Context. This postdoctoral position is to take part to the ERC-funded ALTEREVO project (2023-2027) coordinated by Dr Jean-Christophe Simon, which aims at identifying the evolutionary and molecular determinants of host alternation allowing aphids to feed on different plants depending on the season. For more details on the project:
https://www.inrae.fr/en/news/erc-grant-better-understand-plant-insect-interactions.
Research environment. The research will be performed in JC Simon’s team at INRAE IGEPP, in Le Rheu nearby Rennes, Brittany, France (
https://www6.rennes.inrae.fr/igepp_eng/). IGEPP is a joint research unit from three institutional bodies (INRAE, University of Rennes and Institut Agro). It offers excellent infrastructures to carry out molecular and biological experiments on plants and insects, including high performance climatic chambers, confined laboratories to work on genetically modified or quarantine organisms, up-to-date molecular biology labs and equipment and dedicated platforms: BIPAA (bioinformatics), P2M2 (metabolomics) and PCMV (molecular cytogenetics).
Research objectives of the position. Under the supervision of JC Simon, within an ambitious project involving other permanent and ERC-funded staff, the postdoc will be in charge of characterizing the molecular changes associated with nutritional polyphenism in aphids that undergo an obligate alternation between unrelated plants. The applicant will collect samples from different dissected tissues from stages and morphs of aphids involved in nutritional polyphenism and analyse expression changes in genes and regulatory factors, as well as epigenetic (including chromatin accessibility and histone marks) changes. He/she will perform data integration of these omics data to identify Gene Regulatory Networks underlying nutritional polyphenism. The postdoc will benefit from scientific support from partners with excellent skills in epigenetics and bioinformatics. He/she will also receive technical and methodological support for conducting the experiments.
Expected skills. the applicant should have a PhD in the field of molecular biology and an ability to conduct a research project in autonomy while being able to collaborate within a team. Skills and knowledge in transcriptomics and epigenetics are crucial for the project. Experience in bioinformatics (omics data analysis) is also required. Excellent skills in writing and communicating in English.
Duration and salary. This 3-year (full-time) position will ideally start in January-February 2023. Gross salary is about 55,000 euros (before taxes and social/healthcare payments, since health insurance and social advantages will be included), i.e. a net salary of ca. 2,500 euros per month, depending of past experience.
How to apply. Application should contain a motivation letter, indicating the names and email addresses of two references, and a 2-page max curriculum vitae including publications. Send your application to
[email protected] by November 30th. Pre-selected applicants will be interviewed through Zoom or an equivalent video-conference system in December 2022. Call for applications is open until the position is filled.
