Dear all,

I wish to advertise a set of PhD positions that are currently open in University of Turku, Finland. Across multiple disciplines, there is a total of 25 positions which broadly relate to the theme "Green and Digital Transition".

Specifically, one of the potential projects relates to "Human genomic changes due to past epidemics and environment in north-eastern Europe" (project #18, co-supervised by me) and another one to "Evolution of human health in past and modern environments" (project #19). I have copied the detailed descriptions of these two projects below. All the project descriptions can be found in https://sites.utu.fi/utugredit/research-projects/. Further information about the application process, eligibility etc. can be found in https://sites.utu.fi/utugredit/how-to-apply/

The positions are fully funded for four years starting on 1 August 2024, and the application deadline is on 22 January 2024 (14:00 CET).

Feel free to distribute this information within your professional networks and to any potentially interested candidates. Apologies for cross-posting!


With best wishes for the starting year,
Elina Salmela


Elina Salmela, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher | FT, Tutkijatohtori
University of Helsinki  | Helsingin yliopisto
University of Turku | Turun yliopisto
Finland
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology
Leipzig, Germany
[log in to unmask] 
http://blogs.helsinki.fi/esalmela/

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Project 18: Human genomic changes due to past epidemics and environment in north-eastern Europe

Background: Past epidemics and environmental challenges, such as famines, have posed a long-lasting pressure of natural selection on human genomes. The (genetic) structure of the human host community and its contact networks have affected pathogen exposure, and therefore the consequences on the human genomes. Genes related to immune response and metabolic pathways are among the key targets of selection under environmental pressures.  Pleiotropic effects may produce co-occurrence with other traits, such as elevated risk for later life disorders (e.g Alzheimers). Finally, epigenomes may have been modulated with effects reaching beyond generations.

PhD project description: In this project, we combine ancient and modern human DNA, pathogen genomics and life history trait data in Finnish context to examine the effects of past events on human genomes in the past versus present population. The project combines ancient genomic data covering the last 2,000 years with large modern genomic data collections. Moreover, archaeologically excavated soft tissue remains of individuals from the past four centuries may be analysed for exposures, to ascertain pathogen presence, and ultimately, to unravel the specific reasons for epidemic events taking place in the observed time and place. The information collected over the course of this study can be employed to estimate future risk factors for local and rapidly expanding epidemics, and to prevent the development of similar hotspots like those recognized from the historical time.

This fully funded PhD project will be jointly supervised by Professor Päivi Onkamo and Dr. Elina Salmela within the multidisciplinary Human Diversity consortium (https://sites.utu.fi/humandiversity/) and belongs to the UTU-GreDiT Doctoral Programme: Solutions for Green and Digital Transition and One Health perspective at the University of Turku. The position includes a 4-6 months secondment at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (MPI-EVA) Leipzig, Germany, that offers a strong quantitative base for research combining ancient DNA sequencing, population genomics, and historical epidemiology (https://www.eva.mpg.de/archaeogenetics/index/).

Specific requirements: The PhD candidate should have a multidisciplinary background and Masters degree in population genetics, bioinformatics, evolutionary biology/medicine, microbial evolution or related fields. A successful candidate is a team player, has experience and interest to work with people and datasets from multiple disciplines, passion to learn new, strong quantitative skills in statistical genetics, and proficient English in writing and communication.

	
Project 19: Evolution of human health in past and modern environments

Background: Human health stems partly from adaptations to diverse ancestral environments and the challenges posed by our rapidly changing modern world. Infectious diseases, in particular, have exerted significant selection pressures on human evolution, but the epidemics often affected some regions more than others. Also access to nature and microbes (e.g. forest cover, animal husbandry), resources (food scarcity, house type) and population structure (city/urban) vary through time and place and can fuel adaptations (e.g. immune responses) that enhance health in these environments. However, the impact of spatial disparities in disease outbreaks and environmental factors on both historical and current human health, including different disease susceptibilities (e.g. cardio-vascular diseases, cancers, cognitive disorders, auto-immune diseases), remains unknown.

PhD project description: We are seeking for an enthusiastic and motivated PhD student with knowledge in evolutionary biology and health research, to investigate past and present variation in death causes in Finland. This PhD project draws upon extensive, multi-generational and multidisciplinary data from historical and modern Finland. The PhD project employs two distinct approaches: one focused on assessing regional disparities through time and the other on exploring family lineage-specific variation in death causes across generations in different environments. Together, these approaches offer valuable insights into the evolutionary origin of human health, shedding light on how our past environments have left their mark on our current disease susceptibilities.

The PhD researcher will carry out research within the multidisciplinary Human Diversity consortium (https://sites.utu.fi/humandiversity/ ) and utilizes unique datasets from Finland: 1) the Human life history data. This is a multi-generational demographic dataset (e.g. all births, marriages, migrations, deaths) following the same family lineages from preindustrial to modern Finland (individuals born 1730-2022), 2) Cause-specific mortality data of entire Finland 1750-1850 and in contemporary day and 3) Cultural and environmental data, which includes ~100 cultural and environmental explanatory variables from each municipality in Finland. During the PhD project a 4-6 months secondment in the PandemiX Centre offers a strong quantitative base for research combining mathematical modelling, historical epidemiology, bioinformatics and clinical research (https://ruc.dk/en/research-centre/pandemix-center). The PhD researcher undertakes the following studies in the PhD thesis: 1) spatial variation in death causes across time 2) lineage-specific variation in death causes and 3) the variation caused by temporal, environmental and cultural characteristics or past epidemics.

Specific requirements: The PhD candidate should have a multidisciplinary background and Masters degree in evolutionary ecology, evolutionary medicine/health/disease, health geography, anthropology or related fields. A successful candidate is a team player, has experience and interest to work with people and datasets from multiple disciplines, passion to learn new, strong quantitative skills in statistics, and proficient English in writing and communication.


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