PhD student position in Evolutionary Biology

PhD student position

Predicting

the evolution of complex phenotypes and complex adaptive landscapes

1.Basic job and

project description:

4 year position to do a PhD in the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).

Topic: Mathematical modeling of evolution in complex adaptive landscapes. This implies modeling of gene network dynamics, development and population genetics.

This position is ideal for those biologists with an interest in theory and in the evolution of complex phenotypes. This includes also students interested in evo-devo, quantitative genetics, population geneticsand development.

2. Introduction to the topic of research

How is it possible that complex structures like the human brain or the molecular

machinery within cells have evolved? Current evolutionary theory

provides the basic principles to understand such evolution but its

theoretical core, population genetics, does not incorporate models of

how genes interact or on how they interact with cell and tissue

properties. This is a bit of a limitation since, clearly, complex

phenotypes are build through complex networks of gene and cell

interactions. Besides, although mutation is random, the structure and

dynamics of these networks determine how phenotypes change when there

are mutations in some of their genes. In other words, the phenotypic

effect of mutations is not random but depends on these networks. This

implies that the structure and dynamics of these networks at a given

moment affects the likely directions of phenotypic variation. This

affects the direction of evolution because natural selection can only

act on the phenotypic variation that arises in each generation.

The structure and dynamics of gene networks affect the directions of possible variation

and its relationship with genetic variation (the genotype-phenotype

map). Understanding these two things and how affect evolution is one

of the major topics in evolutionary biology and the topic of research

in our group.

-The research will be in any of these three related lines:

2.1. Models to predict evolution.

The networks determining possible phenotypic variation are complex. However, by

understanding some of its dynamics, we can understand which

phenotypic variation they can produce. For example, by computational

models of gene networks during embryonic development we have obtained

an understanding of the directions of variation most likely to occur

in specific phenotypes (mammalian teeth, see Salazar-Ciudad and

Jernvall, 2010). In a way these models describe the space of

phenotypes within which a population would evolve over time. If

information about natural selection is available, then these models

can be used to predict how phenotypes evolve. This is literally a

prediction on how traits in a phenotype (e.g. a wing shape) will

change over generations. Our research consist in building such

prediction approach in general and applying it to specific cases of

evolution. By specific cases of evolution we mean actual experimental

evolution. We are doing artificial selection experiments in which we

select flies based on specific aspects of their wing morphology. We

also have a computational model of wing development and we are

adapting it into an evolutionary model with which we try to predict

how wing morphology evolved in these experiment.

2.2 Evolutionary theory under complex genotype-phenotype maps.

Most of evolutionary theory was developed at a time where not much was know about gene

networks, development or the genotype-phenotype map. As a result, its

main mathematical models and concepts are based on the assumption

that this latter map is simple or by ignoring it all together. The

aim in here is to build general models of development that

realistically consider that these maps can be complex, the underlying

gene networks and development. These models will then be used to

explore how, or whether, many of the ideas and conclusion of current

evolutionary theory change. These models will also be used to address

questions that current evolutionary theory cannot explain, does not

aim to explain or that, simply, could be explained better by

considering gene networks and development, such as: the evolution of

development and gene networks, the direction of evolution in the

short and long term, how evolution in complex adaptive landscapes is

possible, how complex phenotypes can evolve, etc.

2.3 Any other question of the applicants interest that is related to the previous

questions.

3. Requirements:

– Candidates should have a University Degree and a Master’s Degree in biology or

related topics within the European Higher Education System (minimum

300 ECTS) or equivalent by September 2022.

-Scientific programming skills or a willingness to acquire them is required.

-The most important requirement is a strong interest and motivation on science and

evolution. A capacity for creative and critical thinking is also

required.

4. Salary and conditions:

-The salary would be the standard one graduate students in Spain. Full-time employment

5. The application must include:

-Application letter including a statement of interests and motivation.

-CV including degrees obtained, subjects included in degree (for the bachelor and

master), grades obtained (for the bachelor and masters), average

grade.

Foreign applicants, especially non-EU applicants, should attach an explanation of their

University’s grading system. All documents should be in English, no

official translation is required in the initial application but may

be requested afterwards. Applications should be sent to Isaac

Salazar-Ciudad by email:

isaac.salazar@uab.cat

7. Starting:

The start date is early 2023.

8. Work environment:

Salazar-Ciudad group is between the Genetics deparment in the UAB (www.uab.cat )

Genetics department are very international and, thus, not being able

to speak Catalan or Spanish is not a problem. Nearly half of the PIs

in the CRM are foreigners. The everyday working language is English, and

most administrative tasks,training and seminars arranged by the department

are conducted in English.

The UAB is one of the largest and best Universities in Spain.

9. References:

Salazar-Ciudad I, Marín-Riera M.Adaptive dynamics under development-based

genotype-phenotype maps. Nature. 2013 May 16;497(7449):361-4.

Hagolani PF, Zimm R, Marin-Riera M, Salazar-Ciudad I. Cell signaling stabilizes

morphogenesis against noise. Development. 2019

Oct 18;146(20):dev179309. doi: 10.1242/dev.179309. PMID: 31628213

Hagolani PF, Zimm R, Vroomans R, Salazar-Ciudad I. On the evolution and development of

morphological complexity: A view from gene regulatory networks.PLoS Comput Biol.

2021 Feb 24;17(2):e1008570.