The Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies is accepting applications for the

following position:

Disease Ecology Project Assistant, “The Tick Project” (up to 12)

Research:  The Tick Project  is a randomized,

placebo-controlled, double-blind research program to design and test a

tick-control strategy for preventing human cases of tick-borne disease.

The study is conducted at the scale of entire residential neighborhoods

within the Lyme-disease endemic zone of the northeastern United States.

The study emphasizes principles of disease ecology in the context of

disease prevention.

Job Description: Project Assistants are needed to study the effects of tick

management interventions on the abundance and distribution of blacklegged

ticks and risk of tick-borne disease in people. Location is the Cary

Institute of Ecosystem Studies in New York’s Hudson River Valley, with

travel to sites throughout Dutchess County, New York.  Duties include

sampling, collecting, and identifying ticks from residential neighborhoods,

live-trapping small mammals, along with gathering and entering data on tick

encounters with local residents.

Qualifications: Meticulous attention to detail and experience in field

ecology is required. Prior experience with tick sampling or handling small

mammals is highly desirable. The ability to work in small teams and to

withstand hot and humid field conditions is essential.

Employment: Employment to begin between April 13 and May 15, with an end

date of approximately September 11, 2020 with the possibility of extension.

Position reports to Dr. Richard S. Ostfeld and is full time, 35 hours/week.

This is an hourly, non-exempt, non-benefited position. Wages are

commensurate with education and experience. The final candidate will be

required to complete a post-offer, pre-employment driving background check

successfully. Candidates must be authorized to work in the U.S. On-site or

nearby housing is available. Review of applications will begin January 6,

2020. Posting is open until April 1, 2020 or until filled.

To Apply: Please submit a job application using this link

and

clicking the “Apply Now” button at the bottom of the page. Under “Resume”,

click the “Upload Resume” link to upload a single PDF file consisting of a

letter of application, a resume, and the names, phone numbers, and email

addresses of three professional references. Please contact Patricia Jones (

jonesp@caryinstitute.org) with any questions about applying.

The Cary Institute is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and Affirmative

Action (AA) employer. It is the policy of the Company to provide equal

employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to

race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national

origin, age, familial status, protected veteran or disabled status, or

genetic information.

Conservation Corps New Mexico is seeking to fill 1 crew lead and 2 crew member botany positions in partnership with the NM Bureau of Land Management. The crew will operate out of the BLM Carlsbad field office in Carlsbad, NM.

The crew will participate in the BLM Seeds of Success program by collecting seeds from priority species across New Mexico. While Seeds of Success is the primary focus, the crew will assist with other plant conservation program tasks, such as implementation of a rare plant monitoring protocol.

Find more information and apply here: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcorpsnm.org%2Fopen-positions&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7C424e59958572462cf2c608d782da7b81%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637121747208525760&sdata=gt627J1LWYjH%2B8zNn6PYO7XXK1SBmjDaSLzYyxIV5jg%3D&reserved=0

POSITION TITLE: AmeriCorps Restoration Team Member

STATUS: 1200-hour (9-month) term from January 6, 2020 to August 27, 2020 (Dates Flexible)

NUMBER OF POSITIONS AVAILABLE: 8

REPORTS TO: AmeriCorps Program Manager

POSITIONS REPORTING TO THIS POSITION: None

LOCATION: Yerington, NV

BACKGROUND: Established in 2014, the Walker Basin Conservancy (WBC) is leading the effort to restore and maintain Walker Lake while protecting agricultural, environmental and recreational interests in the Walker Basin (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.walkerbasin.org&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Cb8d318b0d5b242375dde08d7807e8f55%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637119153379427150&sdata=JVe3wkXv0xvcj4ewhv97CEF3yPLuYvrPwSWc%2Fogyc%2Fk%3D&reserved=0). The growing and dynamic nature of the WBC and its diverse obligations provide unique opportunities to develop operations from the ground level up, working closely with staff who are passionate about their mission.

