Graduate Position: MichiganStateU. Evol. Genetics/Development.

[Alexander Shingleton]

PhD Studentships in Evolutionary Genetics and Integrative  
Developmental Biology, Michigan State University, USA.

Four graduate positions in evolutionary genetics/developmental biology  
are available in the laboratories of Dr. Alex Shingleton and Dr. Ian  
Dworkin in the Department of Zoology and Program in Ecology,  
Evolutionary Biology and Behavior at Michigan State University. The  
positions are funded as part of three NSF grants working at the  
interface of evolution, development and genetics. The Shingleton and  
Dworkin laboratories work closely together and employ molecular,  
genetic, genomic, physiological and behavioral methods to address  
their research questions, using Drosophila as a model organism. More  
details on the research being conducted in the laboratories are  
available at www.msu.ed/~shingle9 and www.msu.edu/~idworkin. Students  
will be immersed in an integrative and collaborative research  
experience within the diverse and dynamic life-science community at  
Michigan State University.

  Potential projects for graduate students include:

1) Elucidating the molecular and developmental regulation of  
morphological scaling relationships. Previous research in the  
Shingleton lab has identified the insulin-signaling pathway as being  
differently regulated in organs that differ in their scaling  
relationship with body size. The goal of the project is to elucidate  
the molecular basis for this differential regulation.

2) Exploring the evolution of wing-body scaling in Drosophila  
populations. This project involves applying artificial selection on  
scaling relationships in Drosophila and elucidating the genetic and  
developmental basis for the selection response.

3) Examining the role of conditional and pleiotropic genetic effects  
in the evolutionary process, and mapping genetic modifiers that  
contribute to these effects. Previous work (Dworkin et al. 2009)  
demonstrated that a genetic modifier of the allelic effects of a  
mutant results in profound difference in phenotypes. The student will  
fine map the genetic modifier and examine its potential pleiotropic  
contributions in natural populations.

4) Explore the effects of different genetic backgrounds on gene  
interactions and ordering of allelic series for mutations that affect  
wing development and shape. This work will examine the effects of a  
series of mutations in different “wild-type” genetic backgrounds,  
across several rearing environments (manipulations of diet and  
temperature).

The projects will suit students with an interest in evolutionary  
genetics and/or integrative developmental biology. The ideal candidate  
should have good general laboratory skills, with a firm grasp of basic  
statistical methods.

Michigan State University is a large land-grant institution with an  
outstanding faculty and inter-disciplinary programs at the  
departmental and university levels.  Interested applicants are  
encouraged to review additional background on faculty and graduate  
programs in Zoology (http://www.zoology.msu.edu), and in the Ecology,  
Evolutionary Biology and Behavior (EEBB) program (https://www.msu.edu/~eebb 
).

Applicants should submit a statement of interest, a CV, GRE scores and  
their cumulative GPA along with names and contact information of three  
references (everything as one PDF document) to shingle9@....  
Applications will be accepted until the positions are filled. The  
start date is September 2010, although applicants who wish to start  
sooner should also apply.








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