TWO PhD GRANTS AVAILABLE IN BARCELONA (INSTITUTE FOR EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY)

The Evolutionary Genomics Group in the Comparative and Computational Genomics program of the IBE (http://www.ibe.upf-csic.es/) is willing to recruit two PhD students.

The research group that the successful candidate will join studies genomic variation at both the intraspecific and interspecific levels in hominids (http://www.upf.edu/bioevo/CV-ArcadiNavarro.htm). Besides several other research projects, the group runs the Population Genomics Node of the Spanish National Bioinformatics Institute (http://www.inab.org), working in close collaboration with the National Genotyping Centre (http://www.cegen.org). The group is located at the Evolutionary Biology Unit of the Pompeu Fabra University (http://www.upf.edu) and is part of the Barcelona Biomedical Research Park (http://www.prbb.org), a renowned centre for Biomedical research that hosts, besides the University, other institutions such as the CRG (Centre for Genomic Regulation) or the CMRB (Barcelona's Centre for Regenerative Medicine). All these organizations share a thrilling and dynamic scientific atmosphere, driven by leading groups in fields such as bioinformatics, molecular biology and evolution. The PRBB is located close to Barcelona's City Centre (right in front of the beach).

The two PhD projects will be directed by Prof. Arcadi Navarro and Dr. Tomás Marquès-Bonet. Both will deal with several aspects on evolutionary novelties appearing in our genomes.

(1) The first project will focus on the theoretical/computational study of the population genetics of molecular variation within gene families and duplications.

(2) The second project will consists in the detailed analysis and characterization of primate genome regions with genic and duplication genealogies that are not consistent with the phylogenies of primate species.

The two projects require different profiles. All candidates should hold a Bachelor's degree (or equivalent) in Biology, Physics, Mathematics or similar. For the first project, candidates with strong programming and mathematical skills are preferred. Candidates with an experimental background are specially encouraged to apply to the second project.

Motivated and potentially competitive applicants should send, before January the 20th and preferably via e-mail, a CV and a short letter of interest including the names of two persons able to provide references to:

Arcadi Navarro (arcadi.navarro@upf.edu) and/or Tomás Marquès-Bonet (tmarques@u.washington.edu)