Interested in joining the Titus Lab? Check below for current opportunities.
The Titus Lab is currently looking for 2 PhD students and 2 Postdoctoral researchers! See announcements below.
PhD student opportunities- Fall 2022
The Titus Lab, in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama (https://bsc.ua.edu/profiles/ben-titus/), is seeking multiple PhD students starting Fall 2022. The successful applicants will develop dissertation research and work on collaborative projects, funded by the National Science Foundation, on the symbiosis and evolution of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones. The clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis has been used as a model mutualism for exploring fundamental biological processes. However, the 10 species of host anemones have only been described morphologically. The presence of cryptic host anemone taxa thus holds the potential to transform our evolutionary understanding of this symbiosis.
Projects in the Titus Lab will combine genomic approaches (Ultra Conserved Elements, full genome sequencing) with international field research opportunities throughout the Indo-West Pacific (Marshall Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar) to disentangle the true species-level diversity of this group, among other projects. Flexibility exists for students to pursue projects on this system at all levels of biological organization. The ideal candidate would have a MSc or BSc in biology, marine science, or a related field, a passion or marine invertebrates, and demonstrable research experience in at least one of the following areas: evolutionary biology (e.g. phylogenetics, population genetics), genomics, field-based marine science.
The successful applicants will be supported by graduate teaching assistantships, for which they receive a 12-month stipend, full tuition waiver, and single person health insurance allowance. To inquire, submit a cover letter with a brief (~1-2 pages) review of your research experience, interests, and goals and your CV to: Dr. Benjamin Titus at [email protected].
Application information and forms can be viewed at https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/graduate-programoverview/ how-to-apply/ The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases.
2 Postdoctoral Researcher Positions: Available January 2022: One focused on the Systematics and Phylogenomics of tropical sea anemones, and one focused on the comparative genomics of mutualism.
NSF Systematics & Phylogenomics Postdoc: With funding through the National Science Foundation, The Titus Lab is looking for a postdoctoral researcher with experience and interest in marine invertebrate phylogenomics to use recently developed genomic tools for Class Anthozoa to 1) conduct the first phylogenomic reconstruction of the super family Actinioidea, 2) test key hypotheses regarding the origin of tropical sea anemone biodiversity, and 3) participate and collaborate on projects focused on the systematics of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones.
We are looking for a prospective postdoc with a strong track record in phylogenomics, a passion for marine invertebrates, and someone capable of leading projects with a diverse group of national and international collaborators. The start date is negotiable, but a January 2022 start date is preferred.
Project Description:
Sea anemones (Anthozoa: Actiniaria) are a diverse group of benthic anthozoans found in every marine habitat. Contrary to the generally observed pattern of hyperdiversity in the tropics, anemone diversity peaks in temperate ecosystems. As a result, tropical species have received a fraction of the scientific attention as temperate ones, with no major efforts in the systematics of tropical anemone diversity since the advent of modern DNA sequencing. Compounding a lack of systematic effort in the tropics, anemones have few diagnostic morphological characters and slowly evolving mitochondrial DNA that is ineffective as a species-level marker. Thus, it is likely that tropical anemone diversity is vastly under-described, and a genomic approach is required to simultaneously delimit species, place them into broader phylogenomic context, and determine what morphological characters are informative at every hierarchical level. Using newly developed bait-capture probes for Class Anthozoa, the successful postdoctoral applicant will conduct the first major phylogenomic reconstruction within the Order Actiniaria to test whether the tropics are a center of origin, or a center of accumulation, of tropical sea anemone diversity. This work will be centered on the anemone Super Family Actinioidea, which contains the bulk of tropical anemone diversity and includes the charismatic clownfish-hosting anemones. The Actinioidea thus represents a natural starting point for understanding the evolutionary processes that have given rise to tropical actiniarian diversity. This project will rely heavily on natural history collections, field research expeditions, and national and international collaborationsl
Comparative Genomics Postdoc: The Titus Lab, in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama (https://bsc.ua.edu/profiles/ben-titus/), is seeking to hire a postdoctoral researcher to conduct full genome sequencing, assembly, and analyses of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones. The successful applicant will have considerable intellectual freedom to lead and develop projects centered on testing general evolutionary expectations of mutualism.
We are looking for a prospective postdoc with a strong track record in genomics and bioinformatics, a passion for marine invertebrates or non-model organisms, and someone capable of leading projects with a diverse group of national and international collaborators. The start date is negotiable, but a January 2022 start date is preferred. Funding is available for up to 2 years.
General Project Description:
Mutualisms can radically shape the architecture of the genome, trigger adaptive radiations, lead to rapid population expansions, and impact rates of molecular evolution. Previously, we have found that mutualism with clownfishes has evolved at least three times independently in sea anemones (Order Actiniaria). Using the multiple origins of symbiosis with clownfishes as a research framework, the successful postdoctoral applicant will develop and lead projects centered on, but not limited to, 1) testing whether mutualism with clownfishes has generated similar selective pressure and therefore resulted in convergent genome evolution and architecture among host anemones. 2) The Red King Hypothesis, which states that the balance of mutually exploitative symbioses should lead constituent mutualistic lineages to have slower rates of molecular evolution than their free-living relatives. 3) Whether the mutualistic benefits of hosting clownfishes led to significant ecological opportunity for host anemones, and thus, signatures of demographic population expansion that coincide with the onset of the symbiosis.
To Apply: Submit a cover letter with a brief (~1-2 pages) review of your research experience, interests, and goals and your CV to: Dr. Benjamin Titus at [email protected].
