About the Project
Understanding the processes that maintain genetic variation is fundamental in evolutionary biology and important in conservation. Recent findings in our lab showed that sperm in the ejaculate of a male vary in their performance and that some fertile sperm sire fitter offspring than others. Furthermore, we demonstrated that these sperm phenotypes are a characteristic of the underlying haploid genetic variation within the gametes themselves. Given these exciting findings it is now our aim to establish how selection on sperm traits and genomes within an ejaculate may contribute to the generation and maintenance of genetic variation within populations.
The successful applicant will expand on our recent findings, studying how possible trade-offs between the haploid gametes and the diploid organisms can contribute to the maintenance of genetic variation. Zebrafish are perhaps the best vertebrate model system to examine this question at both a proximate (functional) and fundamental (evolutionary) level. These studies will be carried out in a brand new, state of the art zebrafish facility on the UEA campus and using molecular and bioinformatics tools giving the opportunity to gain experience in both wet and dry labs.
Apart from participating in the excellent ARIES DTP core training programme, you will acquire training and hands-on experience in Experimental Design, Next Generation Sequencing and Bioinformatics, all great prerequisites for future employment. You will take part in lab and departmental seminars and journal clubs and participate in national and international meetings and conferences to present yourself and your results.
For more information on the supervisor for this project, please go herehttps://simoneimmler.com/
Type of programme: PhD
Start Date: 1st October 2021
Mode of Study: Full or part time (visa restrictions may apply)
Studentship length: 3.5 years
Acceptable first degrees in Biology, Ecology, Genetics or Zoology
Funding Notes
This project has been shortlisted for funding by the ARIES NERC DTP.
Successful candidates who meet UKRI’s eligibility criteria are awarded a NERC studentship covering fees, stipend (£15,285 p.a., 2020-21) and research funding. International applicants (EU/non-EU) are eligible for fully-funded studentships.
ARIES is committed to equality, diversity, widening participation and inclusion in all areas of its operation. We encourage enquiries and applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation and transgender status. Academic qualifications are considered alongside significant relevant non-academic experience.
For further information, please visit www.aries-dtp.ac.uk
References
1. Silva, WTAF, Sáez-Espinosa, P, Torijo-Boix, S, Romero, A, Devaux, C, Durieux, M, Gómez-Torres, MJ, Immler, S. 2019. The effects of male social environment on sperm phenotype and genome integrity. J Evol Biol 32: 535-544.
2. Immler, S. Haploid selection in “diploid” organisms. 2019. Annu Rev Ecol Evol Syst 50: 219-236
3. Alavioon, G, Cabrera Garcia, A, LeChatelier, M, Maklakov, AA & Immler, S. 2019. Selection for longer-lived sperm within ejaculate reduces reproductive ageing in offspring. Evolution Letters 3: 198-206.
4. Immler, S, & Otto, SP. 2018. The evolutionary consequences of selection at the haploid gametic stage. Am Nat 192: 241-249.
5. Alavioon, G, Hotzy, C, Nakhro, K, Rudolf, S, Scofield, D, Zajitschek, S, Maklakov, AA & Immler, S. 2017. Haploid selection within a single ejaculate increases offspring fitness. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 114: 8053-8058.
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