Postdoctoral Position in Population Genomics of the Mediterranean Olive Tree
The AFEF team (INRA & Montpellier SupAgro) opens a post-doctoral
position in the field of population genomics on the Mediterranean olive
tree. This 18-month post-doctoral project will be developed within the
OliveMed project “Linking genes under domestication to phenotype traits
in the Mediterranean olive tree: towards sustainable management by
building a network of phenotyping platforms for association mapping
studies”, supported by Agropolis Fondation, Montpellier.
Scientific project:
Detection of genes under domestication is currently carried out in the
hosting unit, using a comparative genomics approach and analyzing the
RNAseq of wild and domesticated olives within the ARCAD project SP1 [1].
However, our recent results show that olive tree domestication was
strongly impacted by diffusion from eastern to western Mediterranean
areas [2]. Our findings indicate that evolutionary factors such as
migration and admixture are important to understand olive
diversification in the central and western Mediterranean areas. In a
first step, in order to overcome the hidden effects of migration and
admixture, we aim to detect genes under domestication using a simple
model combining demographic and selection effects by analyzing wild and
cultivated olive trees from the primary center of domestication. In a
second step, we aim to extend this domestication gene detection by
analyzing a representative sample of Mediterranean olive genetic
diversity, taking migration and admixture effects into account.
The post-doctoral work will specifically focus on: i) the construction
and validation of an inference model on the evolutionary history of the
olive tree (MCMC and ABC approaches), ii) the detection of SNPs under
selection using a suitable inference model and genomic analysis of RNA
sequences (annotation, gene arrays), iii) the construction of a SNP chip
based on SNPs under selection, including those that will be mapped on
the F1 hybrid population under study in the hosting team.
[1]
http://www.arcad-project.org/research_projects/comparative_population_genomics
[2] Proc R Soc B. 280: 20122833 (2013); Ann Bot 112:
doi:10.1093/aob/mct196 (2013)
Term, location and scientific environment:
Work can be initiated as early as April 2014 but no later than October
2014. Support is for 18 months with a possible additional year based on
realizations and funding. This position will be supervised by Dr.
Bouchaib Khadari (INRA Associate Researcher, UMR AGAP) and will be based
in Montpellier at UMR AGAP, CIRAD Lavalette campus.
The host unit, UMR AGAP, is a large research unit consisting of several
teams with scientists working on the domestication process and on genes
linked to these traits on different plants of agronomic importance. The
successful applicant will conduct his/her research in this rewarding
scientific environment. For RNAseq data processing, the post-doctoral
fellow will closely work with a bioinformatics team (ID, UMR AGAP)
while, for inference models, he/she will interact with colleagues from
other units in Montpellier (ISEM-CNRS, UMR CBGP and UMR DIADE) and
Toulouse (UMR EDB). He/she will also interact with several Mediterranean
team partners in the OliveMed project (INRA Marrakech, Morocco; ORS
Bornova, Izmir, Turkey; IFAPA & Univ. Cordoba, Spain; CNR Perugia, Italy).
Eligibility and skills:
Agropolis Fondation (AF) typically considers applications from
candidates who have not resided or carried out their main activity
(work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years
immediately prior to the date of submission of the proposal and who have
been awarded their PhD degree within the last 3 years upon the date of
application. However, AF encourages excellent candidates who do not
entirely fulfill these conditions to contact the foundation, as they
might be funded if no otherwise eligible candidates satisfy the
scientific requirements for the position.
The successful applicant is expected to have scientific skills and
interests in population genomics and modeling for the inference of the
evolutionary history of a perennial crop species such as olive.
Bioinformatics experience for RNAseq data processing is not necessary
but skills in NGS data analysis will be considered positively.
Demonstrated writing skills will be appreciated.
For application, please submit a letter of application with your
curriculum vitae and indicate the names of three references to the
contact scientist:
Dr. Bouchaib Khadari
khadari@supagro.inra.fr
AFEF Team, UMR AGAP
Campus CIRAD
Bâtiment 3, Bureau 02
TA A 108/03, Avenue Agropolis
34398 Montpellier cedex 5
France
Tél: (33) 04 67 61 59 00
Fax: (33) 04 67 61 55 96
http://umr-agap.cirad.fr/
Deadline for application is March 31, 2014, but application reviewing
will start immediately upon position opening publication and proceed
until the deadline. Candidates are therefore strongly encouraged to
apply at their earliest convenience. Final selection will be performed
in April 2014.