[Employment] 5 PhD positions in functional Population Genetics

[Christian Schlötterer]

PhD Program in Population Genetics

Theme:
Natural populations carry a wealth of molecular variation and there is  
increasing evidence that a large proportion of it is functionally  
diverged. Thus, understanding the functional implications if natural  
variation provides insight into the adaptation processes in natural  
populations.

After the first phase in the genomics projects, which were focusing on  
the sequencing of one genome for each species, the emphasis has now  
shifted to the genome wide characterization of natural variation. In  
particular the new generation of sequencing technology (454, Solexa  
etc.) is contributing to a hitherto unprecedented wealth of  
information about naturally occurring sequence variation.  
Nevertheless, the advances in cataloging natural variation are not  
matched with our advances in understanding the functional differences  
among the naturally occurring alleles.

Our PhD program aims to train a new generation of scientists that is  
able to deal with this new challenge. Compared to classic forward  
genetics, which typically isolated mutations with strong effects,  
naturally occurring alleles are expected to show only subtle  
differences in function, which may nevertheless have dramatic effects  
in nature. Hence, the analysis of natural variation requires new  
approaches and tools to understand the functional differences of  
naturally occurring alleles.

Further information about available projects and the research  
environment are provided at:
http://i122server.vu-wien.ac.at/pop/PhD/projects.html

applications should be mailed by 19.9.2008 to Melanie Dusleag (melanie.dusleag from i122server.vu-wien.ac.at 
).

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Christian Schlötterer
Institut für Populationsgenetik
Veterinärmedizinische Universität Wien
Josef Baumann Gasse 1
1210 Wien
Austria/Europe

phone: +43-1-25077-5603 or -4300
fax: +43-1-250775693
http://i122server.vu-wien.ac.at/pop/pop_gen.html