The WBC currently manages thousands of acres of land and assets on multiple properties in the Walker Basin, including the Walker River State Recreation Area (parks.nv.gov/parks/walker-river).  Land planning activities are underway and focus on assessing public use opportunities, conservation values, long term land ownership and stewardship, and revegetation and restoration activities.

JOB PURPOSE: The Restoration Team Members will serve alongside other AmeriCorps members and WBC Conservation Technicians conducting primarily invasive species removal and native plant re-vegetation within the Walker River Basin. Members may also work on recreational trail construction, sign installation, and fence construction. Members will work in conjunction with other WBC field staff, providing on the ground support to larger project operations.

A working knowledge of, or a desire to learn more about, desert plant ecology and ecological restoration, nursery or horticultural practices, or agricultural systems and irrigation equipment is essential. The Restoration Team Members should also have a sincere interest in expanding their knowledge of Great Basin Desert ecology, restoration practices, the flora and fauna of Nevada, and agricultural methods and equipment.

LOCATION: Yerington, Nevada is a beautiful rural farming community located approximately 95 miles south of Reno, NV in the foothills of the eastern Sierra mountains. Yerington is small but growing with about 3,100 residents. Established in 1907, the city has heritage and deep roots in agriculture, mining, railroads, and gaming. Some of the nearby attractions, activities and recreational opportunities include:

*             Camping, biking, hiking, backpacking and paddling

*             Fishing, hunting, boating and OHV trails

*             Flat and white-water boating (1 hour away)

*             Rock hounding and climbing

*             Ghost Town Exploration

*             Ski Resorts (1.5-2 hours away)

*             Lake Tahoe (1.5 hours away)

*             Lahontan Reservoir (30 minutes away)

*             Walker Lake (45 minutes away)

*             Topaz Reservoir (45 minutes away)

*             Yosemite (via Tioga pass, 2.5 hours away)

Essential Functions

*             Under the guidance of a WBC Crew Leader:

o             Utilizing hand tools and backpack sprayers to conduct invasive plant removal and control.

o             Utilizing hand and power tools to conduct native plant re-vegetation and restoration.

o             Utilizing hand and power tools to conduct road decommissioning, recreation trail construction, and sign/fence installation.

o             Installing, maintaining, and operating a variety of irrigation systems for re-vegetation purposes.

o             Identify and harvest native plant seeds for use in native plant propagation and re-vegetation.

*             Communicating effectively and professionally with other members, WBC staff, agency partners, and the public.

Secondary Functions:

*             Assisting with the management and supervision of community volunteers on WBC conservation projects.

*             Assisting with the inventory, maintenance, and repair of WBC tools and equipment.

*             Uploading field data into databases and compiling reports to inform future management plans.

Qualifications

*             Willingness and ability to:

o             Work outside in unpredictable weather conditions, including extreme temperatures, independently or as part of a team.

o             Work irregular hours, such as starting early or working more days with shorter hours, in accordance with project specific requirements and conditions.

o             Bend and crouch for long periods of time and occasionally lift heavy loads or equipment.

o             The ability to hike to remote locations over uneven ground, tall shrubs, and wetlands.

o             Use hand and power tools, operate motor vehicles, and work long days on labor intensive projects.

o             Use chemical herbicides in the treatment and control of invasive weeds while following strict application protocols.

*             Effective written and oral communication skills.

*             Meet AmeriCorps Eligibility Requirements, including:

o             Be at least 17 years of age at the commencement of service;

o             Have a high school diploma or its equivalent;

o             Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident alien of the United States;

o             Pass a National Sex Offender Public Website check and National Service Criminal History Check; and

o             Be eligible to receive and AmeriCorps Education award, with a limit of four total terms in a lifetime and the equivalent of two full-time terms (3400 hours).

Member Training: Members will receive a variety of technical and professional training related to their service activities as well as personal and professional development. Available trainings may include:

*             First aid and CPR;

*             Leave no Trace principals;

*             Native plant identification and revegetation;

*             Invasive species identification and treatment;

*             Irrigation system installation and maintenance;

*             Recreational trail construction;

*             Resume building, USA Jobs, and government application workshop; and

*             Guest speakers on environmental, natural resource, and professional development topics.

