Postdoctoral Opportunity: Phenotype Bioinformatics Applied to Evo-Devo

Phenoscape (http://phenoscape.org) is an initiative to link knowledge about the genetic mechanisms of development and evolutionary phenotypic diversity. The Phenoscape Knowledgebase (http://kb.phenoscape.org) currently includes a rich collection of over half a million phenotypes for over 2,000 fish taxa and over 4,000 genes, all annotated using shared ontologies to enable analysis across taxa and genes.  The National Science Foundation recently made a four year award to extend Phenoscape’s semantic technology for the integration of phenotype data across the vertebrates, with a focus on the genetics and evolution of the vertebrate fin to limb transition.  

We are currently recruiting for a bioinformatics postdoc with an interest in (1) semi-automatically capturing phenotypic knowledge from the literature and (2) using ontologies to measure biological similarity between phenotypes. The postdoc is encouraged to have an independent project that uses the Phenoscape Knowledgebase as a research platform, e.g. to address questions about the evolution and development of vertebrate limbs.

The position is based at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center (NESCent) in Durham, NC, under the supervision of Hilmar Lapp and Todd Vision. The postdoc will have the opportunity to take advantage of the expertise of a large interdisciplinary team, including Dr. Paula Mabee (University of South Dakota), Dr. Chris Mungall (Lawrence Berkeley National Lab) and Dr. Hong Cui (University of Arizona), among others.

Applicants should have a PhD in Evolutionary Biology, Bioinformatics or a related field. Prior experience with comparative biology and ontologies would be desirable. Two years of funding are currently available, with further opportunities for independently funded research.

To apply, please send cover letter, CV, and contact information for three references to Hilmar Lapp at hlapp@nescent.org.  Inquiries may be directed to the same address.  The post is open immediately and will remain open until filled.

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: Hilmar Lapp -:- Durham, NC -:- hlapp at drycafe dot net :
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Received on Wednesday, 29 February 2012 03:16:37 UTC