Category Archives: Uncategorized

NorthernBUG 6 (the Northern Bioinformatics User Group) will be held at the University of Leeds on Friday 24th January 2020. Registration is now open, so please sign up and join in. 

More info here: https://northernbug.github.io/northernbug6

The University of Sheffield Chemistry Department has taken the decision to make a large proportion of the Department’s technical support staff redundant, or significantly reduced their hours. The staff affected include our analytical services technicians such as our Mass Spectrometry and IR technicians, as well as two workshop staff, our resident glassblower, the Grubbs solvents manager, and our head and deputy safety officers.

I am sure you’ll agree these staff are vital to the functioning of the Chemistry Department. The 3rd year Skills for Success Programme could not operate without them, nor could the analytical training workshop. They make our labs safe, and have student welfare at the forefront of their minds. And while you might not know it, the majority of our glassware is made within the Department. They are key to supporting not just students’ undergraduate studies, but also the world-renowed research carried out in our labs. One of the key selling-points of our Department is the quality of the analytical services, but without the amazing staff who run it, that service is non-existent.

These support staff have worked at the University for years, and shown their loyalty and dedication to the Department. For some of them, the University of Sheffield has been their only place of work.

Please sign this petition to show your support for our staff, and show the Department that investing in their support staff means investing in their students. Save Our Support Staff

http://chng.it/GbNM2BvfTS

brought to Porters (Alfred Denny)

The next northernBUG meeting in Hull on Sept 9th. It would be great to have more evolutionary biology bioinformaticians there from Sheffield! The meeting is free but you should register.
All the sign up details are linked on the conference page:https://northernbug.github.io/northernbug5

Dear all,

I’ll be taking part in The Big Walk challenge on Friday 28th June, in just under 2 weeks’ time, to raise funds towards scholarships. I feel strongly about this as I was myself supported by a “bourse”, a grant from the French government that enabled me to study at University of Burgundy in Dijon. Without it, there is no doubt that I would have been unable to study English at University, and would definitely not have come on an Erasmus exchange to the UK all these years ago – and the rest is history as they say!

I’ve set up a JustGiving page, so if you are able and willing to support me in this effort, feel free to donate.

Thank you!

Celine

PS: at this stage, I don’t know if anyone else from APS is also walking/ running the 37 miles (or the 23ml), so let me know if you do!

A Russian group has contacted me looking for help with a manuscript entitled “Asymmetric hybridisation of roach and bream in controlled backcrosses: genetic and morphological patterns”. They offer co-authorship in return for help with language and other revisions for resubmission to J Fish Biol.

Drop me an email if you are interested.

Roger (r.k.butlin@shef.ac.uk)

6-year PostDoc / University Assistant
Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Austria
A 6-year post-doctoral position is available at Department of Botany & Biodiversity Research, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, to work on the ecological & evolutionary genomics of plant adaptation, speciation and species radiation with Christian Lexer and colleagues (https://evolgenomics.univie.ac.at/). We are looking for a person with experience in the use of current DNA / RNA sequencing approaches to address fundamental questions in population genetics, evolutionary biology and / or biogeography in plants. This includes a keen interest in integrative approaches towards understanding the origin, maintenance, and functioning of biological diversity. University of Vienna offers an attractive and dynamic research location in a city with exceptional quality of life and in a country with excellent research infrastructure and funding provision.
Extent of Employment: 40 hours/week. Salary grading in accordance with relevant work experience.
Job Description: Participation in research projects in the group, including co-supervision / mentoring of PhD and MSc students – International publication and presentation activities – Contribution to high-quality external (third-party) research grant applications – Freedom to develop high-quality external (third-party) research grant applications as main applicant – Opportunity to participate in teaching topics of shared interest.
Profile: Doctoral degree in biology or equivalent field / Focus on molecular evolutionary biology or biogeography of plants – Experience in population genetics, evolutionary genomics, and/or evolutionary systems biology, especially the use of current DNA / RNA sequencing approaches and associated analytical tools – Excellent written and oral communication skills in English – Computer literacy, including experience with Unix / Linux based analysis software and R – Ability to work in teams – Experience in teaching. Duration of the contract: 6 years.
To apply: Your application must include the following documents: motivation letter (<1 page)- Scientific CV - List of publications – Brief draft of research interests – Contact details of three references. Please see full job description and submit your application via the website of the Job Center at the University of Vienna (http://jobcenter.univie.ac.at; email: jobcenter@univie.ac.at) no later than 16.06.2019, mentioning job reference no. 9678. For more information please contact: Christian Lexer, christian.lexer@univie.ac.at

Genomics Technician – Full time/ Fixed Term – 6 months

Location: Edinburgh Zoo

Are you passionate about genetics and conservation? We’re looking for a Genomics Technician to undertake genetic and genomic work, preparing and analysing DNA and to contribute to the day to day running of our Wildgenes Laboratory facility at Edinburgh Zoo.

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) are seeking a Genomics Technician to perform wet-lab molecular genetic techniques and assist the Senior Technician with the organisation and running of the Wildgenes lab. This is an exciting opportunity to further your career with one of Scotland’s leading education and conservation charities for a six-month fixed term period based at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo.

What you’ll be doing…

The Conservation Wildgenes team are responsible for conducting cutting-edge conservation genetic and genomic research on a large range of threatened taxa and working alongside government agencies, conservation charities and zoos across the world to deliver data, advice, training and capacity building. Essentially, as Genomics Technician, you can expect to:

Undertake DNA extraction, amplification, analysis and archiving of samples
Works within clearly defined processes and supervision
Troubleshoot and optimise procedures and produce protocols as required
This is a 6-month full time fixed term post where the working hours are 37.5 hours per week.

https://www.rzss.org.uk/job-vacancies/genomics-technician-fixed-term-6-months/

Registration is now open but will be closing soon for this year’s annual Ecological Genetics Group meeting, in association with the British Ecological Society and Genetics Society. Getting registering so you don’t miss out!

This year’s conference is to be held on the 16th to the 18th of April at the stunning Downing College, University of Cambridge. There will be a full scientific and social programme throughout the conference to bring together those with an interest in population genetics and ecology and evolution. The programme will include a series of talks and a poster session on relevant topics including talks by our two confirmed guest speaks,

Dr Matt Davey, Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge

Dr Matthew Davey

And Prof Bill Amos, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge

https://www.zoo.cam.ac.uk/directory/william-amos

There will also be the opportunity for a behind the scenes tour of the Sainsbury Laboratory Herbarium at the University. A collection dating back 300 years that will allow you to get up close to specimens collected by the Grandfathers of evolutionary theory, Darwin and Wallace. The Cambridge Genomics Services will a be holding a Genomics and Bioinformatics session to help with all your Next-Gen needs. And our postgrad student workshop this year it will be on ‘How to review a paper.’

Let us not forget the now famous EGG-Heads quiz which will be held after the conference dinner.

Full Conference details can be found here

https://www.britishecologicalsociety.org/event/ecological-genetics-group-63rd-annual-meeting/