Postdoctoral Research Associate

Fixed term contract (36 months)

Full-time (35 hours per week) 

We are looking for a Post-Doctoral Research Associate to study the evolution and genetic regulation of phyllotaxis in the lycophyte lineage in the group of Dr Sandy Hetherington (The Molecular Palaeobotany and Evolution Group) in the Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences. 

The Opportunity:

The aim of the project it to characterise the mechanism underlying the independent origin of phyllotaxis in lycophytes. This will shed light on the evolution of Fibonacci spirals in land plants and the prevalence of rare non-Fibonacci spirals in members of the Lycopodiaceae. The project will involve taking a comparative evo-devo approach to study lycophyte shoot development and phyllotaxis. This will involve combining studies of gene regulatory networks with investigations of anatomy and development and techniques to manipulate phyllotaxis.

By joining this project you will be part of the larger interdisciplinary Hetherington lab, called the Molecular Palaeobotany and Evolution Group and this project is funded by an ERC Starting Grant titled “WhyFib” – Uncovering the evolutionary history and significance of Fibonacci spirals in vascular plants.

Your skills and attributes for success:

• PhD in an appropriate biological science
• Experience of studying plant evolution
• Experience of using comparative evo-devo approaches to investigate plant evolution.

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