Physical and Mental Requirements

Strength, dexterity, coordination, and vision to use tools and equipment for prolonged periods.  Strength and stamina to bend, stoop, sit, and stand for long periods of time.  Strength and dexterity to operate small, medium, and heavy equipment.  Strength and stamina to endure standing and working for long periods of time and in extreme weather conditions.  Strength and stamina to walk to remote locations over uneven ground.  Dexterity and vision to observe oncoming traffic hazards and react quickly to emergency situations.  Some heavy lifting (over 75 pounds) is occasionally required.

In compliance with applicable disability laws, reasonable accommodations may be provided to qualified individuals with a disability who require and request such accommodations.  Applicants and incumbents are encouraged to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

Working Conditions

Members work in an outdoor setting with varying weather conditions, including, but not limited to, extreme heat, dry conditions, rain, snow or hail, and extreme cold.  Members may sometimes be required to camp in the field for the duration of the tour. Camping and worksites will generally be in areas with at least primitive road access for crew vehicles, but the spike camping sites will usually be at undeveloped backcountry sites. Both camp and project sites will generally not have access to potable water, restroom facilities, or cellphone signals, and members will be expected to follow Leave No Trace principals in camp and on project. Project work will frequently require hiking over rough terrain while carrying tools and equipment.

Position may occasionally be required to work around heavy machinery in hazardous environments. Environment is generally dirty, with prolonged exposure to conditions such as dust, fumes, noise, or odors. Frequent interruptions to planned work activities occur.

Compensation & Benefits:

*             Living allowance of $11,560;

*             Education award of $4,266.50;

*             Childcare and federal student loan forbearance are available for eligible members at no additional cost;

*             Uniform reimbursement;

*             Per diem when on spike (while camping);

*             Paid personal and sick leave;

*             Paid holidays;

*             Opportunities for extension upon good service; and

*             Opportunities for advancement within the organization.

Housing in Yerington can be difficult to find. WBC has limited and optional housing available for a low monthly rate. Housing accommodations are dorm or bunk style housing with shared bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen areas and common spaces.

Positions will remain open until filled. Only top candidates will be contacted.

Local applicants are STRONGLY encouraged to apply.

To Apply, please send cover letter and resume to:

Amy Gladding

amy.gladding@walkerbasin.org

Subject Line: 9-Month Restoration Team Member

All applicants must also submit an Employment Application Acknowledgement form that can be found on our website at: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.walkerbasin.org%2Fjoin-our-team&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Cb8d318b0d5b242375dde08d7807e8f55%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637119153379427150&sdata=ftYKbsYW2NPb2LGtVHwypGEA2DQY1wbot30AtLyluIs%3D&reserved=0

Please call or email Miguel Gonzales, AmeriCorps Program Manager, at (775) 463-9887 ext. 110 or Miguel.Gonzales@WalkerBasin.org with questions.

Walker Basin Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.  The above functions may be completed with or without reasonable accommodations.  This program prohibits discrimination based on race, religion, creed, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, political affiliation or disability.

Equal Opportunity Statement – Walker Basin Conservancy is an equal opportunity employer. WBC does not discriminate against any employee, applicant, director, officer, contractor, or any other person with whom it deals because of race, creed, color, disability, age, sex, veteran status, religion or political affiliation. WBC complies with all federal and local statutes prohibiting discrimination in employment.

Reasonable accommodations may be provided for qualified individuals with a disability.

Disclaimer – The statements contained herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work to be performed by the employees in these positions. The statements are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of a person in each position. Other responsibilities, duties, and skills may be assigned and management retains the right to add or change the responsibilities, duties, and skills at any time.

