My colleague, Professor Alan Cooper of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, has a few funky PhD positions available in high-tech biodiversity applications.
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We are looking for interested graduate students, who are highly motivated and enjoy independent and unusual research in the general areas below. An interest in evolution and natural history are key requirements, and a background in any of the following would be useful: evolution, genetics, molecular biology, chemistry/biochemistry and environmental science.
Environmental Genomics
New genomic approaches for biodiversity studies of environmental samples: a number of PhD positions are available in a large-scale project to apply high throughput sequencing approaches to the analysis of environmental samples and develop a new range of methods to perform biodiversity surveys, taxonomic discovery, and environmental impact reports. The project will employ multiplexed PCR, 2nd/3rd-gen sequencing, bioinformatics and Phylogenetics to develop novel systems for rapid and accurate biodiversity assessment. Key topics within the project are the analysis of natural and re-use water supplies, monitoring presence and abundance of threatened species and Australian native grasses. A strong molecular biology and/or bioinformatics background is required. The project is a AU$1M Australian Research Council-industry partnership.
Evolutionary Bioinformatics This project will apply the latest evolutionary bioinformatics methods to the study of ancient and modern DNA sequences generated through new genomics and 3rd-gen sequencing. Study species include a wide range of ancient humans, domestic animals, environmental samples, and broader evolutionary projects such as marsupial evolution, and extinct species such as thylacines, mammoths and other megafauna. The datasets will include genomic sequencing projects, SNP arrays and multigene phylogenies.
International Students wishing to study at The University of Adelaide in 2012 should check the available scholarship opportunities as they provide payment of full tuition fees plus an annual living allowance of approximately AU$21,000.00 tax-free.
Note the closing date for international scholarship enrolment is 31 August 2011 or 31 October for Australian/NZ applicants.
Both the Australian Department of Immigration and the University of Adelaide expect international applicants to meet English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements. The ELP is based on high scores in IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). For further information please refer to these links (1, 2).
Expressions of interest from applicants with strong graduate marks, a good TOEFL score, and a background in evolution/bioinformatics/molecular biology are encouraged. Please contact the following supervisors and provide your curriculum vitae:
Professor Alan Cooper or Dr. Laurence Clarke
