We offer a master’s project on the ecology and evolution of microbial eukaryotes. The student will get extensive training in handling large environmental sequencing datasets and modelling how traits evolve across a phylogenetic tree.
Background
Microbial eukaryotes (protists) comprise the vast majority of eukaryotic diversity, and are important members of all aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. However, we still lack basic knowledge on how their ecological niches have evolved. Is there stability or discontinuity in niches between closely related taxa? And do niches evolve gradually, or do they evolve in sudden burst with long periods of stability? In this project, we will investigate these questions while focusing on a microbial eukaryotic group of the candidate’s choice (e.g., ciliates, diatoms, haptophytes, or other free-living or parasitic taxa). The evolution of ecological traits will be modelled using large phylogenetic trees partially built with long- and short-read environmental sequencing data.
Learning outcomes
The candidate will learn how to bioinformatically handle large sequencing datasets to ask and answer fundamental biological questions. The project will involve using basic scripting, performing phylogenetic placements, and modelling character evolution. These bioinformatic skills are applicable to analysing a broad range of ecological and evolutionary problems. The candidate will also learn how to present their research in a scientific talk and paper.
Supervisors
The candidate will be supervised by Mahwash Jamy and Micah Dunthorn in the EDGE group at the Natural History Museum.