Corrections to previous posting -> Please email SCBIecology@si.edu and start date is February 2020

Position: Data Management intern (6-month appointment with opportunity for extension)

Location: Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI), Front Royal, VA

Application deadline: 30th of December, 2019

Start date: February 2020 (flexible, but earlier is preferred)

Description: The Field Ecology Lab at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute is seeking candidates for a 6-month internship as a data management assistant in the eMammal team. eMammal (https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=www.emammal.org&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7C424e59958572462cf2c608d782da7b81%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637121747208525760&sdata=BrgAMKTMyfjVYL5Pq35R8iSU452V3BHP%2BtQgJOLjpSQ%3D&reserved=0) is a cloud-based data pipeline for researchers to manage camera trap data, with an emphasis on projects concerning conservation, ecology, and the use of citizen science to meet research objectives. Primary duties for this position will include processing previously completed camera trap data into eMammal, assist with data management at multiple parts of the pipeline and work closely/assist with volunteers assisting with eMammal. There will also be opportunities to coordinate camera trap projects and help project managers troubleshoot issues with eMammal. In addition, the candidate has the possibility to join field-based projects.

Required skills and experience:

–     A good knowledge of computers and programming.

–     Experience with programming software (R/MATLAB/Python/etc)

–     Experience in using these languages for data manipulation and management is desirable.

Duration, stipend and intern location:

The position has a monthly stipend of $1,200 and free dormitory-style housing. The internship location will be at SCBI in Front Royal, VA. SCBI’s mission is to advance conservation of biological diversity. In meeting the Smithsonian Institution’s mandate, SCBI increases knowledge through investigations of threatened species, habitats and communities, and disseminates knowledge through advance studies, professional training and public outreach.

Application procedure:

To apply, please send as one PDF document containing your resume or CV, a cover letter describing your interest, qualifications and career plans, and a copy of your unofficial college transcript to SCBIecology@si.edu. We will begin reviewing applications on Monday, Dec 30th.

The Underwood-Inouye lab at Florida State University, in collaboration with the Halpern lab (Pacific University), is hiring a research technician to assist with greenhouse, lab, and field experiments studying plant-herbivore interactions. Information about the project (Measuring and Modeling the Ecological Consequences of Associational Effects) can be found here: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https:%2F%2Fwww.bio.fsu.edu%2F~nunderwood%2Fhomepage%2Fresearch1.html&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Cb8d318b0d5b242375dde08d7807e8f55%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637119153379417156&sdata=Qbj51a65mhrV7TuRLPRNuXGK6Vy2E59kjIxxGFNAVMY%3D&reserved=0.

The technician will help with overall lab organization and assist with field experiments characterizing associational effects in old-field species. This project involves field, lab, and greenhouse experiments in conjunction with mathematical modeling. Specific responsibilities of the technician will include:

•setting up and tending experiments in the field and greenhouse;

•collecting, entering, and analyzing data;

•caring for experimental organisms (plants and insects);

•maintaining detailed records of experimental protocols;

•supervising ordering of research supplies;

•communicating regularly with principle investigators

•supervising undergraduate research assistants;

•assisting with other projects in the lab.

The technicians may also have the opportunity to participate in experimental design, publishing results and educational outreach.

The minimum requirements for the position are:

•a bachelor’s degree in biology, ecology, entomology, botany, or other relevant field;

•research experience outside of formal coursework;

•a willingness to work in hot, humid, sometimes buggy conditions;

•a demonstrated work ethic that includes reliability, attention to detail, independence, self-motivation, organization, and the ability to work with a range of different people.

Desired additional qualifications are experience with:

•data entry and curation

•using R to organize or analyze data

•writing scientific papers

This position is full-time, and can range in length from partial-year (through end of August 2020 is essential) to a full year with the potential for continuation. Start date between January-March 2020, with earlier start dates preferred. Salary $25-27K/year, commensurate with experience. Benefits include vacation and sick leave.

The technicians will join a dynamic lab that is part of an interactive group of ecologists and evolutionary biologists at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL. Tallahassee is an affordable small city situated near a variety of easily accessible natural areas.  The technicians will be encouraged to join in the intellectual life of the department by attending reading groups and/or taking a graduate course (tuition waived for employees).

Review of applications starts January 15 and will continue until the position is filled.

