PhD positions are available in the research group of Christine W. Miller at the University of Florida. The successful applicant will start Fall 2024 to work on an NSF-sponsored project on male-male competition using techniques and perspectives from evolutionary biology, behavior, ecology, and biomechanics. Over the next year we will be hiring an additional Ph.D. student, a postdoc, and more; please see http://www.millerlab.net/opportunities.html for more information. We are a diverse, inclusive, and enthusiastic research group.
We use the leaf-footed bugs, Family Coreidae, to understand broad patterns in evolutionary biology. These insects are excellent experimental subjects for student work. They wrestle with their hind legs over territories and have an amazing diversity of hind leg shapes. Other projects in the lab include studies of trade-offs between weapons and testes; the effect of nutrition and social environments on weapon structure, testes size, and male fighting behavior; and the evolution of phenotypic plasticity. Our new phylogeny of the Coreidae allows us to test hypotheses of weapon shape evolution.
The successful applicant for this position will have previous research experience and coursework in the fields of evolution, biomechanics, and/or animal behavior. Experience with insects is not necessary. This position pays approx. $30,000/year for 4 years and includes a tuition waver and health benefits. To be competitive, a M.S. degree in a related field and/or substantial research experience in one or more the fields mentioned above is required. Prospective students are encouraged to send application materials to Dr. Christine W. Miller, cwmiller@ufl.edu by October 2nd. Before sending an email, please first consult the laboratorys website, www.millerlab.net, to learn about our work and to peruse our publications.
Your email should include 1) a description of your interest in male-male competition, biomechanics, and/or animal behavior (broadly), 2) an explanation of how your previous research experience could contribute to the topics we investigate in this lab, 3) a brief overview of any publications, presentations, and your academic experiences, 4) a CV, 5) an unofficial transcript, and 5) why you feel you are ready for a Ph.D.
Information about Gainesville, Florida:
Situated in the rolling countryside of north central Florida, Gainesville, is close to world-class fishing, snorkeling, canoeing, tubing and kayaking. On land, there are opportunities for birding, hiking, biking, and fishing. Home of the University of Florida, Gainesville is progressive, environmentally conscious, and culturally diverse. The presence of many students and faculty from abroad among its 100,000-plus population adds a strong cross-cultural flavor to its historic small-town Southern roots. Its natural environment, temperate climate and civic amenities make Gainesville a beautiful, pleasant, and interesting place in which to learn and to live.
Christine W. Miller (She/Her)
Associate Professor
