Dr. Yoav Ram
Life Sciences
We study population biology, including evolutionary biology, ecology, and cultural evolution, using mathematical, computational, and statistical models and collaborations with empirical biologists.
We are interested in a variety of biological systems: from viruses, bacteria, and fungi, to whales, hyrax, and humans. Our long-term goal is to understand how mechanisms that generate and transmit variation at different levels-genetic, behavioral, cultural-interact to shape the evolutionary process.
Current and future research projects:
- The role of aneuploidy and copy number variation in adaptive evolution
- Non-vertical cultural transmission and social learning
- Inference of cultural evolution in large-scale anthropological data
- Deep learning and Bayesian inference in experimental evolution
- Effects of social structure on genetic and cultural variation and differentiation
- Cultural evolution of social behavior
- Emergence of language and communication in non-human animals and artificial intelligence
Life Sciences
- School of Zoology
Students and postdocs build and analyze computational, mathematical, and statistical models in population biology (evolution, ecology, cultural evolution).
The position requires independent and creative thinking, commitment to the work, and a wide perspective on biology and related fields.
- Background in either programming, math, or statistics is required.
- Background in biology is an advantage, but for some of our projects, a background in related fields can be a good substitute (psychology/anthropology/archeology/linguistics).
