A postdoctoral research fellowship position is available to work with Professor Michael G Ritchie on evolutionary genetic and sexual selection in fruit flies. The researcher will use gene editing techniques, and population genomics analyses to determine the role of sexual selection in driving genomic divergence in candidate genes in Drosophila pseudoobscura. Mutants will be created in key genes using CRISPR approaches and the behavioural, reproductive and sex-specific fitness effects of mutations on flies will be assessed. The project is funded by the NERC, UK, and the work is in collaboration with Prof. Rhonda Snook at the University of Stockholm, Sweden.    

The position is available for 3 years from the 1st November 2020 (negotiable). The work will take place in the Centre for Biological Diversity at the University of St Andrews, Scotland. The University of St Andrews regularly ranks in the top-10 UK and top-100 worldwide universities. It has one of the highest proportions of international staff, students and research collaborations in the higher education sector worldwide, ensuring a vibrant and sustainable research culture. Its research has wide impacts on policy, public engagement and the economy, and plays a leading role in national and international research networks. The School of Biology is committed to the pursuit and delivery of research at the highest international level. Research is organised into three major interdisciplinary centres: the Scottish Oceans Institute (SOI), Biomedical Sciences Research Complex (BSRC) and Centre for Biological Diversity (CBD). This project will be hosted within MGR’s laboratory in the CBD, where MGR oversees a Molecular Ecology laboratory used by 7 PIs. He also maintains a Drosophila facility used by 5 PIs, with the help of two University technicians. Fly equipment includes a media preparation and cleaning service, behavioural observation rooms, a microinjection facility and fluorescent microscopes.    

Applications are particularly welcome from women, people from the Black, Asian, Minority or Ethnic (BAME) community and other protected characteristics who are under-represented in Research Fellow posts at the University. 

The University is committed to equality for all, demonstrated through our working on diversity awards (ECU Athena SWAN/Race Charters; Carer Positive; LGBT Charter; and Stonewall).  More details can be found at http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/hr/edi/diversityawards/.