Missions

The researcher will work on a collaborative project leaded by Susana Coelho (Max Planck Institute for Biology, Tübingen) on the evolution of multicellularity and the emergence of life cycles and reproductive systems, financed by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation. The general objective of the project is to identify key genetic and regulatory changes that have been involved in the early evolution of multicellularity in the brown algal lineage, and to better understand the selective forces that may have moulded the life cycles and reproductive systems of early multicellular organisms. The project will thus combine single-cell RNAseq, genomic and functional genetic approaches (developed in MPI Tübingen) and theoretical approaches based on population genetic modeling (developed in Roscoff).

Activités

The postdoctoral researcher will construct and analyze theoretical models exploring the joint evolution of several aspects of life cycles and genetic systems that have mostly been considered independently of each other: for exampled, the joint evolution of investment into sexual reproduction, mating types and degree of anisogamy, and/or the joint evolution of the relative degree of development in the haploid or diploid phase of the life cycle and investment into sex. These questions will be addressed using a combination of analytical and individual-based simulation models, taking into account the possibility that selection may act at different levels within populations of early multicellular organisms: between organisms, and between cells within organisms. Other questions relative to the evolution of sex determination systems, sexual dimorphism or gene regulation systems may also be explored, depending on the interests of the selected candidate.

Compétences

Candidates should hold a PhD in evolutionary biology and have experience in mathematical modeling and programming. Previous experience in theoretical population genetics modeling will be preferred. Candidates should also have a good level of English and be able to work in autonomy.

Contexte de travail

The postdoctoral researcher will be based at Roscoff's Biological Station. Research at the marine station covers a large variety of fields from cell biology to evolutionary biology and ecology. Lab meetings are in English, knowledge of French is not mandatory.