Graduate Student Position - Butterfly Genomics

We are recruiting a fully-funded MSc or PhD student to study the genomics of climate adaptation in the Glanville fritillary butterfly – a model species in ecology and evolutionary biology. The student will take advantage of hundreds of re-sequenced whole genomes sampled from across the butterfly’s European range. Depending on student interest, these data will be combined with climate and long-term butterfly monitoring to understand how genetic diversity is partitioned across environments, identify genomic variants underlying local adaptation to climate, reconstruct demographic history, and test for associations between genetic variation and population trends. Students will have the flexibility to adapt the project to their interests and the opportunity to collaborate with European partners.

Location:

The student will join the lab groups of Prof. Aaron Shafer and Dr. Michelle DiLeo at Trent University in Peterborough, ON, and will be enrolled in the Environmental and Life Sciences Graduate Program (ENLS). The student will have access to networking and training opportunities through both Trent and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, with the potential to undertake research that aims to a have a broader impact.

Qualifications and Eligibility:

The successful candidate must have a BSc or MSc (for the PhD position) in Biology or a related discipline. The ideal candidate will have an interest in genomics/bioinformatics, experience conducting independent research, have strong written and oral communication skills, and experience using R to analyse data. Prior experience using high performance computing would be considered an asset but is not required. The candidate must meet the requirements for admission to graduate studies at Trent University.

Salary:

A stipend of $24,000/year for two years for an MSc or $33,000/year for four years for the PhD – part of this stipend will come from teaching assistantships. The stipend can be increased if the candidate is successful at securing external scholarships.

To Apply:

Please send the following to Prof. Aaron Shafer (aaronshafer [at] trentu.ca) and Dr. Michelle DiLeo (michelle.dileo [at] ontario.ca):

  1. A statement outlining research interests, career goals, and how your previous experience and training relates to this project and has prepared you for a PhD or MSc.
  2. Your c.v.
  3. Unofficial transcripts from your undergraduate and MSc (for the PhD position)
  4. Contact information for two references

Deadline:

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Start Date:

2025, month negotiable