Monthly Archives: February 2015

see
http://www.springer.com/life+sciences/ecology/journal/12686

Microsatellite Records: From 01 March 2015 all papers on microsatellite data should be submitted as microsatellite records, which will be published as a collective single article each issue and presented as a table. The submission should provide the species name and an excel table in standard format, comprised on the following columns: 1-locus name; 2-primer sequences (forward above reverse in the same column); 3- repeat motif; 4-locus size range (as length of amplified fragment); 5-test population sample size; 6-numer of alleles; 7-observed heterozygosity; 8- expected heterozygosity and note when there is significant deviation from HWE. All primers must be tested at the population level for a minimum of 20 individuals from a single population. Methods details should be provided in 500 words or less and will appear as an online supplement. Heteralogous species amplifications can be provided as an optional tabulated addition to the supplementary file. The authors will be listed as a footnote in the main table for the relevant entries, and as the sole authors for the supplementary file. Sequences should be submitted to genbank and the accession numbers included in the electronic supplementary file. Microsatellite Records should focus exclusively on species of conservation value (IUCN status should be provided with the species name). They should provide a minimum of 20 useful microsatellite DNA loci, and should not be based on the cross-species application of previously published primers. If derived from EST markers, they must be determined to be novel.

Start date: between April and Sep 2015
A/Prof Anne Peters at Monash University, Melbourne, Australia, in collaboration with Prof Simon Verhulst, Groningen University, The Netherlands, is seeking an experienced Quantitative Molecular Ecologist to explore the ecology of molecular senescence (telomere attrition). Telomeres shorten as organisms age and short telomeres are associated with greater predisposition to diseases, accelerated organismal senescence and shorter lifespan. Telomere shortening rate is known to vary with external influences and individual quality. This project will use longitudinal sampling of telomere length in individual fairy-wrens, of known age and pedigree. The telomere information will be combined with state of the art statistical methods to study telomere dynamics in relation to life-history and ecology, to disentangle effects of senescence and selective disappearance, and to assess environmental and genetic effects on telomere attrition rate.
As the successful candidate, you will join Anne Peters’ group studying behavioural and evolutionary ecology of fairy-wrens, based at Monash University (Melbourne, Australia). You will be expected to optimise and implement existing qPCR protocols for use in fairy-wrens and apply these to blood/DNA samples (> 2000 longitudinal samples). You will further be expected to maintain consistently high research output in the form of quality publications, supervise and train students, develop and submit grant proposals to external funding agencies, contribute more generally to research activities of the group, and participate in appropriate career development activities. The position (Level A, starting salary ~$75 p.a. with annual increments) is for three years subject to satisfactory annual progress.
requirements: Postdoc_Peters_MonashUniversity

Welcome to Alex who returns to the lab as a Facility visitor to work on the Sociable weaver project.

Claire Armstrong is coming back to Sheffield to do her ddRAD and looking for 1-2 weeks accommodation from the 23rd March.
Please contact Claire if you can help – C.Armstrong@uea.ac.uk

Tess Santos is looking for accommodation from 8th March for 6 months or a week or so to help find something longer-term.
If you can help please email Tess = teresalsantos@ua.pt

Tess Santos is returning to Sheffield for 6 months and looking for a room to rent. If you can help please could you contact Tess – teresalsantos (at) ua.pt