International Forum for Computer Vision in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

Highlight: Genomic Insights into the Past and Future of the Black Rhinoceros

The iconic African black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) faces an uncertain future after an intense poaching caused a 98% decline in wild populations from 1960 to

Mass extinctions, massive questions: Prof. David Jablonski honored for evolution research

Paleontologist receives Darwin-Wallace Medal for unique approach to evolution, extinction studies

Postdoctoral Researcher

An NIH-funded postdoctoral position is available in the lab of Matthew Hahn in the Department of Biology and Department of Computer Science at Indiana University, Bloomington. The work will address the developmental origin and evolution of de novo mutations, using rhesus macaque as a focal species. Our lab has studied mutation rates across mammals, and this project aims to look more closely at which developmental stages drive differences in mutation rates between species. The postdoctoral candidate will also be encouraged to carry out independent work.There is a wide variety of research going on in the lab in addition to the current project. For a summary of our work, please see: https://hahnlab.sitehost.iu.edu/Indiana University has an active group in evolutionary genetics, and considerable computational resources. Bloomington is situated in scenic, hilly southern Indiana, near several parks and wilderness areas. The cultural environment provided by the University is exceptionally rich in art, music, and theater.The College of Arts and Sciences is committed to building and supporting a diverse, inclusive, and equitable community of students and scholars.Indiana University is an equal employment and affirmative action employer and a provider of ADA services. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment based on individual qualifications. Indiana University prohibits discrimination based on age, ethnicity, color, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, national origin, disability status or protected veteran status.

Evolutionary divergence and adaptive capacity in morphologically distinct song sparrow subspecies - Conservation Genetics

Spatial variation in the environment can affect population fitness and individual phenotype by facilitating natural selection and local adaptation, and thereby enhance the diversity and adaptive capacity and persistence of species at regional to continental scales. The song sparrow subspecies complex endemic to the San Francisco Bay region, which has received over a century of close study, presents an opportunity to evaluate the adaptive potential of distinct subspecies faced with habitat loss, population decline, and threats of future environmental change. We used whole-genome sequences from 39 individuals representing five morphologically distinct song sparrow subspecies to evaluate the role of neutral and adaptive evolutionary processes in driving divergence within physiologically challenging habitats across multiple environmental clines. We found that natural selection for traits explained by ecological variables, including temperature and salinity, are drivers of adaptive genetic variation in these song sparrows. Differentiation was highest for candidate loci under selection (compared to neutral markers), as predicted if local ecological processes are at least partially responsible for the rapid radiation of these subspecies. Our findings inform management aimed at conserving and prioritizing population-level diversity in species displaying local adaptation and inhabiting a diverse range of environments.

NSF GRFP Examples - Google Drive