Current Opening for September 2022 Funded MSc Project “Sponge-microbe Symbioses” (Fall 2022)
The Leys, Hill and Riesgo labs are recruiting an MSc student for a funded Master of Science in “Sponge:symbiont interactions”. This part of a broader project under the Moore Aquatic Symbioses funded initiative “Creating transcriptomic resources from wild and cultured populations of host:symbiont associations”, which aims to explore the facultative nature of the sponge-symbiont partnership.
About our research groups: We study the cell, physiology and developmental biology of sponges and their microbial symbionts, with the goal of developing tools to understand the evolution of fundamental aspects of animals such as tissues, polarity, nervous systems and coordination and mechanisms of development.
About graduate studies at UAlberta: The student will be a member of the Department of Biological Sciences, within the College of Natural and Applied Sciences at the University of Alberta. UAlberta is located in Edmonton, Canada, about 3 hours from the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains. The University is one of the top five research universities in the country and provides an interdisciplinary community with outstanding technical and bioinformatic resources as well as a vibrant graduate community.
About the Project: The project involves developing tools for the emerging model system Ephydatia muelleri, a freshwater sponge. E. muelleri demonstrates host gene regulation in response to symbiosis. The symbionts can often be cultured outside of the host and the sponge can be grown with and without the symbionts. Wild populations harbor different communities and so laboratory culture allows study of host:symbiont integration and specialization at a cellular and genetic level, to identify selective forces that shape integration between hosts and symbionts. Experiments will involve manipulation of sponges and algal partners during development, infection, and feeding, and include training in RNAseq analysis to identify genes of interest, bioinformatics, and siRNA knockdown of genes. This project is funded for up to 2.3 years, co-supervised by Dr. Sally Leys, University of Alberta and Dr. April Hill (Bates College, Maine, USA).
Starting date: September 2022.
How to apply: Applicants should have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field by June 2022. Submit your CV, a recent copy of your university transcripts, and a one-page statement of interest describing your motivation and curiosity in aquatic symbioses and your career objectives. In your statement, please highlight relevant skills in molecular biology, laboratory data collection, statistical analysis, programming/bioinformatics, working in a team environment and oral or written science communication. Deadline for applications: May 15, 2022. To apply please submit the above documents by email to: [email protected] OR [email protected]
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Other projects (1) "Evolution of coordination and nervous systems". Our research goals are to elucidate how signals move across epithelia to generate coordinated responses in the absence of neurons. For background see our publications by Ludeman et al 2014, Elliott & Leys 2010, Leys 2015, Leys et al 2021. But a good way to understand the problem is to watch the remarkable contractions that sponges carry out in nature (tracked on a sponge underwater at the Folger node). We ask, how are contractions coordinated in the absence of a nervous system?
(2) "Sensory organs" - This project focuses on sensory structures in sponges. This work involves live imaging, characterization of the structures by confocal and electron microscopy, and some 'tank' and or in situ experiments to assess function. Curiosity required! - Live imaging in situ, learn a range of microscopy techniques including confocal and electron microscopy - Strong potential for RNAseq studies - Field work (3)"Sentinels of the ocean" or the "Ecophysiology of benthic animals - in situ". This project aims to film sponges over time in as many places as possible (our aquaria, Bamfield, Curacao, Panama...). We will use data from a range of instruments (oxygen, light, temperature, salinity, pH, turbidity, cdom, etc) to test hypotheses about how animals sense and respond to their watery environments. Techniques that will be handy to have (or learn!) - R, spatial statistics, python coding - field work including deployment of cameras and instruments in situ - work will use data from the Ocean Networks Canada observatories Assets include a background in or motivation to learn R or python or Matlab
(4) Sponge larval structure and behaviour:This project will explore the diversity of larval morphologies, cell types, sensory mechanisms, and development through metamorphosis in sponge larvae. The ideal candidate will be have a strong background in microscopy and or molecular techniques or keen to learn a range of modern microscopy techniques. - Training will involve confocal & FIB-SEM, video microscopy, pharmacological approaches, as well as RNAseq/Cellseq.
There are always potential positions so please email [email protected] to inquire about a project.
INTERESTED IN APPLYING?
Please email Sally Leys [email protected], and send along the following to speed up the process:
Copy of most recent transcripts
PDFs of any publications
CV
A one paragraph statement of interest
Contact details for 3 referees
Important Information for Applicants:
Department of Biological Sciences application deadline is January 31 to start Sept 1, or Sept 1 to start in January. Applications outside of those deadlines may be considered. Please email S. Leys to inquire.
Departmental admission guarantees funding for 2.3 years for MSc studies and 5 years for PhD subject to TAship availability - see details below. Students with scholarships may be considered for acceptance outside of these periods.
Students with a very strong academic record may be eligible for funding via the Izaak Killam Fellowship
There are always undergraduate positions available. If you have a project idea or are curious to learn about our research, please email [email protected].
Applications from highly motivated students are always invited