Please submit an application including: (1) a letter that explains your qualifications, career goals, what you hope to learn from this job, and when you are available to start, and also; (2) resume or cv; (3) college transcripts (unofficial Ok); and (4) contact information for at least two people who can speak to your qualifications for this position. Please combine all files into one PDF or MS Word file (transcripts may be separate if needed), named in the following way:

“AE Technician Application: Your Last Name, Your First Name”.

If you need to send transcripts as a separate file, name that file as “AE Technician Transcripts: Your Last Name, Your First name”.

Files named in other way may not be reviewed.

Please submit your application to the following e-mail, which will automatically upload it to our application folder.

Technic.b5lctvk3ic99pkhs@u.box.com

Questions may be directed to Dr. Brian Inouye (binouye@bio.fsu.edu)

FSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

For further information on the PIs, see:

Halpern lab: https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fweb5.lib.pacificu.edu%2Fshalpern%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Cb8d318b0d5b242375dde08d7807e8f55%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637119153379417156&sdata=Zno8Y3M%2FzvfV%2Bb7x0QaeCxmuKUNYVss3h%2B83ZNXxlBs%3D&reserved=0

Underwood-Inouye lab: bio.fsu.edu/~nunderwood/homepage/

The Genung Lab at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette (see genunglab.com) is advertising 2-3 research technician positions for the spring and summer of 2020, to research native plant and pollinator communities in the Gulf Coastal Prairie.

The research technician positions would run for ~18 weeks (approx. 13 April – 14 August) at 40 hours per week, and would pay $11-14 per hour, depending on qualifications. The exact dates are flexible and open to discussion, especially if the proposed dates interfere with classes.

The job primarily involves field work to collect bees from prairie habitats in southern Louisiana, plus associated data processing and curation (data recording, insect pinning and identification, etc.).

Required Qualifications: Field research experience; willingness to working outside in hot, humid conditions; ability to carry up to 40 lbs; drivers’ license; no known bee sting allergy; maturity and ability to work independently.

Preferred Qualifications: Experience with field entomology and/or botany; experience curating insect and plant collections; personal vehicle.

Applications are due by 26 January 2020. Interviews will follow within two weeks of the deadline.

*Washington State University Extension **– Puget Sound Beach Watcher

Coordinator*.  Applications are invited for this coordinator position

responsible

for leading the development, implementation, ongoing evaluation and

refinement of the Program including research, education and stewardship

projects primarily in Snohomish County. This position provides Puget Sound

ecosystem and water resources expertise, implements multiple events

including an annual introductory 80-hour volunteer training program, a

25-hour ‘short course’ for Beach Naturalists and advanced training

opportunities for veteran volunteers; coordinates and mentors volunteers on

their respective projects; conceptualizes and initiates new volunteer

opportunities; facilitates communication within and outside the program,

fosters and supports volunteer leadership and generates extramural funds in

furtherance of the program. The position also builds liaisons, networks and

collaborative working relationships as necessary to carryout the program

with county, state and federal agencies and with community-based groups and

organizations.  This position is open until filled. For a full description

of position, requirements and to apply, visit

https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wsujobs.com%2Fpostings%2F49509&data=02%7C01%7Cmadeline.hennessey%40uconn.edu%7Cb8d318b0d5b242375dde08d7807e8f55%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C0%7C637119153379407159&sdata=v7Oslv5oFyE4GCgLSieone5hDjgVQUKa702HJF6ThuY%3D&reserved=0. EEO/AA/ADA.

*Patricia Townsend, Ph. D.*

*Assistant Professor*

*Natural Resources Regional Extension Specialist*

Snohmish County Extension

                       &

*Urban Natural Resources Specialist*

Metropolitan Center for Applied Research & Extension

*Washington State University*

Snohomish County WSU Extension

600 128th St. S.E.

