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[MSCA-IF-2019] Postdoc Position in Life Sciences & Environmental Science and Geology (Spain)

Universidad Pablo de Olavide
28 Mar 2019

Hosting Information

Offer Deadline
EU Research Framework Programme
H2020 / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Country
Spain
City
SEVILLA

Organisation/Institute

Organisation / Company
Universidad Pablo de Olavide
Department
Molecular Biology and Biochemistry Engineering
Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No

Contact Information

Organisation / Company Type
Higher Education Institute
Website
Email
enarfer@upo.es
proyectosEU_OTRI@upo.es
Postal Code
41013
Street
Edificio 22-0-10. Carretera de Utrera, Km. 1

Description

The Pablo de Olavide University in Seville offers positions for researchers willing to implement a 2-3 year project based in Spain within the framework of the H2020 Marie Skłodowska Curie postdoctoral fellowships programme (MSCA-IF 2019).

Research is undertaken by more than 80 groups and the vast majority of the University's academic staff are working in areas which are acknowledged as national and international significance. The University ranks also above the other Spanish universities for its quality certified doctoral programmes.

The University fosters international research partnerships with institutions all around the world through networking and collaborative projects. Currently, the University is an active participant in several European-funded research projects. Specifically, from 2012 to the present day, the university is hosting four high-level researchers who have conducted or are conducting their outstanding research (3 ERC-STG + 2 ERC-POC; 1 ERC-COG). The University's participation in the Marie Curie calls for proposals is also noteworthy.  

 

Supervisor and Research Group:

  • Scientist in Charge: Eduardo Narbona (enarfer@upo.es)

  • Research Area: Life Sciences; Environmental Science and Geology

The Floral Evolution and Ecology Research group (FLEER) aims to investigate evolutionary change and ecological interactions in plants, especially in regards to flowers. FLEER’s main research objectives are: plant breeding systems, evolution of sexual systems, flowering phenology, plant reproductive barriers, plant-pollinator interactions and plant-herbivore interactions. In recent years, we have focused on flower colour and the ecological, biochemical and genetic mechanisms underlying flower colour variation. In particular, we investigated the development of new techniques for the quantification of flower colour, the genetic and biochemical basis of flower colour polymorphisms, and the adaptive role of anthocyanins, the most widespread plant pigments. We actively collaborate with other research groups from Spain, France (Montpellier University) and USA (Santa Clara University and Stanford University).

 

Project description:

Speciation is a continuous process ranging from incipient phenotypic variation with low reproductive isolation, to the complete reproductive isolation between populations with fixed phenotypic a

nd genotypic differentiation. An important mechanism promoting speciation is divergent selection caused by both abiotic and biotic agents. This may create differentiation between populations and influence reproductive isolation. Evolution of reproductive isolation is an essential part of the speciation process and depends on a considerable number of pre- and post-zygotic barriers, prezygotic barriers often evolve first, as a biproduct of ecological adaptations. Up to this point, little has been understood about the genes involved in speciation. Flower colour genes are excellent candidates, given that this trait usually affects pollinator attraction and may reduce or interrupt gene flow between divergent groups of plants. Also, flower colour biosynthetic pathway is suitable for a “metamodel” approach, in which multiple independent changes in regulatory genes found in other species can be tested. In this project, we plan to investigate the role of “flower colour polymorphisms” (i.e. intraspecific discrete colour variation) during the speciation processes using a multidisciplinary approach combining ecological, reproductive, genetic and genomic studies.

 

Documents to be submitted by applicants:

Curriculum vitae and motivation letter.