****************************************************************************************** Postdoctoral Position: Next-gen sequencing of marine ciliate communities Smith College invites applications for a full-time postdoctoral research position focusing on next-gen sequencing of nearshore ciliate communities. The initial appointment is for one year, with the possibility of extending for additional years. The position will be housed in Professor Laura Katz's laboratory in the Department of Biological Sciences (http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/lkatz/Research.htm); questions should be directed to lkatz@smith.edu. The goals of the project are to elucidate patterns of diversity of ciliates in near-shore environments and to explore the ecological processes that underlie this diversity. The project is collaborative between Laura Katz at Smith College and marine ecologist George McManus at the University of Connecticut (http://microzooplankton.uconn.edu/). Work on the project combines next-generation sequencing, mesocosm analyses, and community footprints through DGGE. Hence, applicants should have skills in molecular evolution and bioinformatics. Research in the Katz lab aims to elucidate principles of the evolution in eukaryotes through analyses of microbial groups, and to assess how these principles apply (or fail to apply) to other organisms. Currently we focus on four interrelated areas: (1) Characterizing evolutionary relationships among eukaryotes; (2) Reconstructing the ciliate tree of life through multi-gene analyses; (3) Exploring the evolution of ciliate and foraminiferan genomes; (4) Describing the phylogeography of coastal marine ciliates. To apply, submit application at http://jobs.smith.edu with letter of application, C.V., a statement of research interests, representative publications, and the names and contact information of three references. Review of applications will begin November 1st, 2011. Smith College is a member of the Five College Consortium with Amherst, Hampshire, and Mount Holyoke Colleges and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Smith College is an equal opportunity employer encouraging excellence through diversity. ****************************************************************************************** Two Graduate Student Positions in Genome Evolution/Phylogenomics of Microbial Eukaryotes and Next-generation Sequencing of Marine Ciliates Smith College and UMASS-Amherst, Amherst, MA (USA) 1) Genome evolution and phylogenomics of microbial eukaryotes. Applicants should have skills/interest in molecular systematics, bioinformatics, microbiology and/or molecular evolution. Potential projects include: 1) bioinformatic and/or experimental analyses of eukaryotic phylogeny and 2) characterization of genome properties from microbial eukaryotes, with a focus on ciliates and amoeboid lineages. 2) Elucidating patterns of diversity of ciliates in near-shore environments and exploration of the ecological processes that underlie this diversity. The project is collaborative between Laura Katz's lab at Smith College and marine ecologist George McManus at the University of Connecticut. Work on the project combines next-generation sequencing, mesocosm analyses, and community footprints through DGGE. Graduate students in the lab join either through the MS program at Smith College or the Ph.D. program in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (OEB) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Interested individuals should visit the web sites below and contact Dr. Laura Katz directly (lkatz@smith.edu). Laura Katz, Smith College http://www.science.smith.edu/departments/Biology/lkatz/Research.htm OEB at UMass Amherst http://www.bio.umass.edu/oeb/ Smith College MS in biology http://www.smith.edu/biology/graduate.php Interested students should email lkatz@smith.edu and send a short description of their research interests.