University of Sussex - PhD Biology

Life Sciences PhD Biology: John Maynard Smith Studentship (2022)

What you get

This School-funded position covers Home tuition fees and a stipend at standard UKRI rates for 3.5 years (£15,609 for 2021/22). Applicants with overseas fee status will need to fund the difference between Home and International tuition fees. 

Type of award

Postgraduate Research

PhD project

Title: John Maynard Smith Studentship: What determines levels of adaptive genetic diversity?

Project overview

Crucial to the adaptive process is genetic variation that selection can act upon. Surprisingly we know relatively little about this type of genetic variation. We know that most organisms have quantitative genetic variation (QGV) for most traits, but we do not know to what extent this variation varies between species, and if it does vary, what factors influence the level of genetic variation. In this project we will quantify how much variation there is between species and explore the forces that influence the level of QGV. We will also explore a model by which adaptive evolution affects genetic diversity, proposed by John Maynard Smith, the founding father of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex. There will be opportunities to develop novel lines of enquiry that build upon these themes. The project should give us novel insights into this crucial component of genetic diversity.

The studentship will be held in the School of Life Sciences at the University of Sussex which has been one of the leading institutions for the study of evolution since its founding by John Maynard Smith.

References: 

James, J.E. & Eyre-Walker, A. (2020) Mitochondrial DNA sequence diversity in mammals: a correlation between the effective and census population sizes. Genome Biology Evolution 12, 2441-2449

Castellano, D., James, J.E. & Eyre-Walker, A. (2018) Nearly neutral evolution across the Drosophila genome. Mol. Biol. Evol. 35, 2685-2694.

Eligibility

Ideal candidates will have a strong background in evolutionary biology and population genetics, with preferably some experience in computer programming and statistical analysis.

Eligible applicants will hold a 2:1 BSc in a relevant subject.

Candidates for whom English is not their first language will require an IELTS score of 6.5 overall, with not less than 6.0 in any section.

Deadline

13 March 2022 23:45

How to apply

Please submit a formal application using our online system at www.sussex.ac.uk/study/phd/apply attaching a CV, degree transcripts and certificates, statement of interest and two academic references.

On the application system select Programme of Study – PhD Biology. Please ensure you state “John Maynard Smith Studentship” under funding and include the supervisor’s name where required.

Contact us

Informal enquiries can be made to Prof Adam Eyre-Walker (a.c.eyre-walker@sussex.ac.uk). 

For enquiries about the application process, contact Emma Chorley: lifesci-rec@sussex.ac.uk