Environments are changing rapidly and organisms must adapt to new climatic conditions that affect their biology both at individual, population, and species scale. Understanding how organisms cope with global change stressors is central to characterize and predict the effect of climate change on natural populations on a short-term timeline. It is generally accepted that the adaptation to environmental changes has a polygenic basis. In this view, transposable elements (TEs) are among the best candidates to generate genetic and epigenetic variability that allows responding to stressful environmental changes. TEs represent a significant fraction of eukaryotic genomes referred to as “mobilome”. Although the exact function of TEs is still largely unknown, they are environment-sensitive molecular elements whose activity can be triggered by numerous environmental stressors (as climate changes, toxicants, and pests). TEs can cause chromosome rearrangements, increase mutation rates, or influence the expression of nearby genes, triggering the rapid adaptation of organisms to new conditions. The aim of this research proposal is to evaluate the genomic and transcriptomic response through molecular and bioinformatics approaches in aquatic animal species to environmental changes and investigate the role of TEs in species adaptation. The findings will be useful to improve management strategies.

Candidates are expected to have a background in genomics and transcriptomics with particular focus on molecular adaptation to environmental changes. Preferred skills reflect the ability to process biological samples using modern molecular biology techniques, genetics, and bioinformatics.

The project will be carried out at the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences of the Polytechnic University of Marche (DISVA). DISVA includes interdisciplinary laboratories such as molecular phylogenetics, biological physics, cell and molecular biology, genetics, biochemistry, chemistry, microbiology, physiology, reproductive biology, marine ecotoxicology, and oceanography. http://www.disva.univpm.it/ The DISVA offers the possibility to use the Actea Mobile Laboratory to sampling activities and hosts the "Aquarium" Laboratory representing a unique infrastructure at National level.