Informations générales
Intitulé de l'offre : Postdoc in evolutionary biology (M/F): Building a phylogenetic model for horizontal transfers of transposable elements (H/F)
Référence : UMR9191-ARNLER-006
Nombre de Postes : 1
Lieu de travail : GIF SUR YVETTE
Date de publication : mercredi 24 septembre 2025
Type de contrat : Chercheur en contrat CDD
Durée du contrat : 24 mois
Date d'embauche prévue : 1 janvier 2026
Quotité de travail : Complet
Rémunération : Between 3081€ and 3519€ monthly (before taxes)
Niveau d'études souhaité : Doctorat
Expérience souhaitée : Indifférent
Section(s) CN : 29 - Biodiversité, évolution et adaptations biologiques : des macromolécules aux communautés
Missions
Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences capable of promoting their own mobility. They are widespread across the tree of life and often represent a substantial fraction of eukaryotic genomes. Beyond their ability to invade genomes, transposable elements are frequently involved in horizontal transfers, allowing them to colonize new hosts. However, understanding and predicting how horizontal transfers shape the distribution of TEs among species is far from straightforward. In particular, estimates of transfer rates based on documented cases are both biased and approximate.
This project aims to develop explicit phylogenetic models of TE evolution that incorporate horizontal transfers, and to use these models to obtain statistical estimates of the main evolutionary dynamics of TE families across species (for example, horizontal transfer and extinction rates). The postdoctoral project will focus on exploring the impact of horizontal transfers on the distribution of TE presence/absence among related species, using statistical and/or computational approaches.
Activités
During this project, the postdoc will be expected to:
* Implement a theoretical model of the distribution of transposable elements across a species phylogeny in the presence of horizontal transfers
* Explore this model to identify expected distribution patterns under different assumptions regarding variation in horizontal transfer rates
* Implement a statistical version of this model designed to estimate transfer rates from genomic data
* Apply the statistical model to real datasets
Compétences
We are looking for a motivated early-career theoretical biologist with a PhD in theoretical evolutionary biology. Skills in statistics, programming, bioinformatics, and phylogenetic modeling will be appreciated.
Contexte de travail
The position will be part of a 4-year collaborative project funded by the French National Agency (ANR). The research consortium gathers two departments (from Paris-Saclay university and from Université Lyon 1), and involves 7 PIs and 5 postdocs and PhD students devoted to distinct workpackages of the project. The postdoc will be based at EGCE, which is part of the Institute for Ecology and Evolution (IDEEV). The institute offers an exciting and active scientific life, it is located on the new research campus of Paris-Saclay, 35 km south of Paris.