ERC.EvolutionaryGenomics

Fully funded PhD position in evolutionary genomics is available to join the ERC 'GENECLOCKS' project (http://cordis.europa.eu/project/rcn/207593_en.html) headed by Gergely Szollosi (http://ssolo.web.elte.hu) . The positions is offered for 3 years with the possibility of extension of one year. The position comes with a salary of  EUR 15,000 per year, as well as a travel and research funds.

We are looking for an individual who is highly motivated and is exited by the possibility of pursuing a PhD in Evolutionary Biology with a strong quantitative focus. A M.Sc. providing a strong quantitative background, such as physics, mathematics or computer science, is essential as well as experience with data analysis (e.g. in R) and/or computer programming.  

A central theme of GENECLOCKS is disclosing new sources of information for dating the first three-quarters of Earth's evolutionary history that are independent from both fossils and molecular clocks. Life's early history has remained terra incognita until now, because the fossils needed to calibrate standard evolutionary timescales are simply not available for microbial life. Microbial fossils are scarce and difficult to interpret in a phylogenetic context with confidence. In previous work we have shown that patterns of lateral gene transfer inferred from modern genomes encode a record of co-existing lineages throughout the history of life, and that we can use this record to reconstruct the relative ages of microbial groups from the three domains of life in deep time.

This discovery is a game changer for anyone interested in the history of life, from either a geological or genomic perspective. It demonstrates the existence of a new and abundant source of dating information that is inscribed in the genome of any organism, provided a gene transfer occurred in its ancestry. This constitutes the overwhelming majority of the diversity of life. 

The PhD student will develop with, and undertake a project under the supervision of Dr. Gergely Szollosi and will have to possibility to work together with and visit international collaborators (in Lyon, Bristol and the KTH in Stockholm).

To be considered, please send a single merged PDF to ssolo@elte.hu that contains your CV including, academic transcripts, a statement of research interests (3 pages or less) as well as three academic references. Please include 'GENECLOCKS_PHD' in the subject of your email. 

The GENECLOCKS research group is lead by Dr. Gergely Szollosi ( https://scholar.google.hu/citations?user=sPrYT-oAAAAJ ) and is hosted at Eotvos Universities Institute of Physics in Budapest. The Institute of Physics has been included in the Excellence Group of European Universities, and has achieved top placement in the number of citations, the number of ERC grants, the time available for PhD research and the gender balance of master's students in the CHE Excellence Ranking. Budapest is a vibrant capital city with exciting cultural life, a unique atmosphere and affordable living costs (cf. https://goo.gl/86II3s ).

Please direct any enquiries to Dr. Gergely Szollosi (ssolo@elte.hu, http://ssolo.web.elte.hu).