Rejoindre le CBGP

The Centre de Biologie pour la Gestion des Populations (CBGP) in Montpellier, France, is inviting applications for a two-year postdoctoral position to work on the ANR-DFG project BiaPopGen coordinated by Nicolas Gompel (University of Bonn, Germany) and Mathieu Gautier (INRAE, France). This project primarily aims at unravelling the genetic architecture underlying variation in wing pigmentation of a Drosophila population to compare, at the genetic level, one dimension of this variation (pigmentation intensity) within a single species (D. biarmipes) to variation among closely related Drosophila species that was recently dissected in Gompel lab (Bachem et al., 2024). To that end we will rely on a panel of 500 isofemale lines (100 of which having been already finely phenotyped for pigmentation traits).

More specifically, the successful candidate will contribute to Work Package 1 (WP1) and Work Package 2 (WP2) of the project, focusing on the simulation study for optimizing Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) using isofemale lines and fine-scale analysis of the genetic architecture of wing pigmentation variation across the available D. biarmipes isofemale based on newly generated whole-genome sequencing data from isofemale.

Post-Doctoral Project Overview

The postdoctoral researcher will be part of a collaborative effort to unravel the genetic architecture of morphological variation within a population of Drosophila biarmipes, specifically in wing pigmentation. The study aims to:

• Optimize GWAS experimental design through simulation studies and provide recommandations to their use to unravel the genetic architecture of quantitative traits.
• Analyze the genetic and phenotypic diversity in a Drosophila population using isofemale lines.
• Investigate genome-wide associations of pigmentation traits at a fine-scale resolution.
• Apply quantitative genetics and population genomics approaches to understand the genetic basis of phenotypic variation.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement simulation studies to optimize GWAS designs using isofemale lines (WP1).
• Conduct quantitative genetic and population genetic analyses using next-generation sequencing (NGS) data.
• Perform statistical and computational modeling to evaluate heritability and selection effects on pigmentation traits.
• Collaborate with team members in data analysis, interpretation, and manuscript preparation.
• Contribute to the development of computational pipelines for analyzing Pool-Seq and Ind-Seq whole-genome sequencing data.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in quantitative genetics, population genetics, evolutionary biology, bioinformatics, or a related field.
• Strong expertise in simulation studies related to GWAS, QTL mapping, or genetic architecture analyses.
• Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., R, Python, or C++) for data analysis and computational modeling.
• Experience in NGS data analysis and statistical genetics methods.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with Drosophila models or other model organisms.
• Background in phenotypic trait analysis and heritability estimation.
• Familiarity with Bayesian methods and/or mixed-model approaches.
• Knowledge of genomic databases and bioinformatics tools for GWAS.

Other Information

• Main Pis: Mathieu Gautier and Arnaud Estoup (UMR INRAE CBGP, Montpellier), in close collaboration with Nicolas Gompel (University of Bonn, Germany).
• Salary: > 2650€ per month (after taxes) depending on post-PhD experience
• Timing: position available from September 2025 with a starting date between September 2025 and January 2026 (Phd degree obtained before taking up the position).
• Local Insights: The aim of the CBGP lab is to understand the mechanisms governing the evolution of populations of organisms that play key roles in agronomy, forestry, human health, and biodiversity conservation. The lab is located near Montpellier, a globally recognized hotspot for evolutionary and environmental research. The city hosts a vibrant scientific community, with several hundred researchers working in these fields, as well as highly regarded graduate programs. Montpellier, situated in the Mediterranean region of southern France, offers a pleasant climate, stunning natural landscapes, and a rich cultural and urban life. For information on the cost of living in Montpellier, you can visit Numbeo (numbeo.com) or Expatistan (www.expatistan.com).

Application Procedure

Interested candidates should submit the following documents:

• A cover letter outlining research interests and relevant experience.
• A CV, including a list of publications.
• Contact information for two referees.

Deadline for Applications

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.