Arc Grant Funded Researcher

**(Level A) and $78,544 - $105,611 per annum plus an employer contribution of 17% superannuation applies.**

**Full Time | 2 Years Fixed Term Opportunity**

A fixed-term Level A grant-funded researcher position is available for two years as part of an ARC Discovery project on the molecular evolution of subterranean diving beetles, based in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Adelaide with Prof. Steven Cooper, Emeritas Prof. Andy Austin and Dr. Terry Bertozzi. The project collaborators also include Dr Rosa Fernandez, from Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain, and Prof. Marcus Friedrich from Wayne State University, Michigan, USA.

The project utilises a unique Australian model system based on multiple, independently-evolved subterranean water beetles to explore the adaptive and regressive changes in the genome that occur when surface species colonise subterranean habitats. The aim of the project is to characterise and investigate the evolution of chemosensory and circadian rhythm genes, which play critical roles in the fitness of animals, including the ability to find food and mates in a dark, thermally stable environment.

The project will involve genomic and RNA sequencing analyses of subterranean and related surface beetle species and it will focus on characterising chemosensory and additional gene families that are showing adaptive or regressive patterns of evolution in the subterranean species when compared to surface species.

Based in the South Australian Regional Facility for Molecular Ecology and Evolution, the facility has recently been set up with state of the art equipment for NGS library preparation and genomic sequence analyses. The project also has access to high performance computing facilities, with the Phoenix HPC service based at the University of Adelaide.

**To be successful you will need**:

- A PhD in the discipline of genetics or molecular biology and or have equivalent qualifications and extensive research experience in the area of molecular evolution.
- Demonstrated wet lab experience and capability to carry out NGS library preparation for genomic and/or transcriptomic sequence analyses and experience in phylogenetic analyses to explore gene evolution.
- Demonstrated ability to undertake independent research, including leading research, where applicable and successfully overseeing postgraduate and honours students to completion.
- Track record of quality publications and conference presentations relative to opportunity and evidence of being involved in professional activities related to research.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate across disciplines and high level organisational skills, including the ability to prioritise and manage workload within a busy environment to meet competing deadlines.

**Enjoy an outstanding career environment**

The University of Adelaide is a uniquely rewarding workplace. The size, breadth and quality of our education and research programs - including significant industry, government and community collaborations - offers you vast scope and opportunity for a long, fulfilling career.

It also enables us to attract high-calibre people in all facets of our operations, ensuring you will be surrounded by talented colleagues, many world-leading. Our work's cutting-edge nature - not just in your own area, but across virtually the full spectrum of human endeavour - provides a constant source of inspiration.

Our culture is one that welcomes all and embraces diversity consistent with our Staff Values and Behaviour Framework and our Values of integrity, respect, collegiality, excellence and discovery. We firmly believe that our people are our most valuable asset, so we work to grow and diversify the skills, knowledge and capability of all our staff.

We embrace flexibility as a key principle to allow our people to manage the changing demands of work, personal and family life.

In addition, we offer a wide range of attractive staff benefits. These include: salary packaging; flexible work arrangements; high-quality professional development programs and activities; and an on-campus health clinic, gym and other fitness facilities.

Learn more at: adelaide.edu.au/jobs

**Your faculty's broader role**

The Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology is a multidisciplinary hub of cutting-edge teaching and research. Many of its academic staff are world leaders in their fields and graduates are highly regarded by employers. The Faculty actively partners with innovative industries to solve problems of global significance.

Learn more at: set.adelaide.edu.au

**If you have the talent, we'll give you the opportunity. Together, let's make history.**

Applications close 11:55pm, Monday 23 September 2024.

**For further information**

For a confidential discussion regarding this position, contact:
Professor Steven Cooper
Senior Research Fellow
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology
P: +61 (8) 8313 5575

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