Everett, WA 98208

(425) 357-6020

PhD Graduate Assistantship: Genetics and Genomics of Invasive Fern
>
> The Sigel lab in the Department of Biology at the University of Louisiana
> at Lafayette is recruiting a PhD student interested in pursuing research
> on the phylogenetics, population genetics, and genomics of the invasive
> aquatic fern Salvinia molesta. Widely considered one on the world’s
> most invasive and understudied weeds, Salvinia molesta poses an extreme
> ecological and economic burden in the southeastern United States. This
> project will involve extensive sampling of contemporary populations
> and historic herbarium specimens to infer the evolutionary origins of
> Salvinia molesta, as well as characterize its genetic and epigenetic
> variation within Louisiana and the adjacent Gulf of Mexico Coastal Region.
>
> This graduate position is part of the NSF funded Consortium for Plant
> INvasion Genomics (CPING), centered out of the University of Louisiana
> at Lafayette. This consortium unites researchers several institutions
> conducting similar projects that leverage herbarium specimens to better
> understand the evolutionary dynamics underlying plant invasions. This
> position will be supported by a two years of research assistantship,
> followed by a guaranteed teaching assistantship support or the possibility
> of a University graduate fellowship. The preferred start date is August
> 2020, with the possibility of beginning fieldwork in June 2020.
>
> The ideal candidate for this position is a passionate and motivated
> scientist with previous research experience in evolutionary biology,
> phylogenetics, genomics, or a related field. Previous experience with
> molecular lab skills, phylogenetics, genomic-scale datasets, and coding
> is highly preferred but not required. A desire to participate in field
> collection, learn new skills, and work collaboratively with others
> is necessary.
>
> The Department of Biology at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette
> has a large and productive graduate program, with relatively
> low TA teaching loads, guaranteed funding for PhD students, and
> many available fellowships. We have a strong research program in
> Evolutionary Biology with nine new faculty members in the last 5
> years. Information on our graduate program and curriculum can be found
> at https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fbiology.louisiana.edu%2Fprograms%2Fgraduate&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cb030ee287cca47a8b8fa08d7822a18b2%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C1%7C637120989620704830&sdata=umWJdvU6NecOdO2ldA1XbLnxKE3C2%2FyNlzlmYQg8BoM%3D&reserved=0.
>
> Lafayette is a college town in south-central Louisiana in the heart of
> Acadiana, a region known for its Cajun culture, food, and music. Learn
> more at https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.lafayettetravel.com%2Fexplore%2Fhistory-of-acadiana&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7Cb030ee287cca47a8b8fa08d7822a18b2%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C1%7C637120989620704830&sdata=f7PBKW2S4GQBx703FyPOJIo82eWxfSMIlznQHWJWelI%3D&reserved=0.
>
> If interested, please email Dr. Erin Sigel (erinsigel@louisiana.edu;
> erinsigel.net). Include a CV and a cover letter briefly summarizing your
> relevant experiences and interest in the position.
>
> Deadline for applications is February 1, 2020.
> —
>