PhD student opportunities- Fall 2022
The Titus Lab, in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama (https://bsc.ua.edu/profiles/ben-titus/), is seeking multiple PhD students starting Fall 2022. The successful applicants will develop dissertation research and work on collaborative projects, funded by the National Science Foundation, on the symbiosis and evolution of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones. The clownfish-sea anemone symbiosis has been used as a model mutualism for exploring fundamental biological processes. However, the 10 species of host anemones have only been described morphologically. The presence of cryptic host anemone taxa thus holds the potential to transform our evolutionary understanding of this symbiosis.
Projects in the Titus Lab will combine genomic approaches (Ultra Conserved Elements, full genome sequencing) with international field research opportunities throughout the Indo-West Pacific (Marshall Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Madagascar) to disentangle the true species-level diversity of this group, among other projects. Flexibility exists for students to pursue projects on this system at all levels of biological organization. The ideal candidate would have a MSc or BSc in biology, marine science, or a related field, a passion or marine invertebrates, and demonstrable research experience in at least one of the following areas: evolutionary biology (e.g. phylogenetics, population genetics), genomics, field-based marine science.
The successful applicants will be supported by graduate teaching assistantships, for which they receive a 12-month stipend, full tuition waiver, and single person health insurance allowance. To inquire, submit a cover letter with a brief (~1-2 pages) review of your research experience, interests, and goals and your CV to: Dr. Benjamin Titus at [email protected].
Application information and forms can be viewed at https://bsc.ua.edu/degree-programs/graduate-programoverview/ how-to-apply/ The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, pregnancy, age, genetic or family medical history information, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected basis, and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants to and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases.
2 Postdoctoral Researcher Positions: Available January 2022: One focused on the Systematics and Phylogenomics of tropical sea anemones, and one focused on the comparative genomics of mutualism.
NSF Systematics & Phylogenomics Postdoc: With funding through the National Science Foundation, The Titus Lab is looking for a postdoctoral researcher with experience and interest in marine invertebrate phylogenomics to use recently developed genomic tools for Class Anthozoa to 1) conduct the first phylogenomic reconstruction of the super family Actinioidea, 2) test key hypotheses regarding the origin of tropical sea anemone biodiversity, and 3) participate and collaborate on projects focused on the systematics of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones.
We are looking for a prospective postdoc with a strong track record in phylogenomics, a passion for marine invertebrates, and someone capable of leading projects with a diverse group of national and international collaborators. The start date is negotiable, but a January 2022 start date is preferred.
Project Description:
Sea anemones (Anthozoa: Actiniaria) are a diverse group of benthic anthozoans found in every marine habitat. Contrary to the generally observed pattern of hyperdiversity in the tropics, anemone diversity peaks in temperate ecosystems. As a result, tropical species have received a fraction of the scientific attention as temperate ones, with no major efforts in the systematics of tropical anemone diversity since the advent of modern DNA sequencing. Compounding a lack of systematic effort in the tropics, anemones have few diagnostic morphological characters and slowly evolving mitochondrial DNA that is ineffective as a species-level marker. Thus, it is likely that tropical anemone diversity is vastly under-described, and a genomic approach is required to simultaneously delimit species, place them into broader phylogenomic context, and determine what morphological characters are informative at every hierarchical level. Using newly developed bait-capture probes for Class Anthozoa, the successful postdoctoral applicant will conduct the first major phylogenomic reconstruction within the Order Actiniaria to test whether the tropics are a center of origin, or a center of accumulation, of tropical sea anemone diversity. This work will be centered on the anemone Super Family Actinioidea, which contains the bulk of tropical anemone diversity and includes the charismatic clownfish-hosting anemones. The Actinioidea thus represents a natural starting point for understanding the evolutionary processes that have given rise to tropical actiniarian diversity. This project will rely heavily on natural history collections, field research expeditions, and national and international collaborationsl
Comparative Genomics Postdoc: The Titus Lab, in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Alabama (https://bsc.ua.edu/profiles/ben-titus/), is seeking to hire a postdoctoral researcher to conduct full genome sequencing, assembly, and analyses of the clownfish-hosting sea anemones. The successful applicant will have considerable intellectual freedom to lead and develop projects centered on testing general evolutionary expectations of mutualism.
We are looking for a prospective postdoc with a strong track record in genomics and bioinformatics, a passion for marine invertebrates or non-model organisms, and someone capable of leading projects with a diverse group of national and international collaborators. The start date is negotiable, but a January 2022 start date is preferred. Funding is available for up to 2 years.
General Project Description:
Mutualisms can radically shape the architecture of the genome, trigger adaptive radiations, lead to rapid population expansions, and impact rates of molecular evolution. Previously, we have found that mutualism with clownfishes has evolved at least three times independently in sea anemones (Order Actiniaria). Using the multiple origins of symbiosis with clownfishes as a research framework, the successful postdoctoral applicant will develop and lead projects centered on, but not limited to, 1) testing whether mutualism with clownfishes has generated similar selective pressure and therefore resulted in convergent genome evolution and architecture among host anemones. 2) The Red King Hypothesis, which states that the balance of mutually exploitative symbioses should lead constituent mutualistic lineages to have slower rates of molecular evolution than their free-living relatives. 3) Whether the mutualistic benefits of hosting clownfishes led to significant ecological opportunity for host anemones, and thus, signatures of demographic population expansion that coincide with the onset of the symbiosis.
To Apply: Submit a cover letter with a brief (~1-2 pages) review of your research experience, interests, and goals and your CV to: Dr. Benjamin Titus at [email protected].
