Biodiversity Genomics & Evolution

Seeking applications: PhD position in Ecology and Evolution at CCMB

Application deadline: 15 May 2025.

The origin, diversification and maintenance of biodiversity is strikingly uneven across space and time. A staggering megadiversity of some lineages over other disparately microdiverse groups pose a fundamental question– what makes a lineage asymmetrically diverse than its close relatives on a changing planet? Our newly started lab explores the genetic underpinnings and consequences of asymmetric diversity, with a specific focus on the megadiversity within the arthropod group Chelicerata. This group includes arachnids (spiders, scorpions, ticks, mites, solifuges, etc.), horseshoe crabs, and sea spiders. We use genomic, museomic, computational and experimental approaches to reconstruct their evolutionary relationships, diversification dynamics and the evolution of novel traits or key innovations (traits that facilitate radiation by entering new adaptive zone) leading to an evolutionary advantage. In addition to macroevolutionary research, we capitalize on our location on the Deccan plateau to explore the evolutionary history of unchartered arachnid lineages. We envision a biodiversity observatory for these groups digitized using machine learning and classical natural history collections. This call pertains to explore the asymmetric evolution of Acari (ticks and mites). We will study their evolutionary interrelationships, genetic origins of parasitism and diversification shift in correlation to past major evolutionary events.

We are currently looking for enthusiastic and motivated students to explore the dynamic evolution of Acari (ticks and mites) and origins of their parasitism. For further enquiries about these positions, please write to siddharth@csirccmb.org. More details of CCMB’s PhD program can be found here.

Who can apply?  Candidates with a master’s degree in any branch of Science with minimum 55% marks (without rounding off) or equivalent grade for General (UR)/General-EWS and minimum 50% marks (without rounding off) or equivalent grade for OBC (NCL)/SC/ST, Third gender and Persons with Disability (PwD). The applicant should have a valid National-level Fellowship (JRF/ SRF of any funding agency, e.g. CSIR, UGC, DBT, DST, GATE-EY, etc.) or any other equivalent fellowship like DBT-BET, INSPIRE, RGNF, etc. (TENABLE AT ALL AcSIR ACADEMIC CENTRE).

To apply.  Please send a single consolidated PDF named “[Lastname]_PhDcall2025” with your (1) cover letter, (2) statement of purpose, (3) Curriculum Vitae (including publication list), (4) contact details for two referees, and optionally (5) one sample publication, if available to siddharth@csirccmb.org.

In addition, please make an application to the CCMB portal, and select the ‘LaCONES only’ option for the PhD in the Biodiversity Genomics and Evolution Lab (BiomE Lab) – https://apply.registernow.in/CCMB/phd25/

Students interested in doing a PhD in the BiomE Lab are exempted from the CCMB entrance exam. Shortlisted candidates will be called for an interview. The final selection will be based on the overall merit of their application, strength of references and performance in the interview. Be mindful of the other important deadlines.

About the BiomE lab. I am starting a new lab. My past research has closed several impending knowledge gaps in the chelicerate tree of life such as first reconstruction of the global evolutionary history for Amblypygi and Solifugae groups; most comprehensive spider phylogeny with overview of its major lineages using genome-scale data sets. We designed the Spider2Kv1 probe set to target ultraconserved elements (UCEs) that has expedited resolution of various branches in the arachnid tree of life. Using comparative genomics, we have established the plesiomorphic configuration of gene families using first chromosome-scaffolded genome for Uropygi which shares a whole genome duplication with spiders. More details of our research are posted on the lab website.