DNA metabarcoding is a rapid method of biodiversity assessment utilizing environmental DNA which combines two technologies: DNA based species identification and high-throughput DNA sequencing. While working on bioinformatic analyses using Obitools and R/R-studio, we also discuss field sampling and wet lab design, as well as more subject specific questions of various applications of DNA metabarcoding. These will include: sedimentary DNA, diet analyses, paleoDNA studies, metagenomics of microbial communities, among others.
This workshop uses a hands-on approach to help researchers visually present their own research through various means of scientific communication. The workshop will cover: essential visual communication, exercise in drawing graphical abstracts, digital imaging for publication, visually consistent publications, data visualization, conference posters, slide presentations, effective project proposals.
The workshop is offered to the ForBio annual meeting participants only. Please indicate your interest in attending this workshop in your registration form for the annual meeting
In this two-day workshop organized in conjunction with the 2018 Oikos meeting in Trondheim, participants will be introduced to the GBIF API to stimulate Nordic ecologists and systematists to a more programmatic use of GBIF data. Most examples and training exercises will use the R language and software environment for statistical computing. Workshop sessions include: quick introduction to GBIF and biodiversity informatics, (very) quick intro to R, RStudio, GitHub, download occurrence data from GBIF using rgbif, download event data et al. from GBIF / IPT and retrieve associated information
Registration is open for both Oikos 2018 participants and ForBio members. Application deadline is December 10th, 2017
Non-ForBio courses and meetings
World Conference on Marine Biodiversity 13-16 May 2018, Montreal, Canada The 4th World Conference on Marine Biodiversity will be held at the Palais des congrès de Montréal, Québec, Canada, from May 13-16, 2018. This meeting will bring together scientists, practitioners, and policy makers to discuss and advance our understanding of the importance and current state of biodiversity in the marine environment. Through a mix of keynote sessions, contributed talks and posters, and bookable venues for focused meetings, the conference program will address marine biodiversity across a deliberately wide range of relevant sectors. Participation will be encouraged from the broadest possible range of stakeholder groups from academics to industry. Deadline for abstract submission has been extended until December 1st, 2017
Marine Evolution 2018 15-17 May 2018, Strömstad, Sweden
Our ambition is to bring marine evolutionary biologists from all over the world together to present recent and ongoing work, share ideas and discuss future collaborations, all in the beautiful setting of the Kosterhavet Marine National Park in the archipelago on the Swedish west coast. Deadline for abstract submission: February 1st, 2018
Funding opportunities
ForBio travel grants ForBio offers both incoming and outgoing travel grants to fund collaborations between ForBio members and taxonomic experts. This is an open call without deadlines.
ForBio & Transmitting Science ForBio organises some courses together with Transmitting Science (announced in the ForBio website). For these courses, ForBio will cover the registration fee for all accepted ForBio members. In addition, ForBio will cover travel and accommodation for ForBio members affiliated to Norwegian institutions. In order to benefit from this agreement, you need to indicate you are a ForBio member when registering through the transmitting Science website. A 30% confirmation fee may be required when registering; this will be reimbursed to ForBio members during the course.
ForBio members and associates also get a 20% discount on ALL Transmitting Science courses. You just need to indicateyour ForBio affiliation when registering.
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships Program at the Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History. Application deadline: November 15th, 2017
The Francesca Gherardi Memorial Prizeof 5,000 EUR is awarded annually by the Department of Biology, University of Florence, Italy. Applications for the 2018 prize for research in Crustacean Behaviour are open to researchers under the age of 40, of all nationalities, lacking permanent positions. Application deadline: November 30th, 2017
The Godfrey Hewitt Mobility Award 2018 has been announced by the European Society for Evolutionary Biology announces. The award is open to PhD students or postdoctoral scientists who are, at the closing date for applications, both within 6 years of the start date of their PhD and ESEB members. The maximum single award will be 2000 EUR. Application deadline: January 15th, 2018
John Maynard Smith Prize 2018to an an outstanding young evolutionary biologist from the European Society for Evolutionary Biology. The prize is open to any field of evolutionary biology. The candidates for the 2018 prize must have begun their PhD study after January 1, 2011. Nomination deadline January 15th, 2018
The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University invites applicants forKatharine H. Putnam research fellowships in any field of plant science including evolution, ecology, and development. Proposals are sought from early-career individuals with a PhD in plant biology, evolution, plant genetics, plant ecology, horticulture, or related discipline, that would utilize the Arboretumขs living collections are encouraged to apply. Submit Application online between November 5th, 2017 and February 1st, 2018
Graduate Research Excellence Grant (GREG) – R.C. Lewontin Early Awards are to assist students in the early stages of their Ph.D. programs by enabling them to collect preliminary data or to enhance the scope of their research beyond current funding limits . Awards up to $2500. Application deadline February 15th, 2018
Graduate Research Excellence Grant (GREG) - Rosemary Grant Advanced Awards are to assist students in the later stages of their Ph.D. programs. Funds can be used to enhance the scope of dissertation research, such as to conduct additional experiments or field work. Awards up to $3500. Application deadline February 1st, 2018
Life Travel Award to a PhD student or PostDoc fellow to assist her/him in attending an international conference in 2018. Application deadline February 28th, 2018
Postdoctoral fellow to work on an IMLS-funded project to improve methods to recover ancient DNA from museum specimens. The up-to-three year position is open as of November 2017
Doctoral / Ph.D. Student for research on The phylogeny and evolution of stick and leaf insects (Phasmatodea). The Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach Institute of Zoology and Anthropology at the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen. Contact Dr. Sven Bradler Application deadline: November 13th, 2017
Staff Scientist position in tropical forest biology. Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Positions are open until filled; review of applications will begin on November 15th, 2017
Keeper of the Herbarium. The National Botanic Gardens of Ireland Application deadline November 16th 2017
Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Biology. The Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, University of California, Riverside Evaluation of applications will begin November 19th, 2017, but the position will remain open until filled
Assistant Curator for living collections, especially through provision of taxonomic expertise. Cambridge University Botanic Garden, UK Application deadline: November 19th, 2017
Assistant/Associate Professor (tenure track) in Insect Systematics. Purdue University. Application deadline: November 22nd, 2017
Research Botanist with a primary focus on plant systematics and complementary interests in floristics, ecology, and/or conservation. The Botanical Research Institute of Texas (BRIT) Application deadline: November 27th, 2017
Postdoctoral Fellow - "ECOGEN - Ecosystem change and speices persistence over time" Tromsø University Museum, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway Application deadline: December 1st, 2017
PhD Candidate - "ECOGEN - Ecosystem change and speices persistence over time" Tromsø University Museum, UiT – The Arctic University of Norway Application deadline: December 1st, 2017
PhD student to work on Identification and analysis of speciation genes in island plants. University of Southampton, UK Application deadline: January 5th, 2018
PhD and Msc students interested in the ecology and physiology of the microbial symbionts of aquatic organisms at the Beinart lab at University of Rhode Island (Graduate School of Oceanography)
TIP: Lots of interesting jobs and other opportunities are published on the Evolution Directory (EvolDir) mailing list, and not all of them make it to the ForBio newsletter! You can subscribe to EvolDir or check out the recent postings here.
