Missions

A post-doctoral position is available within the framework of the EcoDIS project “Disease ecology in a modified world: Linking combined environmental stressors, population dynamics and movement ecology to understand the circulation of infectious agents”, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR). EcoDIS addresses the question of the cumulative and interactive effects of environmental pollutants and pathogens on wildlife health and population dynamics via an interdisciplinary approach that combines demographic monitoring, ecotoxicology, population genetics, epidemiology, and movement ecology (see here for more information). The focal study system involves the Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), a common and abundant Mediterranean species that frequently lives in close proximity to humans. Within the broader project, the post-doctoral researcher will lead the work characterising pathogen diversity in the system, using previously collected bird and ectoparasite samples. This information will then be linked to complementary data on seabird demography, population structure and movement (via biologging data).

Activités

- Implementation and management of metabarcoding, qPCR and sequencing of infectious agents (bacteria and viruses)
- Bioinformatics processing and genetic structure analyses
- Preparation of manuscripts

Compétences

• A degree in biology/ecology/evolution at the PhD level
• Experience in parasite/pathogen (meta)barcoding/molecular biology/ qPCR(parasitology/microbiology/virology)
• Experience with NGS data and bioinformatics analyses
• Proficiency in English
• Experience in preparing manuscripts for scientific publication
• Good communication skills
• Ability to work in a team environment
• Curious, responsible, well-organized and passionate about science and nature

Desirable additional skills
• Experience in phylogenetics/population genetics

Contexte de travail

The work will be done within the research environment of the MEEDiN at the MiVEGEC research unit in Montpellier, France, where there is strong expertise in disease ecology and ready access to genomic sequencing platforms and services. He/she will work within a team that includes PhD students, technical support staff, and an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the CNRS and the Tour du Valat (Camargues). The EcoDIS project is carried out in collaboration with 4 national partners, 4 international partners and numerous local management agencies of different Mediterranean countries.