Katja Kasimatis

Research Associate in Biology The Department of Biology at the University of Virginia invites applicants for a post-doctoral Research Associate position in the lab of Professor Amanda Gibson as part of an NSF-funded project. The Gibson lab is broadly interested in the evolution of avoidance versus resistance as modes of parasite defense. This project specifically tests the idea that host dispersal evolves as an escape in space from parasites, and it evaluates the downstream consequences of dispersal for the evolution of host resistance. The work makes use of the experimental tools and resources available for the model nematode C. elegans and its natural parasites. Associated projects entail evolve-and-resequencing, quantitative trait mapping, and field sampling with spatial analyses. The selected candidate will also mentor undergraduate students in independent research projects through a summer program for incoming transfer students. Find out more about the lab at https://coevolving.org. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS: o A PhD in Biology or a related field by the start date. PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: Demonstrated conceptual and technical strengths in host-parasite interactions, evolutionary ecology, evolutionary genetics, and/or dispersal biology Experience in basic lab and molecular work A strong background in experimental design, data analysis, and data management Excellent written and oral communication, demonstrated by a strong publication record, consistent with the candidate’s career stage, and presentations at conferences Demonstrated ambition, creativity, independence, and ability to work well with others Experience in and dedication to mentoring junior trainees APPLICATION PROCEDURE: Apply online https://jobs.virginia.edu/us and search for R0078709. Attach a cover letter outlining your qualifications and motivation for pursuing the position, curriculum vitae, and contact information for three individuals who can provide professional reference letters. In the cover letter, please address your fit with the qualifications above and your experience in mentoring undergraduates. Please note that multiple documents can be uploaded in the box. APPLICATION DEADLINE: Review of applications will begin on January 15, 2026. The University will perform background checks on all new hires prior to employment. Anticipated start date for this position is May, 2026, but the start date is flexible. This is a one-year appointment; however, appointment may be renewed for additional two, one-year increments, contingent upon available funding and satisfactory performance. For questions about the position, please contact Amanda Gibson, Associate Professor, at akg5nq@virginia.edu. For questions about the application process, please contact Richard Haverstrom, Academic Recruiter, at rkh6j@virginia.edu. For information on the benefits available to postdoctoral associates at UVA, visit postdoc.virginia.edu and hr.virginia.edu/benefits. The University of Virginia is an equal opportunity employer. All interested persons are encouraged to apply, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Click here to read more about UVA’s commitment to non-discrimination and equal opportunity employment. PLEASE READ: The job postings for this page have been moved to a new location. Please visit the UVA Careers Websites to navigate to the appropriate site, or click UVA Careers in the upper right corner of this page to view open positions. If have already applied and need to log in to your existing Workday account, please click Sign In in the upper right corner of this page. Please do not sign in until you have visited and applied through a UVA Careers website.

The Gibson lab at UVA is hiring a postdoc to study dispersal as a parasite avoidance mechanism. Apply by mid-January: https://uva.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/UVAJobs/job/Charlottesville-VA/Research-Associate-in-Biology_R0078709. #postdoc

The University of Virginia and Cornell deals with Trump set a dangerous precedent | Serena Mayeri and Amanda Shanor The bespoke agreements are full of peril for the universities, allowing the federal government to quietly exert control

#AcademicSky
The University of Virginia and Cornell deals with Trump could reshape academic freedom and federal oversight, writes The Guardian today

When mothers survive, the world thrives.

By training midwives, equipping clinics, and ensuring every mother has access to lifesaving care, we are strengthening systems to ensure that every mother gets the care they deserve.

Learn more: https://bit.ly/4ooSqhs

Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.

It's a surreal--and troubling--read.

drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...

Text: Society for the Study of Evolution Undergraduate Community at Evolution Program. Applications due January 20, 2026.

The Undergraduate Community at Evolution program provides travel funding, mentoring, and a presentation opportunity at #Evol2026. Please share with undergrads in your lab! www.evolutionsociety.org/content/educ...
@asn-amnat.bsky.social @systbiol.bsky.social @evolmtg.bsky.social

Distinct haplotypes and reversed dominance at a single-gene balanced polymorphism controlling heterodichogamy in two genera of wingnuts In most species within the walnut family, two genetically determined morphs alternate between male and female flowering phases in time. Groh et al. identify a distinct locus for this dimorphism in two...

Sharing our new paper, "Distinct haplotypes and reversed dominance at a single-gene balanced polymorphism controlling heterodichogamy in two genera of wingnuts". Genomics & evolution of a mating type system involving two morphs with alternating sexes in walnut relatives www.cell.com/current-biol...

We're excited to be recruiting an NIH funded postdoc to work in the Coop lab at UC Davis. We're specifically interested in candidates who are want to work at the intersection of human genetics, GWAS, and population genetics modeling. Please RT

State Senate Democrats tell UVA to not consider education compact Democrats in the state Senate write that if UVA signs the Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education, “there will be significant consequences in future Virginia budget cycles.”

#JustIn: Democrats in the state Senate say "future budget considerations" could impact UVA if it signs onto the Trump administration's education compact.

UVA Faculty Senate with a clear statement of values: facultysenate.virginia.edu/resolution-o...

Breaking News: Read three top CDC officials' resignation emails. The end of an era.

