Postdoc position available!

The Latch Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is recruiting a Postdoctoral Fellow in population genetics, to work at the intersection of captive population management and wildlife conservation. The fellow will design and conduct computational research focused on pedigree-based management. The fellow will have considerable flexibility in the selection of specific projects, and successful candidates are encouraged to be creative in developing their own projects that utilize simulations or modeling approaches related to resolving incomplete pedigrees and utilizing pedigrees in wildlife conservation and management. The work will have important implications for the conservation and management of wildlife both in situ and ex situ, and I anticipate that the fellow could make meaningful contributions to either or both of these fields.

A PhD in molecular ecology, population genetics, computational biology or related discipline is required. Applicants should have a strong publication record, demonstrable experience in molecular data analysis and computer modeling (C++ or C# preferred), and competency with at least one scripting language (e.g., Perl, Python, R). The position is funded for up to three years, has a salary of $47,476, and may begin as early as February 2018.

To apply, please submit a brief cover letter, a one-page description of your research experience/interests, and a CV with the names and contact information for three references to Emily Latch (latch@uwm.edu). Please see https://sites.uwm.edu/latch/ to learn more about our group and send any questions or informal inquiries regarding the position to latch@uwm.edu. UW-Milwaukee is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. Applicants from groups traditionally underrepresented in science are especially encouraged to apply.

Lab hosts Wes Larson

The Latch lab hosted Wes Larson, USGS Wisconsin Cooperative Fishery Research Unit at UW-Stevens Point.  Wes uses genetic and genomic tools to inform fisheries management, and gave an excellent colloquium on the genomics of ecotypic variation in sockeye salmon.  We really enjoyed his visit!

September conferences

In September the lab went to the AZA annual conference (Emily and Andrea) and the TWS annual conference in Albuquerque (Emily, Genelle, Bennett, and Rachael).  The Molecular Ecology Working Group was very active at TWS, hosting a Workshop and a Symposium.  We are re-energized and ready to get back in the lab!

Welcome Ling!

We are excited to have Xueling Yi join our lab!  Ling comes to us from the Luo lab at Peking University; here at UWM she will be working on bat population genetics.

NSF-GRFP for Bennett!

We are excited to announce that Bennett received a fellowship from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)!  This will help support his research combining extensive field work with genomic tools to conserve the Cascades frog in the Pacific Northwest.

A huge congratulations to Bennett!  This is an outstanding achievement!

Genelle awarded Leopold Scholarship

Genelle was awarded the 2017 Aldo Leopold Memorial Scholarship by the Wisconsin Chapter of The Wildlife Society.  Presented at their annual meeting, this award is “to provide support and recognition for wildlife researchers/managers who are continuing their professional training, and in so doing, honor the memory of Aldo Leopold”. Congrats Genelle!

Badger paper accepted

Our paper describing rangewide patterns of genetic structure (or lack thereof!) in American badgers was accepted for publication in Molecular Ecology.  Congrats Liz!