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By Amro, November 5, 2009

The BeeUNIT 2009 Crew

Zayed Lab, Nov 2009

Left to Right: Sadia, Amer, Clement, Kirill, Amro

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By Amro, October 28, 2009

I am pleased to announce that NSERC postdoctoral fellow Dr. Clement Kent has joined our laboratory. Dr. Kent received his PhD from the University of Toronto where he studied the genetics of foraging and ‘social’ behaviours in the fruit fly with Drs. Marla Sokolowski and Joel Levine.

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By Amro, October 28, 2009

We have the first cohort of Research @ York students join the lab for the Fall/Winter 2009.
Dr. Sadia Munir, Kirill Sofier and Amer Issa will be involved in population genetic studies of behavioural genes in the honey bee.

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By Amro, August 16, 2009

The National Science Foundation (USA) will fund a collaborative research project to investigate how worker honey bees transition between behavioural states.  The project “A systems approach to brain and behavioral state in the honey bee” will be undertaken by Dr. Charles Whitfield’s (Principal Investigator) laboratory at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagin, and Dr. Amro Zayed (Co-Principal Investigator) at York University.  More information on the project can be found on NSF’s website.

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By Amro, July 26, 2009

NOTE: These positions have been filled – please check again next Summer / Fall

Three undergraduate work-study positions will be available in my laboratory for the upcoming Fall ’09 and Winter ’10 terms (with potential for extension into the Summer ’10 term).  The work-study positions are available for York University undergraduates only, and the jobs will be officially posted on York University’s career centre website (http://www.yorku.ca/careers/) in late August.  Below is a description of the jobs.  Please provide me with your CV and an unofficial transcript if you are interested in applying for the positions.

Molecular Biology Research Assistant (x2): The successful applicant will conduct several molecular biology experiments involving DNA isolation, amplification, and sequencing, as part of a larger effort to understand the evolution of genes affecting behaviour in bees. The applicant will gain further expertise in research, and will generate data that will be published in peer-reviewed journals.  Qualifications: Hands-on knowledge of standard molecular biology techniques (e.g. PCR, gel electrophoresis, etc.). Candidates who completed BIOL3140 – Advanced biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Laboratory (or a similar course) are particularly encouraged to apply.

Bioinformatics Research Assistant (x1): The successful applicant will help run bioinformatic applications to analyze genetic datasets gathered from natural populations, as part of a greater effort to study the evolution of genes affecting behaviour in bees.  This is an excellent opportunity for students in computer science to apply their technical skills to the growing field of biology informatics and genomic sciences. The applicant will gain further expertise in research, and will generate data that will be published in peer-reviewed journals. Qualifications: Experience in scripting (particularly Perl) would be highly advantageous.  Some knowledge of programming would also be an asset.

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By Amro, July 7, 2009

Hot off the press, Zayed 2009 is an invited review on the current state of Bee Genetics and Conservation.  Topics reviewed include genetic risks of extinction in bees (the diploid male vortex, and inbreeding depression), how genetic tools can inform bee conservation management, and how newly developed genomic tools for bees can be applied in conservation efforts.

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By Amro, July 3, 2009

Two graduate positions (at the PhD or MSc level) are available in my
laboratory at York University’s Department of Biology (Toronto, Canada;
http://www.yorku.ca/gradbiol/) to study several aspects of the honey bee’s
sociogenomics and evolutionary genetics, starting September 2009.  My lab
will embark on a research program to connect functional genomics (to
identify the genes, and gene networks affecting honey bee behaviour) with
population genetics (to examine the evolutionary processes affecting such
networks) in order to understand the HOWs and WHYs of the evolution of
social behaviour.

My molecular biology laboratory and research apiary will provide students
with a rich and diverse training experience.  The successful candidates will
be exposed to an integrative and exciting environment at the intersection of
population genetics (quantifying genetic diversity across the honey bee
genome, querying the genome for evidence of selection), quantitative
genetics (quantitative trait loci [QTL] mapping, estimating the genetic
architecture of behavioural traits), genomics (measuring global gene
expression and protein levels), and bioinformatics, in addition to learning
about bee behaviour and natural history.  Further, York University is the
third largest university in Canada, and the Department of Biology is home to
a large and diverse group of researchers, and Toronto is a great city to
live and work.

If you are interested in joining my laboratory, please email me
(zayed@yorku.ca) a copy of your CV/resume along with a statement of your
research interests.  Interested candidates must meet the Department of
Biology’s admission requirements (http://www.yorku.ca/gradbiol/howtoapply.html),
and have previous undergraduate or graduate training in at least one of the
following fields: molecular biology / genetics, animal behaviour,
evolutionary biology, mathematics / statistics, and computer science.
Students with non-biology backgrounds (e.g. computer science, mathematics,
physics, etc.) are welcome.  Canadian or international candidates with a
graduate scholarship will receive a top-up to their funds.

Sincerely,
Amro

Dr. Amro Zayed
Assistant Professor
Department of Biology
York University