Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft e.V.

application deadline: 15.10.2009
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Munich, Germany: Research Associate (Post-Doc) position in molecular computational phylogenetics and phylogenomics of non-bilaterian animals.

We invite applications for a research associate (Post-Doc) position in a project funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) "A phylogenomic approach to resolve deep phylogenetic incongruences among Phylum Porifera“ in the DFG Priority Programme 1174: "Deep Metazoan Phylogeny", co-funded by the Bavarian Ministry for Science, Education and the Arts.

The project is located in the Molecular Geo- & Palaeobiology Lab of the Department of Earth- and Environmental Sciences (Chair of Palaeontology) and the GeoBioCenterLMU of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München.

The phylogenetic relationships among non-bilaterians (i.e. taxa Porifera, Ctenophora, Cnidaria & Placozoa) are still under hot debate and are far from being unequivocally resolved. Uncertainty exists about whether poriferans (sponges) are a monophyletic group or a paraphyletic assemblage, and the branching order of taxa Ctenophora (comb jellies) and Placozoa is still debated. However, our recent phylogenomic results revive classical concepts about non-bilaterian relationships in recovering monophyletic Porifera and a sister-group relationship of Cnidaria and Ctenophora (Coelenterata) (Philippe et al. 2009, Current Biology).

In the framework of this project, you can build on more than 40,000 EST sequences and will have access to currently being sequenced transcriptomes of selected non-bilaterian lineages. With these resources you will carry out intensive phylogenomic analyses and have the opportunity for further analyses, e.g., to reconstruct the evolution of key-genes and pathways.

This project will be carried out in collaboration with Prof. B. Morgenstern of the Dept. of Bioinformatics at the University of Göttingen

We are seeking a highly motivated applicant with excellent in silico molecular-phylogenetic/phylogenomic and computational skills, demonstrated by an excellent track-record of international publications in the field. The working language of the group is English, and applicants from abroad are encouraged to apply.

The successful candidate will join a young, international and dynamic lab focussing on the molecular palaeobiology (micro- and macroevolution) of marine animals. More information about the lab can be found at www.mol-palaeo.de

Requirements: PhD in Biology or related field; very good and demonstrated understanding of molecular evolution and computational phylogenetics, including methods to infer molecular phylogenies from large phylogenomic data sets, and state-of-the art computer programs for such analyses; excellent English language skills. Excellent and profound knowledge of UNIX/LINUX and programming skills in e.g. Perl or Python are essential.

The position is available for 24 months (starting from 01.01.2010) and will be paid according to the German TV salary scheme TV-L E13.

Application: Send application including letter of intent, CV, PDFs of your three most significant publications, and details of 2 referees as PDF (only) by email to Mrs. Monika Brinkrolf (Secretary): m.brinkrolf(at)lrz.uni-muenchen.de

Only applications stating the keyword "DEEP-PORI" in the subject line of the email will be accepted. Application deadline is October 15, 2009. Informal enquiries about the position may be directed to Prof. Dr. Gert Wörheide (woerheide(at)lmu.de).

The Department of Earth- and Environmental Sciences (Section Palaeontology & Geobiology) of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich offers an excellent multidisciplinary research environment, one of its particular strength being due to the close interaction between Geosciences and the Biological Faculty in the framework of the GeoBioCenterLMU (http://www.geobio-center.uni-muenchen.de).

The LMU Munich is the leading research university in Germany, with a more than 500-year-long tradition, and builds upon its success in the Excellence Initiative, a Germany-wide competition promoting top-level university research. Munich has also been repeatedly voted Germany's most livable city.

The LMU Munich is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and has an affirmative action policy for the disabled.

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Prof. Dr. Gert Wörheide
Lehrstuhl für Paläontologie
Department für Geo- und Umweltwissenschaften
& GeoBio-CenterLMU
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Richard-Wagner-Straße 10
D-80333 München

Tel: +49 (89) 2180-6718
Fax: +49 (89) 2180-6601
E-Mail: woerheide@lmu.de
www.palmuc.de | www.mol-palaeo.de

Sprecher, GeoBio-CenterLMU
Direktor, Bayerische Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und Geologie

Publikationen:
www.mol-palaeo-lit.de/papers.php
www.researcherid.com/rid/C-1080-2008


	© 23.09.2009 Deutsche Zoologische Gesellschaft e.V., DZG