PhD Studentships in Bioinformatics of Next Generation Sequencing Approaches, the University of Exeter

Bioinformatics of next generation sequencing approaches: using 454 and Solexa data to look at insect genomes and transcriptomes, the University of Exeter, UK
Three-year studentship: tuition fees (UK/EU rate) and annual stipend at current research council rate

This PhD will provide training in state of the art bioinformatics both at the genomic and transcriptomic level. It takes advantage of a) the large amount of non-model insect 454 sequence data generated by our laboratory, b) our participation in the Heliconius genome project (3 species being sequenced at Baylor College of Medicine), c) our ongoing collaboration with the Sanger Center with BAC mapping and DNA sequencing and, most importantly, d) our initiation of collaborations with ecology and evolution groups in Cornwall.

The project aims to fill the ‘gap’ generated by the purchase of the Illumina sequencer at Streatham and the analysis of the ‘pump priming’ projects from non-molecular biologists at both Tremough and Streatham Campuses of the University of Exeter.

The student will receive training in the assembly and analysis of large next-generation sequence data sets of both the genome (e.g. Heliconius) and the transcriptome. The student will learn how to annotate ESTs and genomic DNA and to mine the data for items of interest to ‘non-molecular’ biologists e.g. SNPs and micro-satellite markers.

Students with a computing background will be involved in creating state-of-the art software to analyse -omic data derived from non-model species. The exact nature of the project will be decided with the candidate. For example, SNPs will be used to look for gene flow between the different islands of the Scillies to test if gene flow relates to the standing differences seen in eye spot variation between islands in the Meadow Brown (with Dave Hosken). SNPs will also be used to look for gene flow and dispersal between the different populations of the endangered Marsh Fritillary in the South West (with Dave Hodgson and Melanie Smee). Candidates with a Computer Science background wishing to learn about biology, evolution and comparative genomics are especially invited to apply.

Full details are available at:
www.exeter.ac.uk/biosciences/postgraduate/newposts

For informal enquiries contact: Prof. Richard ffrench-Constant: rf222[ at ]ex.ac.uk