Graduate position: SoutherIllinoisU.EvolutionPoisonFrogs

Evolution of South American Poison frogs (genera Ameerega and Ranitomeya)
Zoology Department, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale,
IL.

A graduate position (prefeed PhD, also considering master’s students)
is available to study the evolution of S. American poison dart
frogs. Neotropical poison frogs are a species-rich family (Dendrobatidae)
that exhibit a diversity of mating systems, parental care strategies and
phenotypes. The Brown lab is looking for a student to develop a research
program studying ANY core aspect of the lab’s research. The ideal student
will be prepared to conduct field-based research, have some experience in
molecular ecology/population genetics, genomic and/or geospatial analyses.
This position includes several trips to South America and fully funded
lab work.

As follows are a few key projects that could be your graduate research:

1.  Speciation, species boundaries and hybridization in the Ameerega
bassleri complex: insights from natural history, acoustic and
morphological data, geospatial data, sub-genomic and paleoclimatology.
This group is a highly diverse group of three species with dramatic
phenotypic variation across its range. It also has experienced several
historical hybridization events among the taxa that have muddled and
complicated their evolutionary histories. This research will be aimed
to understand factor driving and maintaining speciation in natural
situations.

1.  Phylogeography and spatial biodiversity patterns of the poison frog
genus Ranitomeya: insights from sub-genomic data, geospatial analysis
and phylogenetics. The thumbnail poison frogs are some of the most
amazing species on earth— half the taxa are involved in Mullerian
mimicry, they exhibit intensive parental, and they often display
incredible phenotypic variation among populations…  This group in
an endless fountain of evolutionary questions.

1.  The genetic consequences of future climate change: spatially
explicit predictions of within-species genetic diversity using climatic,
demographic, and genetic data.  This research will expand upon a lab
methodology that accounts for climatic, geographic, and biological
complexity. This framework is promising for understanding evolutionary
consequences of climate change and guiding conservation planning.

For more information on the Brown Lab please visit the lab website
at: http://secure-web.cisco.com/14-ecM0feUTK0R8iZtVC05Nru1QlA9UCCeTCNmEEvDgYRQRkNmHwwwpKqPlk-Lvkci8uTawl2Ur1pmJqV-XpWRRM7j63_d2o4n1leZmKf4kuoy5syZ9HrbNCYaLkwvG3h-ZshnJUttG5MHw-5-JM9ylSjLn3ccZQTjT6MaHRxV1czENKwuDCgXShoPYHzgWQ3su5LOmwJWhggyhWP-ZxlZNEIBKRoGKrw6fpvHy3-4mBr1RmmrCUYNpl1a7dgBZSl0moP7igH8gbGQ7W-G0sluEmUNxwaSAsw7zVuamO3RUjaIRvXp9CWj_ARCjhelZTG-TwRN4vv1CSij_I4EGrSzxYfrDxooOMISHRySSTjusZhWevlqizgr0BQPRsUGhFML-rqStGOXyuYr2ZysIE_F8UsdKJL4RCrOL-nlKzKJmCZ3vpPdlGcdixG5iH822bT-2HDZch8p0MR1PqOznJXPw/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.jasonleebrown.org and the Zoology Department at SIUC
http://www.zoology.siu.edu. Students will find all the brains of a
nationally ranked research university and all the heart of a small
college at SIUC.

Carbondale is located in southern Illinois and provides a close link
to many forested areas and lakes. The regional landscapes varies
from bottomlands to uplands with rolling hills, bluffs, and rugged
topography. This makes it perfect home for outdoor lovers (when they
are not in the rainforest of S. America).

Interested students are encouraged to contact Dr. Brown
(jason.brown@siu.edu) ASAP. Please include a brief description of
your research interests related the Brown Lab, a CV, and names of
two references (with contact info). Competitive funding options are
available. US and Canadian students only. For full consideration,
application due date is May 15th 2018. Start date of position is August
2018 (preferred) or January 2019.

Jason Brown <jason.brown@siu.edu>