Our paper looking at the underlying genetic architecture of locomotor behavior in Drosophila mojavensis using bulk segregant analysis is out in G3 Early Online. http://www.g3journal.org/content/early/2019/03/29/g3.119.400036. Kyle Benowitz and Josh Coleman put a tremendous amount of effort in this study. Awesome work.
Very excited to say that we have several other exciting studies on the genetic architecture of behavior, life history and morphological traits in D. mojavensis coming!!!
Very happy to be notified that our NIH proposal on the genetic basis of infertility in collaboration with Jeremy Bono (University of Colorado, Colorado Springs) will get funded.
Graduate student opportunities in evolutionary genomics of adaptation and speciation at the University of Arizona
The Matzkin Lab (www.matzkinlab.org) at the University of Arizona, Department of Entomology is currently recruiting graduate students (PhD and MS) to join our diverse lab. Our lab has several themes focusing mostly on the exciting cactophilic Drosophila system. Among the ongoing projects are:
– Genomic evolution across cactophilic Drosophila.
– Quantitative genetics of behavioral strategies, life history characteristics, morphology associated with local ecological adaptation
– Ecological genomics of adaptation in cactophilic Drosophila (cactus host chemistry, nutrition, desiccation, thermal stress, aestivation, etc.)
– Evolutionary genomics of plasticity and transgenerational effects
– Genomics of speciation and the evolution of reproductive incompatibilities
The fact that we are located in the Sonoran Desert also facilitates field focused projects. If you are interested in these or other related topics please contact Luciano Matzkin (lmatzkin@email.arizona.edu). Graduate students can apply via the Entomology and Insect Science (EIS) Graduate Program (https://insects.arizona.edu/) or the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Graduate Program (https://eeb.arizona.edu/grads). The application deadline for both programs is December 1st.
The Matzkin Lab at the University of Arizona, Department of Entomology (www.matzkinlab.org) is currently recruiting a postdoc to work on a variety evolutionary genomics projects focusing on the genomic diversification of cactophilic Drosophila. I am seeking a highly motivated and creative individual with strong computational and evolutionary genetics skills to join our evolutionary and ecological genomics lab. Postdoc will be based at The University of Arizona, Department of Entomology and will have the opportunity to interact with investigators at the BIO5 Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
The postdoc will be involved in all research aspects of the assigned projects and will have the opportunity to develop projects in consultation with Dr. Matzkin. Critical and independent thinking is very important for this position, as well as having the ability to analyze data, develop pipelines and genomic tools, write manuscripts and proposal writing. Postdoc will interact with the graduate and undergraduate students in the Matzkin lab at the University of Arizona as well as having the opportunity to be involved in outreach activities.
The postdoctoral researcher will be required to maintain up-to-date records of all experiments, analysis and data collected. The postdoc will report to Dr. Matzkin on a weekly basis on the progress of projects and experiments. The postdoc will be required to have an active participation in writing publication manuscripts based on the research produced in the lab. The postdoctoral research will also be responsible in creating and maintaining a database of the genomic data as well as assisting in creating a web platform to disseminate the information to the broader community.
The candidate is expected to have a PhD in evolutionary biology, genomics, computational biology or related field. Postdoc must have excellent writing, communication and critical thinking skills with at least 1-3 publications (in print or submitted). Prior experience working with Drosophila a plus but not necessary. The position is available to start immediately. Funding for the position is for one year, with the possibility of extension pending additional funding.
Apply at https://uacareers.com/postings/29309. (Posting number P20575). You will need to submit a 1) cover letter briefly outlining the candidate’s fit to the position and future goals 2) curriculum vitae 3) contact information (email and phone) for three references, preferably including doctoral advisor and/or postdoctoral advisor (if relevant) and 4) no more than three relevant publication PDFs. Please contact Luciano Matzkin (lmatzkin@email.arizona.edu) if you have additional questions about the position.
Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized on Forbes 2015 list of America’s Best Employers in the United States and has been awarded the 2015 Work-Life Seal of Distinction by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress! For more information about working at the University of Arizona, please www.whyua.com.
After several months, the lab renovations of our molecular lab are finally complete. I love my new blue floors with red trim (which match our new red lab chairs!!!). See the progress of the transition below.
Very happy to finally have everyone on board, our two new postdocs (Kyle Benowitz and Fernando Diaz Gonzalez) and research assistant (Joshua Coleman) joining our Fyssen Postdoctoral Fellow (Coline Jaworski) and lab manager (Carson Allan). Here is our first picture of the lab at the University of Arizona. It was a nice sunny, beautiful and hot (114F or 45.5C) day. I am looking forward to work with and see all the great science this new group will do.
Very excited to have our third postdoc joining the lab. Dr. Kyle Benowitz recently finished his PhD with Allen Moore at the University of Georgia working on the genetics of parental behavior in burying beetles (Nicrophorus orbicollis and Nicrophorus vespilloides). He brings a wealth of experience on the genomics and transcriptomics of insect behavior.
The Matzkin Lab at the University of Arizona, Department of Entomology is currently recruiting a postdoc to work on a NSF funded three year project aiming to examine the genetic basis and evolution of alternative larval behaviors and ultimately in understanding how local ecological adaptation can lead to the divergence of populations. I am seeking a highly motivated and creative individual with strong quantitative & evolutionary genetics, molecular and/or computational biology skills to join our evolutionary and ecological genomics lab. Good writing and communication skills will be required for this position. Prior experience working with Drosophila is not necessary, but a plus. Postdoc will be based at The University of Arizona, Department of Entomology and will have the opportunity to interact with investigators at the BIO5 Institute and Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology.
The four specific aims of this proposal are:
The postdoc will be involved in all research aspects of the project, and would have the possible opportunity to develop new projects in consultation with Dr. Matzkin. Critical and independent thinking is very important for this position, as well as having the ability to analyze data, write manuscripts and proposal writing. Postdoc will interact with the graduate and undergraduate students in the Matzkin lab at the University of Arizona as well as having the opportunity to be involved in outreach activities.
The candidate is expected to have a PhD in evolutionary biology, evolutionary genetics/genomics, entomology or related field. A background in quantitative and evolutionary/ecological genetics and/or molecular and computational biology desired. Postdoc must have excellent writing, communcation and critical thinking skills with at least 1-3 publications (in print or submitted). Prior experience working with Drosophila a plus but not necessary. Background working with CRISPR/Cas9 in model or non-model system also a plus, but not necessary. The preferred start date for the postdoc is late May or June.
Apply at http://uacareers.com/postings/18009. You will need to submit a 1) cover letter briefly outlining the candidate’s fit to the position and future goals 2) curriculum vitae 3) contact information (email and phone) for three references, preferably including doctoral advisor and/or postdoctoral advisor (if relevant) and 4) no more than three relevant publication PDFs. Please contact Luciano Matzkin (lmatzkin@email.arizona.edu) if you have additional questions about the position or visit our lab page, www.matzkinlab.org
Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, vision, and life insurance; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized on Forbes 2015 list of America’s Best Employers in the United States and has been awarded the 2015 Work-Life Seal of Distinction by the Alliance for Work-Life Progress! For more information about working at the University of Arizona, please www.whyua.com.
Dr. Fernando Diaz Gonzalez has agreed to join the lab and will soon arrive to Tucson from Colombia. Fernando completed his PhD at the Universidad Del Valle, Cali, Colombia with Dr. Cardenas-Henao and Dr. Toro-Perea working on the population differentiation in the whitefly Bemisia tabaci. In our lab Fernando will work on the genomics of adaptation and in understanding the mechanism associated with the evolution of reproductive incompatibilities.
The dividing wall between the lab rooms has come down making a nice open space. This will eventually become the molecular lab. For now, it feels like a dance floor.
Matzkin Lab 