Tuesday, October 18, 2016

[DMANET] Postdoc position in Montpellier, France

Dear colleagues,
due to a date error, we post again this proposal, extending the deadline for applications.

The LIRMM (http://www.lirmm.fr/lirmm_eng <http://www.lirmm.fr/lirmm_eng> <http://www.lirmm.fr/lirmm_eng <http://www.lirmm.fr/lirmm_eng>>), and ISE-M (http://www.isem.univ-montp2.fr/?lang=en <http://www.isem.univ-montp2.fr/?lang=en> <http://www.isem.univ-montp2.fr/?lang=en <http://www.isem.univ-montp2.fr/?lang=en>>) at Université de Montpellier, France, invite applications for an 18 month post-doctoral position in computational biology.

Context:
The research will take place in the context of a project bringing together specialists in computer science, applied mathematics and agronomy, to make use of the recent production of crop reference genomes. Such resources open opportunities to more efficient use of plant diversity in breeding programs. The full exploitation of these data requires development of new theoretical models and methods, as well as new bioinformatic tools. The successful candidate will closely collaborate with Celine Scornavacca (ISE-M), Fabio Pardi & Vincent Berry (LIRMM), and will benefit from the strong research environment of an internationally acknowledged site in computational biology and biomathematics (IBC), Computer Science (LIRMM) and Agronomy (CGIAR, Agropolis).

Objectives of the research:
Current crop genomes usually derive from a few domesticated ancestors that mainly follow a tree-like evolution, but subject to some hybridization events (recombination between different varieties). The history of these genomes is thus represented by a network (directed acyclic graph), rather than by a simple tree. Different parts of a same genome can hence have different ancestral origins, according to the paths they followed inside the network, leading to a composite structure of the genome. The project aims at recovering the "phylogenetic" network from the structure of current plant genomes. This implies extending current tree inference / interpretation models and algorithms, and then applying the developed methodologies to genome-wide data.

Qualifications:
Candidates should have a PhD degree or equivalent. Previous postdoc experience is a plus. Candidates can be from different backgrounds: computational biology, computer science, or biomathematics (maximum likelihood optimization or statistics applied to evolutionary models). No deep knowledge of biology is required, as the necessary information will be acquired during the project. The candidates should be familiar with some techniques from the following areas: mathematical modeling, algorithmics, parameterized complexity, data structures, maximum likelihood, optimization and graph combinatorics.

Required qualities:
- Rigor, sense of initiative.
- Appeal for solving real problems and for interdisciplinary work.
- Communication skills (written and verbal) in English. Prior knowledge of French is not required.
- Programming skills are mandatory, though local engineers and students will back the successful candidate.

Salary and terms of employment:
The appointment will be based on the standards at Université de Montpellier, ensuring a net month salary of 2130€, which is largely adequate to the cost of living in Montpellier.

Workplace and period of employment:
The workplace is the main campus at Université de Montpellier (Triolet Campus), at 10mn by tram from the historical city center, and 15km from the Mediterranean Sea.
Expected start date of the contract is ***between November and December 2016***, but a slightly later start date may be negotiated. The position is intended for 18 months.

Deadline for application: Friday October 28, 2016.
Applications must be submitted as one PDF file containing all materials to be given consideration. The file must include: application cover letter, CV, PhD diploma, list of references, list of publications.

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