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PhD Students – Microbial Genomics and Evolution - (Palmerston North, North Island, New Zealand)
Company: AgResearch
               Apply below
Open Til: 03-Dec-09
Industry Sector: Government/Industry Groups
Industry Type: Government/Association
Career Type: Researcher/Scientist
Job Type: Full Time
Minimum Years Experience Required: N/A
Salary: NA

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Grassland Campus
Ref: AGR1016

The Food, Metabolism & Microbiology Section (FMM) in the Food & Textiles 
Group is looking for two PhD students in Microbial Evolutionary Genomics 
to take part in a Marsden-funded proposal investigating the effects of air 
on evolutionary processes.

The positions will be based at AgResearch Grasslands in Palmerston North, 
New Zealand, with academic supervision from the New Zealand Institute of 
Advanced Study, Massey University, Albany.

Mutations provide an important source of population variation on which natural 
selection acts to enable organisms to adapt to new environments. The effects of
aerobic (oxygen-containing) and anaerobic (oxygen-free) environments on 
mutation types, and the rates that mutations accumulate, are not well understood.

We plan to conduct a detailed investigation into how aerobic and anaerobic environments 
affect the fundamental processes of evolution (mutation and adaptation) by examining the
evolution of a model bacterium in these environments, and assessing genetic changes at 
the whole genome level to understand the biological mechanisms that contribute to genetic 
diversity and evolution.

The projects will involve the regular maintenance and analysis of evolving lineages of 
bacteria, and next generation sequencing technologies coupled with bioinformatic analyses
to examine genomic and transcriptomic changes.

The persons best suited to these projects will therefore have strong academic backgrounds
in areas such as bioinformatics, ecology, evolution, population genetics, genomics, microbiology
and molecular biology. 
Although the two PhD projects are closely related, ideally the two successful
candidates will have particular strengths in: 
1. Molecular microbiology, genomics and bioinformatics, and 
2. Ecology, bioinformatics where some basic computer programming 
    skills will provide an advantage.

FMM has a proud history of completing PhDs. We offer a stimulating research 
environment where thefocus is very much on people, science excellence and 
keeping it ‘fun’. Enquires are welcome from individuals whose honours or masters 
degrees qualify them for admissioninto PhD study. These positions include a PhD 
stipend of up to NZ$27,000 (tax free) per year for three years, plus tuition fees, 
research expenses and opportunities to attend conferences.

Applications must be made via our career site www.agresearch.co.nz/careers  or via the apply link below
If you have any questions regarding this position please email Catherine Cameron: catherine.cameron@agresearch.co.nz 
Applications close 30 November 2009.