I was asked to forward this to the list - apologies for any cross posting
PLEASE DON'T REPLY TO ME - REPLY TO Dr Matthew Wills ([log in to unmask] ac.uk)
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Departmental PhD Studentship, Biology & Biochemistry, The University of Bath
Sampling strategies in reconstructing phylogeny
This project is ideally suited to a statistician, mathematician or computer
scientist interested in applying their skills to an important problem in
biology. No specialist knowledge of the biological issues is necessary.
Patterns of evolutionary relationships (phylogeny) are commonly
reconstructed using data from anatomical comparisons (morphology) or
molecules. The amount of molecular data available, particularly that
derived from nucleotide sequences (DNA, RNA), is increasing very rapidly.
The sophistication and ease of methods for analysis have also increased
dramatically over the last ten years. Despite these advances, molecular and
morphological/palaeontological trees often disagree in fundamental ways.
One reason for this may be differences in the way taxa are sampled.
Molecular phylogenies often utilise a sparse and uneven sampling, with
attendant problems of long-branch attraction. Morphological trees tend to
sample more evenly, and may incorporate data from extinct "stem lineages"
that break up the longer branches. Unfortunately, the latter are
susceptible to accusations of subjectivity.
The project will investigate methods for combining data from various
sources, and simulate the effects of alternative sampling strategies. The
student will collate data from the literature and electronic sources, and
subject these to alternative forms of phylogenetic analysis. Initial
examples will be drawn from the Arthropoda, a group in which instances of
conflict are numerous and topical. The project will complement others
currently underway in the Centre of Mathematical Biology at the University
of Bath. The ideal candidate will have excellent quantitative and
programming skills. Experience of handling molecular sequence data would be
advantageous, but not essential.
The project will start in October 2001, and the Studentship will run for
three years.
The Department of Biology and Biochemistry at the University of Bath is a
research-based department with 43 academic staff. The Department is one of
the largest and most successful in the University and it is committed to
excellence both in research and teaching. Current research grants are
valued at £12 million. The Department scored grade 5 in the 1996 Research
Assessment Exercise and the maximum of 24 points in the 1999 Teaching
Quality Assurance review.
Applications (by cv) or informal enquiries should be addressed to Dr
Matthew Wills, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, The University of
Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY. ([log in to unmask]).
The deadline for completed applications is the 4th May, 2001 but ASAP is
preferable.
Marialena Trivella
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Medical Statistician
Centre for Statistics in Medicine
Institute of Health Sciences
Old Road, Headington
Oxford, OX3 7LF
Tel: (00 44) 1865 227065
Fax: (00 44) 1865 226962
e-mail: [log in to unmask]
http://www.ihs.ox.ac.uk/csm/
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