Dr. Nicole Valenzuela Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Iowa State University
251 Bessey Hall. Ames, IA 50011
(515) 294-1285
nvalenzu@iastate.edu
RESEARCH OVERVIEW We are interested in studying how ecology affects the structure, function, and evolution of the genome and its role in the development and evolution of complex phenotypes. This help us understand the evolution of biological diversity and how it responds to environmental change.
POSTDOCTORAL AND PHD OPEN POSITIONS A postdoctoral position is available anytime after 1 July 2013 to work on an NSF-funded project on sex chromosome evolution. For details and requirements click here.
A PhD position is available starting Fall 2013 or anytime thereafter. Students interested on evolutionary biology, sex determination, evo-devo, or chromosome evolution are invited to apply. For details and requirements click here.
Painted Turtle Genome Decoded! Our collaborative release paper of the first turtle genome ever sequenced is now published in Genome Biology doi:10.1186/gb-2013-14-3-r28
New Major NSF Award We received a new NSF grant (MCB 1244355) to study the genome rearrangements responsible for changes in diploid number across turtles and their association with transitions in sex determination.
Bob Literman receives DDIG NSF grant Bob was awarded a DDIG (DEB 1310793) to study the influence of histone deposition on sex determination
Why do organisms vary so remarkably in the ways they produce males and females ? Our work focuses on comparative evolutionary and ecological genomics related to the evolution of developmental pathways, particularly those that underlie the development of the sexual phenotype.
What are the causes and consequences of chomosome evolution? We are studying (a) the evolution of sex chromosomes and the genes they contain, plus (b) the genome rearrangements responsible for changes in diploid number across turtles and their association with transitions in sex determination.
