Research

Call for Master’s Interns/Visiting Researchers:
Call for Master’s Interns / Visiting Students
Evolutionary Genomics, Gene Expression, and Comparative Biology

We welcome applications from Master’s students or visiting students interested in evolutionary genomics, comparative transcriptomics, and the links between genetic variation and phenotype.

Projects use public genomic and transcriptomic datasets from mammals and other vertebrates. Depending on the student’s background and available time, the project can be adjusted to focus on comparative gene expression, genome evolution, candidate gene annotation, population genomics, or genotype–phenotype associations.

Students will work with processed or public datasets and develop practical skills in R, genomic data analysis, transcriptomics, data visualization, and biological interpretation. Projects can start with a small defined analysis task and then develop into a thesis, internship report, or short research project.

Possible project areas include:

1. Evolution of mammary glands and other exocrine tissues
   This project uses public single-cell and bulk transcriptomic datasets from human, mouse, and other mammals to compare gene expression patterns across mammary, salivary, sweat, sebaceous, and related glandular tissues. A student project may focus on identifying shared and tissue-specific gene expression modules, visualizing transcriptomic similarities among tissues, or annotating candidate genes involved in gland development and function.

2. Genomic basis of mammalian diversity in milk composition and teat number
   This project examines how mammary traits have diversified across mammals. A student project may focus on candidate genes, gene family evolution, selection signatures, or regulatory regions associated with milk production, reproductive strategy, or mammary morphology, using published genomes and phenotype information from species such as goat, sheep, pig, rabbit, dog, and seal.

3. Genomic diversity and adaptation
   This project uses population-scale genomic data to investigate evolutionary history, demographic change, and adaptation. A student project may focus on summarizing genomic diversity, identifying candidate regions under selection, or comparing population histories across species or breeds.

4. Linking genome variation to phenotype
   This project investigates how genetic variants contribute to phenotypic diversity. Depending on the dataset, a student project may involve gene expression analysis, eQTL interpretation, GWAS summary data, polygenic scores, or visualization and annotation of candidate loci.

Possible tasks include:

• analysing public RNA-seq or single-cell RNA-seq data

• comparing gene expression across tissues or species

• annotating candidate genes or genomic regions

• visualizing genomic or transcriptomic patterns in R

• summarizing published phenotype and genome datasets

• producing publication-style figures and reproducible analysis scripts

This call is suitable for students interested in evolutionary biology, genomics, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, mammalian biology, aquaculture genetics, or data analysis. Prior experience with R or command-line tools is useful, but projects can be adjusted to the student’s level.

Please note that we are not able to provide financial support. Interested candidates are expected to secure their own funding for travel, living expenses, or scholarships through their home institution or external sources.

To apply, please send a brief CV and a short statement of your research interests, including your preferred project area, available period, and any experience with R, genomics, transcriptomics, or data analysis.