Ira Cooke

James Cook University in Australia is advertising a PhD project and a Masters project in marine biology, aquaculture, genomics, and molecular ecology. PhD project: Does structural variation underpin adaptation in Antarctic marine invertebrates? This project focuses on structural genomic variants (SVs), adaptive evolution, speciation, conservation genetics, and genome rearrangement in Antarctic marine invertebrates. It may include Antarctic fieldwork and will build on existing data from Antarctica. The project is especially relevant to students interested in marine genomics, bioinformatics, evolutionary biology, and biodiversity under environmental change. PhD eligibility: Applicants should have a First Class Honours degree or equivalent in biological science or a related field. Experience in genetics, genomics, or bioinformatics is preferred. Publications are desirable but not essential. The PhD is scheduled to commence in 2026, and applications close on 22 June. Funding: The PhD provides $36,500 per year for 3.5 years (tax exempt), with field and laboratory expenses supported by the broader project. How to apply: Send a CV, academic transcript, and a short letter of suitability and interest to Prof. Jan Strugnell and Assoc. Prof. Ira Cooke by email. Masters project: Southern range limit of the tropical Black-lip rock oyster; an emerging aquaculture species . This project examines the distribution and southern range limit of Saccostrea echinata using species-specific assays, environmental DNA (eDNA), metabarcoding, fieldwork, laboratory work, and molecular genetic analyses. It is a collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland, and James Cook University. Masters supervision: Dr Max Wingfield (Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Queensland) and Prof. Jan Strugnell (James Cook University). Contact: Interested applicants for either project can contact Jan Strugnell at [email protected].