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Two fully-funded PhD positions in laboratory evolution and computational modelling at the University of Auckland, New Zealand

We are seeking applicants for two fully-funded PhD positions as part of an exciting research project in evolutionary biology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Auckland. The project is supported by a Marsden Fund grant to Nobuto Takeuchi, Austen Ganley, and Timothy Cooper.

The overall goal of the project is to understand what drives the evolution of reproductive divisions of labour (RDL). RDL has evolved repeatedly and at vastly different biological scales. Examples include eusocial insects with queens and workers, multicellular organisms with germline and soma cells, ciliates with micronuclei and macronuclei, and cells with genomes and enzymes. What drives the repeated evolution of RDL across different scales? Traditionally, it has been hypothesised that RDL increases group-level production efficiency because investment in a particular task brings accelerating returns - we call this the ‘efficiency’ hypothesis. However, our recent modelling work suggests that efficiency gains are not necessary for RDL to evolve. Based on this work, we propose an alternative hypothesis: that RDL evolves because of its ability to inhibit the evolution of ‘cheaters’ - individuals that avoid cooperation and replicate uncontrollably. We call this the cheater hypothesis. While the traditional efficiency hypothesis relies on system-specific explanations for how RDL increases production efficiency, the new cheater hypothesis is simple: it predicts RDL is beneficial under any conditions where cheaters can prosper and is, thus, independent of idiosyncrasies in different systems because cheating is known to occur across many systems and biological scales.

The goal of the two PhD projects is to test both efficiency and cheater hypotheses using complementary computational modelling and laboratory evolution approaches. The computational PhD student will use individual-based modelling to determine general conditions under which queen-worker RDL evolves to inhibit cheater evolution. The experimental PhD student will use laboratory evolution to test both the cheater and efficiency hypotheses by quantitatively assessing the effects of RDL on a synthetic yeast system engineered to have a germ-soma distinction.

For information about how to apply, please see the following page: 
https://www.findaphd.com/phds/project/two-fully-funded-phd-positions-in-laboratory-evolution-and-computational-modelling-at-the-university-of-auckland-new-zealand/?p169240

PhD opportunity on the use of eDNA and other molecular tools to unravel the effects of land- based influences on rocky reef biodiversity and function at the University of Otago

This project is part of a nationwide Coastal Programme between several New Zealand universities, institutes and agencies, entitled Toka ākau toitu Kaitiakitanga – building a sustainable future for coastal reef ecosystems. Its central purpose is to develop solutions for managing land-based stressors on nearshore marine ecosystems at large scales.

Kelp forests and rocky reef communities are declining in New Zealand and worldwide from a wide range of anthropogenic and environmental stressors. The consequences of continued decline in these highly diverse and productive ecosystems are culturally and economically immense, with considerable effects on food, fisheries, aquaculture, carbon sequestration, and the ‘blue economy’.

On coastal reefs, kelp forest decline is mostly due to catchment-derived sediment and contaminant discharges smothering reefs and altering the light environment, while marine activities (e.g., over-fishing, substrate disturbances) and warming seas further degrade nearshore ecosystems. Management has been unable to respond effectively to the degree and increasing pace of change.

Our objectives are to reverse the decline of Aotearoa New Zealand’s kelp ecosystems, improve the health of the coastal environment, and empower Māori iwi / hapū as strong partners in effective coastal management by integrating indigenous knowledge and perspectives (mātauranga) and much-needed multi-disciplinary insight.

See more and apply here: https://www.otago.ac.nz/postgraduate-study/research-opportunities/use-of-edna-and-other-molecular-tools-to-unravel-the-effects-of-land-based-influences-on-rocky-reef-biodiversity-and-function

PhD opportunity on resolving the structure of DNA aptamers using 2D NMR, SAXS and other methods at Massey University in Palmerston North

Funded three year PhD project on resolving the solution structure of aptamers bound to their ligands and characterizing their binding interactions. Hosted by the Nucleic Acid Chemical Biology group at Massey University in Palmerston North under the supervision of A. Prof Vyacheslav Filichev.

This project involves a number biophysical methods including NMR, isothermal titration calorimetry and the use of synchrotron radiation such as for the use of SAXS. The ideal student would have basic wet lab skills and expertise in organic chemistry and preferably experience in analysis of complex 1D and 2D NMR spectra and experience in the synthesis (chemical or biochemical) and purification of nucleic acids.

See more and apply here: https://nzcris.wd3.myworkdayjobs.com/nzcris/job/Wellington/PhD-Student---Chemistry---Chemical-Biology---Biochemistry_JR100949-1

PhD Opportunity – Condensates in Cancer – University of Canterbury
Join the Yewdall Lab for a fully funded three year PhD where you will investigate how protein-RNA condensates are disrupted in disease!

Find out more and how to apply here: tinyurl.com/UCphd