Two different positions available at our lab
PhD Position 1
A PhD position in transgenerational non-genetic (epigenetic) effects in zebrafish at I-DEEL,
E&ERC, UNSW, Australia
It is increasingly clear that non-genetic (epigenetic) parental effects influence not only the
phenotypes of offspring but also those of grand-offspring. However, we still know very little
about the extent of this effect in the subsequent generations, and its specific mechanisms. The
project will use a zebrafish model to close this gap in our understanding of transgenerational
non-genetic effects by taking an integrative evolutionary framework.
Our group (http://www.i-deel.org/) is seeking a PhD candidate to take on this project. The
candidate will conduct experiments using zebrafish to investigate how parental conditions
can transgenerationally influence subsequent generations; we especially focus on behavioural
traits. We have access to a state-of-the-art zebrafish facility and molecular facility in
collaboration with Dr. Dan Hasselson at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research
(www.garvan.org.au). There, we have developed a high-throughput behavioural phenotyping
system. High quality behavioural data will be combined with cutting edge molecular data
(individual-based transcriptome and methylation data) to explore the impact of parental
environments on subsequent offspring behaviour. We also employ modern genome editing
techniques (CRISPR, TALEN) to manipulate parental genomes and thus the potential
molecular mechanisms under investigation.
This project is challenging and uniquely interdisciplinary, by mixing molecular genetics,
evolutionary biology, behavioural ecology and statistical modeling. Therefore, the candidate
will learn not only molecular techniques but also advanced statistical and computational
methods. There are also opportunities for the candidate to develop their own PhD project
with us. Note that our lab conducts many meta-analyses, comparative analyses and computer
simulation work so these kind of projects can be blended into the PhD thesis.
Please read our webpage to see the wide range of research we conduct (www.i-deel.org).
Here are some relevant papers.
O’Dea, R. E., Noble, D. W. A., Johnson, S.L., Hesselson, D. & Nakagawa, S. (2016) The role
of non-genetic inheritance in evolutionary rescue: epigenetic buffering, heritable bet hedging,
and epigenetic traps. Environmental Epigenetics. 2:1-12
Chatterjee, A., Ozaki, Y., Stockwell, P. A. Horsfiled, J. A., Morison I. M. & Nakagawa,
S. (2013) Mapping the zebrafish brain methylome using reduced representation bisulfite
sequencing. Epigenetics. 8: 979-989
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
(1) DISCUSS: Email letter with CV, academic record, and details of two academic referees,
to A/Prof Shinichi Nakagawa ([email protected]). Your letter should explain how
your results are sufficient to allow application for a SCHOLARSHIP at UNSW (see
below). At this point we cannot provide funding for a PhD from other sources, so you need
to qualify for a scholarship (see below) or bring your own funding to work with us. Note that
we do have funding to cover all lab work.
(2) PhD CANDIDACY APPLICATION: Requirements for PhD are BSc (Hons 1), MSc, or
equivalent along with solid research and communication skills. For application timing and
details, see: https://research.unsw.edu.au/how-apply-enrol-research-degree
(3a) PhD SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION - LOCAL: Citizens or permanent residents of
Australia/NZ, apply for APA and UPA at UNSW. You will need to have completed a
research degree (e.g. MSc or BSc Honours research year), with results which are equivalent
to 85% or higher, in order to be competitive for these scholarships. Publications in ISI-listed
international journals will also help. For application timing and details
see: https://research.unsw.edu.au/postgraduate-research-scholarships
(3b) PhD SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION – INTERNATIONAL: Applicants who are NOT
citizens or permanent residents of Australia/NZ, can apply for IPRS and UIPA at UNSW. In
order to be competitive for these scholarships, you will need to have completed a research
degree (e.g. a full year of research in either MSc or BSc-Honours), with results which are
equivalent to 95% or higher for the research component of the degree. Note that a
coursework MSc is NOT acceptable.
PhD Position 2
A PhD position: Meta-analysis of biomedical data to answer questions in evolutionary
biology and evolutionary medicine at I-DEEL, E&ERC, UNSW, Australia
Meta-analysis is a standard way to summarise human medical data to gain an unbiased
overview of the field. However, only a handful of people have, to date, have meta-analyzed
data from model animals (e.g. mice, rats, fruit flies, nematodes) especially for answering
evolutionary questions. Our group (http://www.i-deel.org/) has been leading the way for such
meta-analyses. We are seeking a PhD candidate who is interested in questions in evolutionary
biology and evolutionary medicine. The candidate will use these biomedical animal data to
answer evolutionary questions (e.g. transgenerational effect, the evolution of obesity, life
history trade-offs and aging). The candidate has an opportunity to develop their own PhD
project.
