next-gen data sets

to identify gene duplication and gene loss events in loblolly pine and other conifers.

Prospective students may be accepted through the Ecosystem Science and

Management Graduate Program (http://essm.tamu.edu/academics/graduate/), the

Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Doctoral Degree Program (http://eeb.tamu.edu/)

or the Genetics Graduate Program (http://genetics.tamu.edu/) at TAMU.

Experience in comparative genomics, analysis of next-gen sequencing data, and

programming with common bioinformatics languages (Python, C, Perl, R, etc.) is

preferred. Prospective students are encouraged to contact Dr. Claudio Casola

(ccasola@tamu.edu) and to submit a CV and a brief statement of interest before

formally applying to any Graduate Program.

#bio, #botany, #genomics, #evolution