.ARC Grant Funded Researcher (A) - Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyJob no: 514421 Work type: Fixed term - Full-time Campus: Adelaide Categories: Level A, Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology (Level A) and $78,544 - $105,611 per annum plus an employer contribution of 17% superannuation applies.Full Time | 2 Years Fixed Term OpportunityA fixed-term Level A grant-funded researcher position is available for two years as part of an ARC Discovery project on the molecular evolution of subterranean diving beetles, based in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Adelaide with Prof. Steven Cooper, Emeritas Prof. Andy Austin and Dr. Terry Bertozzi. The project collaborators also include Dr Rosa Fernandez, from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain, and Prof. Marcus Friedrich from Wayne State University, Michigan, USA.The project utilises a unique Australian model system based on multiple, independently-evolved subterranean water beetles to explore the adaptive and regressive changes in the genome that occur when surface species colonise subterranean habitats. The aim of the project is to characterise and investigate the evolution of chemosensory and circadian rhythm genes, which play critical roles in the fitness of animals, including the ability to find food and mates in a dark, thermally stable environment.The project will involve genomic and RNA sequencing analyses of subterranean and related surface beetle species and it will focus on characterising chemosensory and additional gene families that are showing adaptive or regressive patterns of evolution in the subterranean species when compared to surface species.Based in the South Australian Regional Facility for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, the facility has recently been set up with state of the art equipment for NGS library preparation and genomic sequence analyses. The project also has access to high performance computing facilities, with the Phoenix HPC service based at the University of Adelaide.To be successful you will need:A PhD in the discipline of genetics or molecular biology and or have equivalent qualifications and extensive research experience in the area of molecular evolution.Demonstrated wet lab experience and capability to carry out NGS library preparation for genomic and/or transcriptomic sequence analyses and experience in phylogenetic analyses to explore gene evolution.Sound knowledge and understanding of molecular biology and its application in the field of evolutionary biology.Demonstrated ability to undertake independent research, including leading research, where applicable and successfully overseeing postgraduate and honours students to completion.Track record of quality publications and conference presentations relative to opportunity and evidence of being involved in professional activities related to research
