Senior Research Associate in Population Modelling and genomics of Lepidoptera

This Senior Research Associate position forms part of a consortium research grant funded as one of NERC’s Highlight Topics to test how evolutionary responses determine the resilience of butterfly populations to climate change, using historical and contemporary ecological, genomic, geographical and climatic information.

This position will model and analyse the population genomics and spatial population ecology of populations and to apply these models to genomic and ecological data of c. 30 species of UK Lepidoptera derived from museum samples and surveys from the 1930s to the present day by researchers working in Liverpool and York respectively. This ambitious project includes collaborations with the Universities of Melbourne and Stockholm, as well as the UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Butterfly Conservation, and the Natural History Museum.

The researcher is expected to have a background in statistical modeling and Bayesian inference, as well as genomic analysis and population genetics, and will develop an integrated population model that can simulate range changes and evolutionary responses, and will enable model outputs to be compared to genomic, ecological and demographic data using a variety of statistical approaches. The project represents a fantastic opportunity to gain experience and expertise in linking novel empirical genomic and ecological data with the latest techniques in modelling and inference in order to test the ecological consequences of climate change for biodiversity.

Further details

The start time is negotiable, but the post is available from 1^st July 2017.  Funding is confirmed until 31^st August 2019, with extension to 2020 likely. 

For more information, please refer to the job description and for informal enquiries can be made to Professor Mark Beaumont (M.Beaumont@bristol.ac.uk) or Dr Jon Bridle (Jon.Bridle@bristol.ac.uk).

The University is committed to creating and sustaining a fully inclusive culture.  We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities.