Missions

The ANR project "DWELLS" aims to understand the importance of short-term genetic changes for the demography of long-lived seabirds. The project is based on long-term, individual-based, monitoring of three albatross populations, in the French sub-Antarctic territories. The pedigrees reconstructed in each populations are sufficient to estimate some simple quantitative genetic parameters, but they are incomplete and contain errors, which greatly limits the capabilities of the datasets despite substantial sample sizes. To overcome this problem, we use individual RAD-seq sequencing to directly estimate relatedness between individuals and correct the pedigrees. The first mission of the postdoctoral fellow is therefore to process the RAD-seq data and combine them with the existing dataset. The postdoctoral fellow will then use this combined dataset to estimate recent evolution, heritability, genetic correlations, and trait evolvability, and possibly inbreeding depression. Work on natural selection is underway, and the postdoctoral fellow may also contribute to this. Depending on the progress of the project as a whole, these results may be included in population projection models under environmental change scenarios. RAD-seq data may be supplemented for a few individuals with low-depth sequenced whole genome data. These data could help refine the study of inbreeding, estimate past effective population sizes, and potentially test an evolutionary response to the current avian influenza epidemic. The postdoc will publish their work in peer-reviewed journals and present at conferences.

Activités

- Bioinformatics
- Data analysis
- Statistical and mathematical modeling of the evolution of quantitative traits (and demography)
- Publication of results in peer-reviewed journals and participation in conferences
- Assistance with student supervision and scientific animation of the laboratory

Compétences

- Knowledge of quantitative genetics, genomics or evolutionary biology is essential, additional knowledge of ecology, demography, seabirds would be appreciated.
- Advanced statistical modeling (GLMMs, state-space models, stochastic Bayesian programming) in R
- Experience with bioinformatics, if possible experience in the use of RAD-seq and/or lcWGS data (otherwise, skills to be developed)
- Data management and analysis, particularly from long-term individual-based monitoring
- Scientific communication, publication in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations
- English at a professional level
- Independence and scientific seriousness

Contexte de travail

The position will be located at the Centre d'Études Biologiques de Chizé, UMR 7372 CNRS-La Rochelle Université. The CEBC is a research center specialized on the use of long-term animal monitoring studies and on the responses of animals to environmental changes (climate change, agricultural practices, environmental contamination, etc.). The post-doc may go for short stays with collaborators in other research centers in order to acquire new skills. Periods of remote work are possible. The project is funded by an ANR grant which ends at the end of December 2028 (the position must therefore be over by this date).

Contraintes et risques

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