Enough is enough. The health of the country is in danger. Read our resignation letters: insidemedicine.substack.com/p/breaking-n...

Sign the IMPEACH RFK Citizens' Petition to Congress — STAND UP FOR SCIENCE Join with us to sign our Citizens' Petition to the US Congress to choose the people over Trump and Impeach RFK Jr Now!

Sign the petition to call for the removal of RFK, Jr.

www.standupforscience.net/rfk-impeachm...

I’m excited to share our work which identifies a new seminal fluid protein in C. elegans!

AAP will continue to publish its own vaccine recommendations after CDC advisers sow distrust The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices plans to form a work group to review child and adolescent immunization schedules despite them undergoing constant review in real time.

The American Academy of Pediatricians bluntly telling us the current CDC can't be trusted, and of course they are absolutely correct

publications.aap.org/aapnews/news...

Kennedy’s New Advisers to Broaden Scrutiny of Childhood Vaccines

Just minutes into the first meeting of scientific advisers appointed by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., it was clear that the skeptical panelists intended to upend longstanding vaccine recommendations in the US, particularly those pertaining to children.

www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/h...

Millions of people are at risk of losing their health care and it’s no accident.

Follow the thread to learn more 🧵👇

An image of female nematodes with mating plugs (left) and an image of dyed sperm in the female reproductive tract (right).

Hey #Evol2025! Come here about some of the awesome work our lab is doing. Lynsey will be presenting on the function of mate plugging in C. elegans on Monday at 4:30pm in Athena F.

Dynamic Birth and Death of Argonaute Gene Family Functional Repertoire Across Caenorhabditis Nematodes Abstract. Diverse small RNA pathways, composed of Argonaute effector proteins and their bound small RNA molecules, define critical systems for regulating g

Exciting new study showing extensive Argonaute protein family gain, loss, neofunctionalization + more among species, by PhD student Daniel Fusca with @katjakasimatis.bsky.social + Hongyu Zhu; Now out @genomebiolevol.bsky.social #celegans #rna doi.org/10.1093/gbe/...

The RECOVER team has just published a paper showing that 14% of infants and toddlers and 15% of preschoolers have symptoms of LongCOVID compared to uninfected kids.

COVID19 vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of LongCOVID, but RFK Jr. has decided this isn’t important.

Link ⬇️

Young pregnant women are also at an increased risk of mortality and severe illness due to coronavirus disease 2019: analysis of the Mexican National Surveillance Program There is conflicting information regarding whether pregnant women are at increased risk of severe complications from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We sought to understa...

Vaccines are key to reducing #COVID risk, especially for pregnant people

“Pregnant women with COVID-19 consistently had a higher risk of death & pneumonia than nonpregnant women of similar age with COVID-19”

Adj. Relative risk of death: 1.68 (1.36–2.08)

Adj. RR of pneumonia: 1.97 (1.82–2.13)

📣 Medicaid is the backbone of maternal and child health in the U.S.

As attacks on this essential program continue, here’s what’s at stake for moms, babies, and families across the country. 🧵👇

INTERNAL CONFLICTS AND ORGANISMAL ADAPTATION ESEB Special Topic Network

Registration (free!) is now open for the second Internal Conflicts and Organismal Adaptation STN workshop in Barcelona on August 17! Like our first workshop, it will feature contributed talks and group-based discussions on key themes. Info + registration: internalconflictsSTN.wordpress.com. [1/2]

Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025!

Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide!

#scienceforall #sciencenotsilence

Some people might need these this week.

Transcriptomic Sexual Conflict at Two Evolutionary Timescales Revealed by Experimental Evolution in Caenorhabditis elegans Abstract. Sex-specific regulation of gene expression is the most plausible way for generating sexually differentiated phenotypes from an essentially shared

Now in print, led by @katjakasimatis.bsky.social: Transcriptomic Sexual Conflict at Two Evolutionary Timescales Revealed by Experimental Evolution in Caenorhabditis elegans. academic.oup.com/gbe/article/...

Reproductive interference alters species coexistence in nematodes due to asymmetric sperm-induced harm Species coexistence is shaped by a range of biotic and abiotic factors. Beyond predation, parasitism, and competition, one species may interfere with another's reproduction to induce sexual exclusion ...

Just accepted #EcologyLetters! Exciting work by recent grad Rebecca Schalkowski with @katjakasimatis.bsky.social and Megan Greischar linking 2 species community coexistence to sperm cell mediated reproductive interference! Preprint here www.authorea.com/users/804447...

Really excited to see this work come out! We show that sexual conflict can be generated over only tens of generations.

I’d love to be added! Thanks!

Text: Society for the Study of Evolution Dobzhansky Prize, to recognize the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist, nominations due December 1, 2024.

Nominations due soon for the 2025 Dobzhansky Prize! This award recognizes the accomplishments and future promise of an outstanding early-career evolutionary biologist. Submit your nomination now! shorturl.at/p70wY

Happening tomorrow (9/11/24)! Join us and ask all your questions about UVA Biology 💙🧡🪰🪱🐀🦠🧫🧬

Also, join us on Wednesday Sept. 11th from 3-4pm ET to learn more about @uvabio and how to apply to our graduate programs! Zoom webinar details in the flyer!