Ontogeny of the immune system in the California sea lion (CONACYT funded project)

The California sea lion is an ideal model to address issues on ontogeny and evolutionary ecology of the immune system.  The species displays high polygyny and marked sexual dimorphism once reaching sexual maturity. Furthermore, mortality and growth rates vary between sexes. In this sense, they allow testing hypotheses on early immune tradeoffs and differential maternal investment. We recently found that Galapagos sea lion pups are significantly affected by living close to urban settlements in terms of their immune activity, and that this in turn has an impact on their survival (Brock et al. in prep).

As part of a wider project on Ecoimmunology of California sea lions, this doctoral project will describe the ontogeny of the immune system in the California sea lion, a species closely related to the Galapagos sea lion, but whose sexual dimorphism is more marked and has higher differential growth rates and is subjected to distinct pathogenic pressures.

This PhD project will rely on molecular genetic and ecoimmunology techniques to describe the changes and maturation of pup and juvenile immune respones as well as the cost of its activation with respect to growth and steroidogenesis. Together with other parts of the larger project, this study will help identify key components of early immunity. In a broader sense, this project will add to our understanding of evolutionary ecology of vertebrate immunity.

The candidate should have a solid background in biological or biomedical sciences, a good level of english and spanish, some field experience and a good physical condition as the work will involve several periods working in harsh conditions in the Gulf of California. In order to be successful, the candidate must also fulfil the requirements for the Doctoral Program in Biological Sciences of the Autonomous University of Queretaro (UAQ, Mexico) (http://www.uaq.mx/FCN/fcn_DCB.html)

Applicants should send their CV, three academic letters of recommendation and a letter explaining their interest in the project before 15 November 2011. Selected candidates will be contacted by email and interviewed end of November. The doctoral position will start anytime after February 2012. Please send complete application to Dr. Karina Acevedo-Whitehouse (karina.acevedo.whitehouse@uaq.mx)