MS / PhD in phenotypic plasticity and eco-evo-devo

Overview

Job Title : MS / PhD in phenotypic plasticity and eco-evo-devo

Job Number : 106751

Location : Fayetteville, AR, US

The Levis lab at the University of Arkansas is seeking MS / PhD students to study phenotypic plasticity and eco-evo-devo.

The lab's work broadly stems from the central premise that phenotypes are not wrought by genes alone. The ultimate source of phenotypic variation is developmental innovation, which depends on genetic and environmental factors. Nowhere is this point more apparent than by the widespread existence of a phenomenon known as phenotypic plasticity, which is the ability of organisms to produce multiple phenotypes in response to environmental variation. Our research strives to understand how genes and environment influence phenotype production within and between generations by investigating the developmental, ecological, and evolutionary causes and consequences of phenotypic plasticity.

As a model for understanding plasticity evolution more generally, the Levis lab uses species of spadefoot toad and shark-tooth nematode that exhibit an extreme form of plasticity (resource polyphenism) that is characterized by development of alternative morphs that utilize different diets. Although we are broadly interested in plasticity, some of our current foci include

• Uncovering plasticity's molecular bases in a complex natural system,
• determining how constraints on plasticity affect its evolution, and
• clarifying how nongenetic inheritance influences the evolution of plasticity.

These topics are addressed using a variety of approaches ranging from experimental evolution and microcosm competition to functional genetics and transcriptomics.

Responsibilities and Qualifications

Required Qualifications :

Preferred Qualifications (not required, but a plus) :

Application Information

Interested students should visit the lab website and contact Dr. Nicholas Levis with a :

Application Information :

About the University & Region :

The University of Arkansas (R1, land-grant, founded in 1871) is located in Fayetteville, a safe, welcoming community with a low cost of living and consistently ranked among the best places to live in the U.S. Surrounded by Fortune 500 companies, a vibrant arts scene, and stunning natural beauty, Fayetteville offers both strong professional opportunities and a high quality of life.

Nickolas Levis, PhD

Assistant Professor of Evolutionary Biology

Department of Biological Sciences

University of Arkansas

Fayetteville, AR 72701

Website : Please click the Apply button for the link or email.

Application Deadline : 2026-03-28

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