I am looking to recruit a graduate student for Fall 2018 to study the evolutionary interplay of behavior and morphology in the context of sexual selection.
Research in my lab focuses on sexual selection in insects, examining the importance of nutritional and social environments both for the expression of sexually-selected traits and for the process of selection itself. We primarily work on leaf-footed bugs, Family Coreidae. These insects wrestle with their hind legs over territories and have an amazing diversity of hind leg shapes. Ongoing 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 factors influencing mate choice. We are currently reconstructing a phylogeny of the group to test hypotheses of weapon shape evolution. The successful applicant for this position can choose to work locally in Florida or pursue international field work, at a location such as the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. Prospective students are encouraged to email Christine W. Miller at [email protected] by November 8th (later inquiries might also be considered). Include in your email a statement including: 1) the kinds of research questions that you would like to pursue, 2) how these fit in with current lab research, 3) a brief overview of your previous academic and research experiences, 4) CV or resume, 5) GRE scores (if you have them), and 6) an unofficial transcript. Accepted students will be provided a tuition waiver and a competitive stipend. For more information please visit www.millerlab.net. Information about Gainesville, Florida: Situated in the rolling countryside of north central Florida, Gainesville is much more than a stereotypical college town. Home of the University of Florida, seat of Alachua County's government and the region's commercial hub, it is progressive, environmentally conscious and culturally diverse. The presence of many students and faculty from abroad among its 99,000-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. Time and time again, Gainesville has been named one of Florida's most liveable cities and ranked among the leaders in the United States - a reputation created by an exceptional combination of local features. Agreeable weather and lovely landscapes, attractive educational and economic opportunities, varied cultural and recreational resources, and a youthful, energetic ambiance all contribute to the standard of living enjoyed by area residents. Christine W. Miller | University of Florida Associate Professor of Entomology Entomology & Nematology Department phone: (352) 273-3917 web: www.MillerLab.net facebook: @bugweapons