This PhD is a computer based project. The PhD candidate will be trained in meta-analytic
procedures and likely to become an expert in meta-analysis and systematic reviews by the
end of their PhD. More specifically, the candidate will learn database management, data
searching techniques, text mining, multilevel statistical modeling and statistical and
computational simulations. In addition, they may even learn to develop a new methodology
(we have developed several new techniques in the past).
Please read our related publications and more (http://www.i-deel.org/):
Nakagawa, S., Noble, D. W. A. Senior, A. M. & Lagisz, M. (2017) Meta-evaluation of metaanalysis: ten appraisal questions for biologists. BMC Biology. 15: 18
Moatt, J.P., Nakagawa, S., Lagisz, M. & Walling, C. A. (2016) The effect of dietary
restriction on reproduction: a meta-analytic perspective. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 16: 199
Garratt, M., Nakagawa, S. & Simons, M. (2016) Comparative idiosyncrasies in life-extension
by reduced mTOR signalling and its distinctiveness from dietary restriction. Aging Cell 15:
737-743
Nakagawa, S., Poulin, R. Mengersen, K., Reinhold, K., Engqvist, L., Lagisz, M. & Senior, A.
M. (2015) Meta-analysis of variation: ecological and evolutionary applications and
beyond. Methods in Ecology and Evolution. 6: 143-152
Lagisz, M., Blair, H., Kenyon, P., Uller, T., Raubenheimer, D. & Nakagawa, S. (2015) Little
appetite for obesity: meta-analysis of the effects of maternal obesogenic diets on offspring
food intake and body mass in rodents. International Journal of Obesity. 39: 1669–1678
Lagisz, M., Blair, H., Kenyon, P., Uller, T., Raubenheimer, D. & Nakagawa, S. (2014)
Transgenerational effects of caloric restriction on appetite: a meta-analysis. Obesity
Reviews. 15: 294-309
Lagisz, M., Hector, K. L. & Nakagawa, S. (2013) Life extension after heat shock exposure:
assessing meta-analytic evidence for hormesis. Ageing Research Reviews. 12: 653-660
Nakagawa, S. Lagisz, M., Hector, K. L. & Spencer, H. G. (2012) Comparative and metaanalytic insights into life extension via dietary restriction. Aging Cell. 11:401-409
Hector, K. L., Lagisz, M. & Nakagawa, S. (2012) The effect of resveratrol on longevity
across species: a meta-analysis. Biology Letters. 8: 790-793.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
(1) DISCUSS: Email letter with CV, academic record, and details of two academic referees,
to A/Prof Shinichi Nakagawa ([email protected]). Your letter should explain how
your results are sufficient to allow application for a SCHOLARSHIP at UNSW (see
below). At this point we cannot provide funding for a PhD from other sources, so you need
to qualify for a scholarship (see below) or bring your own funding to work with us.
(2) PhD CANDIDACY APPLICATION: Requirements for PhD are BSc (Hons 1), MSc, or
equivalent along with solid research and communication skills. For application timing and
details, see: https://research.unsw.edu.au/how-apply-enrol-research-degree
(3a) PhD SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION - LOCAL: Citizens or permanent residents of
Australia/NZ, apply for APA and UPA at UNSW. You will need to have completed a
research degree (e.g. MSc or BSc Honours research year), with results which are equivalent
to 85% or higher, in order to be competitive for these scholarships. Publications in ISI-listed
international journals will also help. For application timing and details
see: https://research.unsw.edu.au/postgraduate-research-scholarships
(3b) PhD SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION – INTERNATIONAL: Applicants who are NOT
citizens or permanent residents of Australia/NZ, can apply for IPRS and UIPA at UNSW. In
order to be competitive for these scholarships, you will need to have completed a research
degree (e.g. a full year of research in either MSc or BSc-Honours), with results which are
equivalent to 95% or higher for the research component of the degree. Note that a
coursework MSc is NOT acceptable.