The lab of Dr. Néva Meyer at Clark University
(http://wordpress.clarku.edu/nmeyer/) is looking for a PhD student
to study annelid central nervous system development with the goal of
gaining a better understanding of how nervous systems evolved. Research
will be carried out on the annelid Capitella teleta, but can be expanded
to include other spiralians. The molecular mechanisms underlying annelid
and spiralian development are not well understood and multiple features
including the spiral cleavage program make spiralians a great group of
animals to study evolution of animal body plans. Furthermore, the research
community that studies evolution of spiralian body plans is small but
rapidly growing and is very welcoming and collaborative. Potential
research topics in our lab include investigation of the molecular
control of neural fate specification. We have a stable lab colony of
Capitella teleta. Techniques used in the lab include microinjection
of embryos, qRT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, imaging of live and fixed
tissue, quantification of phenotypes using ImageJ, and gene knockdown
and misexpression by injection of morpholinos and mRNA.

Students are encouraged to develop a project that matches their learning
and career objectives and will enter Clark University’s Biology PhD
program. Previous experience in molecular biology and/or working with
marine larvae is desirable. PhD students will be guaranteed funding
for five years, with a possible extension through teaching and research
assistantships. A start date of September 2018 is preferable.

Clark University is a small liberal arts research university located in
Worcester, MA. Worcester has a nice combination of urban and outdoor
activities and is in close proximity to a variety of New England
destinations.

Please email a brief description of why you are interested in the position
and a CV to: nmeyer@clarku.edu

Néva P. Meyer, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Clark University
Department of Biology
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610

Neva Meyer <NMeyer@clarku.edu>

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