Phylogenetic diversity of the Levant
David Ackerly, Professor
Integrative Biology
Closed. This professor is continuing with Fall 2023 apprentices on this project; no new apprentices needed for Spring 2024.
The Levant is an understudied biodiversity hotspot that harbors one of the world’s richest extratropical floras. This project aims to improve our understanding of the distribution of vascular plant diversity of Western Lebanon and Syria through an evolutionary lens. We will sequence DNA from each genus native to the Levant in order to infer a phylogenetic tree for the flora that will be used in downstream phylogenetic diversity analyses.
Role: The apprentice will extract DNA from 100s of silica-dried samples using the CTAB method. Resources and time permitting, the apprentice may also conduct Hyb-seq library prep and submit the samples for sequencing. In addition to the project, the apprentice will have the opportunity to participate in lab activities such as lab meetings and field trips.
Qualifications: Apprentice should be self motivated, able to work independently, and seek help when necessary.
Day-to-day supervisor for this project: Maryam Sedaghatpour, Ph.D. candidate
Hours: to be negotiated
Related website: https://www.ackerlylab.org/
Biological & Health Sciences