Ph.D. student wanted: archaeogenetics and method development (admixture
> graphs)
>
> – application deadline: January 31, 2020
>
> – requirements: prior experience in analysis of genome-wide
>  archaeogenetic data; Python, R, bash
>
> Supervisor: Pavel Flegontov, Ph.D. (contact pflegontov@gmail.com for
> scheduling a Skype interview)
>
> Duration of study: 4 years
>
> Institution: University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czechia
>
> Collaborations: Harvard Medical School
>
> Net salary: 20000 CZK
>
> I am looking for a Ph.D. student who will start working preferably
> in March 2020. I work as a senior staff scientist in David Reich’s
> group (Harvard Medical School, Boston, USA) and as a group leader at
> the University of Ostrava, Czech Republic. The position is open at the
> University of Ostrava with a starting net pay of 20000 CZK (scholarship
> and part-time salary combined). Research stays at Harvard University
> are possible.
>
> Research project: While ancient DNA sequencing protocols became
> standardized and reached industrial scale, standardization of data
> analysis protocols in archaeogenetics is conspicuously lacking. Currently
> most studies are focused on the Bronze/Iron Age and historical periods
> characterized by increasing mobility and admixture of people, and the
> complexity of tasks facing a genetic data analyst ever increases. Genetic
> history of humans is best approximated as a graph including divergence
> and admixture events. Methods that test alternative graph models or search
> the model space automatically have been developed since 2012, and several
> classes of these tools exist. But a different set of analytical tools
> has become the mainstay of archaeogenetic studies: principal component
> analysis, simple statistics measuring shared genetic drift or symmetry
> of simplest population trees (e.g., f3- and f4-statistics), and qpAdm
> – a tool that tests if a target group can be fitted as a mixture of
> specified ancestral sources. A common feature of those methods is that
> they ignore the phylogeny. We show that f4-statistics are insensitive to
> large-scale admixture events under certain demographic scenarios, that
> qpAdm often lacks sensitivity for distinguishing alternative ancestral
> groups, and that some popular protocols for building admixture graphs
> (qpGraph) are flawed. We propose a method for inference of ancestral
> sources based on qpGraph and a set of strict model ranking and topology
> exploration rules. We show that this method is superior in sensitivity
> to the standard techniques and apply it for revaluating accepted views
> on the settlement of America and Bronze Age Europe. We propose an
> exhaustive simulation study of qpGraph/qpAdm, source code optimization
> for qpGraph, preparing protocol papers, and application of the novel
> tool for reanalysis of thousands of ancient genomes published.
>
> Recent publications (my team members are highlighted in bold):
>
> Flegontov P, Altınışık NE, Changmai P, Rohland N, Mallick S,
> Adamski N, Bolnick DA, Broomandkhoshbacht N, Candilio F, Culleton BJ,
> Flegontova O, Friesen TM, Jeong C, Harper TK, Keating D, Kennett DJ,
> Kim AM, Lamnidis TC, Lawson AM, Olalde I, Oppenheimer J, Potter BA,
> Raff J, Sattler RA, Skoglund P, Stewardson K, Vajda EJ, Vasilyev S,
> Veselovskaya E, Hayes MG, O’Rourke DH, Krause J, Pinhasi R, Reich D§,
> Schiffels S§. (2019) Paleo-Eskimo genetic ancestry and the peopling of
> Chukotka and North America.  Nature, 570:236-240.
>
> Lipson M, Cheronet O, Mallick S, Rohland N, Oxenham M, Pietrusewsky M,
> Pryce TO, Willis A, Matsumura H, Buckley H, Domett K, Nguyen GH, Trinh HH,
> Kyaw AA, Win TT, Pradier B, Broomandkhoshbacht N, Candilio F, Changmai P,
> Fernandes D, Ferry M, Gamarra B, Harney E, Kampuansai J, Kutanan W, Michel
> M, Novak M, Oppenheimer J, Sirak K, Stewardson K, Zhang Z, Flegontov P,
> Pinhasi R, Reich D. (2018) Ancient genomes document multiple waves of
> migration in Southeast Asian prehistory.  Science, 361:92-95.
>
> Pavel Flegontov, PhD
>
> Senior staff scientist, David Reich Lab
> Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School,
> Boston, MA, USA
>
> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Freich.hms.harvard.edu%2Fpeople%2Fpavel-flegontov&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C603951b478344dd1a85908d7822940ba%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C1%7C637120986006182006&sdata=HRlQhJkPo2b97Jphtkk2HlsE1dCWOhtbmv003tC8gpc%3D&reserved=0
>
> Group leader,
> Department of Biology and Ecology,
> University of Ostrava,
>
> Ostrava, Czech Republic
> https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http:%2F%2Fwww1.osu.cz%2F~flegontov%2F&data=02%7C01%7Cmiranda.l.davis%40uconn.edu%7C603951b478344dd1a85908d7822940ba%7C17f1a87e2a254eaab9df9d439034b080%7C0%7C1%7C637120986006182006&sdata=FFrW0RVfy9I1t1c4H9P%2FQXBgHQ8B0H%2F%2F66slBvBEbWg%3D&reserved=0
>
> Pavel Flegontov <pflegontov@gmail.com>
>