PhD student in evolutionary genomics and behavioral ecology - Hiring in process/Finished, not possible to apply

PhD student in evolutionary genomics and behavioral ecology

The Department of Ecology and Genetics is an international environment with staff and students from all over the world. Our research spans from evolutionary ecology and genetics to ecosystem studies. Learn more at www.ieg.uu.se.

We are now looking for a PhD student in evolutionary genomics and behavioral ecology, with a focus on the molecular basis of mating behavior in water striders to the program Evolutionary Biology.

Project description
How do neural systems evolve to generate behavioral diversity? This project investigates the molecular and neural mechanisms underlying the diversification of mating behaviors using water striders as a model system. Several species in this group have independently evolved a mating strategy in which males defend territories and use water surface ripple signals to court females, who actively assess partner quality. This natural variation offers a powerful framework for uncovering how gene regulation in the brain drives behavioral innovation.

The PhD candidate will join the research group of Alberto Corral-Lopez at the Department of Ecology and Genetics. The position is fully funded for four years. More information about the research group is available at: https://www.uu.se/en/department/ecology-and-genetics/research/evolutionary-biology/corral-lopez-lab

A central aim of the PhD project is to develop and optimize a deep learning-based behavioral quantification pipeline that will serve as a core methodological resource for subsequent research in the program. Water striders are well-suited for this as their habitat is restricted to the water surface, which can be easily recreated in the laboratory with only two-dimensional movement that lends naturally to automated tracking. The student will evaluate available tools and establish a validated, reusable protocol for individual-level behavioral scoring across multiple experiments and species.

Building on this pipeline, the student will conduct behavioral experiments manipulating environmental contexts and combine the resulting data with brain transcriptomics to identify gene expression patterns associated with flexible mating decisions. This integrative approach will provide novel insights into how the nervous system regulates context-dependent behavior, and how gene regulation evolves to generate divergent mating phenotypes across species.

Duties
The PhD student will be responsible for the following tasks, with the relative emphasis shifting across the four years of the position:

• Evaluate, implement, and optimize a deep learning-based behavioral tracking pipeline tailored to water strider mating behavior.
• Design and conduct behavioral experiments, including individual tagging, high-resolution video recording, and data collection under varying social environments.
• Process behavioral video data into quantitative composite scores capturing key aspects of mating tactics.
• Maintain water strider laboratory colonies and assist with animal husbandry as needed.
• Contribute to downstream bioinformatic analyses, including differential gene expression and co-expression network analyses using bulk RNA-seq data.
• Dissect brain tissue and assist with molecular lab work in coordination with the broader team.
• Present findings at group meetings, national and international conferences, and manuscript preparation.

Training in dissection techniques, molecular laboratory methods, bioinformatics and scientific writing will be provided as part of the position. In later stages of the project, the student will be welcome to participate in complementary analyses, including single-cell transcriptomics and comparative genomics that share a multivariate analytical framework as the core project and will broaden their genomics skill set.

PhD students at IEG are encouraged to participate in teaching, which will generally not exceed 20% of full-time employment and will mainly consist of teaching assistant roles in undergraduate courses. We anticipate the candidate to actively participate in the everyday activities of the research group and at the Program/Department.

Qualifications required
To meet the entry requirements for doctoral studies, you must:

• hold a Master’s (second-cycle) degree in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Ecology, Ethology, Evolutionary Biology, or a closely related field. Candidates who have not yet completed their degree but are expected to meet the degree requirements before the start date are encouraged to apply. 
• have completed at least 240 credits in higher education with at least 60 credits at Master’s level including an independent project worth at least 15 credits, or have acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way.

The applicant should have strong quantitative and computational skills, with demonstrated experience in R and/or Python, and a genuine interest in applying these skills to biological questions. A solid background in evolutionary biology or animal behavior is expected. No prior animal-handling expertise is required; you will receive training and work with experienced staff. Curiosity and genuine care for animal welfare will be important.

We attach great importance to personal qualities such as intellectual curiosity, initiative, creative problem-solving, and the ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative team environment. The ideal candidate is motivated by open-ended technical challenges and sees methodological development as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. Candidates must be able to express themselves clearly in spoken and written English.

Qualifications desired
The following skills and experiences are not required but will be considered advantageous:

• Prior experience with computer vision, video tracking software, or deep learning tools widely used in the field (e.g., DeepLabCut, DeepEthogram, idtracker.ai, SLEAP, simBA, TRex, or similar).
• Familiarity with RNA-seq data processing and differential expression analysis.
• Experience with behavioral experiment design in an animal laboratory context.
• Background in insect biology or behavioral ecology.

About the employment
The employment is a temporary position according to the Higher Education Ordinance chapter 5 §7. Scope of employment: full-time. Starting date 2026-09-01 or as agreed. Location: Uppsala.

For further information about the position, please contact

Researcher, Group Leader, Alberto Corral-Lopez: alberto.corral@ebc.uu.se

Application instructions
The application should include 1) a letter describing yourself, your research interests, why you want to pursue a Ph.D., and why you are suitable for the position (maximum 2 pages), 2) your CV, 3) a brief description of your education, 4) a copy of your master's degree and your course grades, along with a copy of your master's thesis, 5) names and contact details of at least two referees (email addresses and phone numbers), and 6) any publications and links to public code repositories (e.g. GitHub) if applicable. The application should be written in English.

You are welcome to submit your application no later than May, 28 2026. UFV-PA 2026/1169