Starting Date: As soon as possible
Duration: 30 months
Location: UMR Biogeco
Proportion of work: full-time
Salary: 31k€ yearly before-tax salary (approx. 25k€ net)
Desired level of education: PhD
Experience required: PhD + 1-3 years of research experience
A thirty months’ position supported by Bordeaux Plant Science (BPS) research program is available in
the Biogeco research unit in Bordeaux, France. This post-doc position is one of 19 offered positions as
part of Bordeaux University excellence BPS program, which will provide access to many scientific
events and resources.
The post-doc project is part of the project ‘Genetic determinants of phenotypic plasticity to identify a
dynamic approach through time, generations and multiple organisms (Dynasty, WP8)’. The impact of
phenotypic plasticity (PP) is largely accepted as a driver of adaptation (Pigliucci, 2005). PP dynamics
are a major component in acclimation ability (Nicotra et al 2010) but also in adaptation across
generations, particularly for perennial plants (Baker et al. 2017; Auge et al, 2019).
Four technical and scientific questions will be addressed: (Q1) What biostatistics and modelling
approaches can be leveraged to analyse response curves involving time series? (Q2) Have reaction
norms of the studied organisms evolved over time or generations? (Q3) What is the contribution of
the genetic determinants of PP to quantitative trait variation? (Q4) Are PP genetic determinants
independent from those of the classical traits used in breeding programs? The post-doc position will
be mainly involved in Q1 and Q2.
Job description: The aim of the post doc position is to develop mathematical models. These models
will be developed for modelling univariate time series and optionally forecasting their evolution. Time
series data are already available to characterize temporal trends of PP across different developmental
stages. Time series data are available on different models from yeast to tree. Specific bio-statistic
methods will be developed to build models based on time-series data, i.e. daily micro-fluctuations of
trunk diameter in maritime pine, transpiration responses induced by water deficit in grapevine
rootstocks, monitoring of metabolism in Arabidopsis, infection and in vitro growth time-courses in
Fusarium, phenological monitoring over several years for cherry tree and strawberry and fermentation
kinetics in Saccharomyces.
Time related reaction norms are rarely studied and require specific statistical models. Time-related reaction norms will be characterised for each organism based on the biostatistical methods developed previously. Time series data are already available to characterize temporal trends of PP across different developmental stages. To characterize PP over generations (Fusarium, Saccharomyces and Arabidopsis), new phenotypic assays will be carried out.
The selection pressure on the PP will be tested over several generations through experimental evolution designs. Environment: The position is open at UMR BioGeCo, recognised for their expertise in quantitative
genetics in forest trees. The project is co-supervised with UMR EGFV, recognised for their expertise on
Grapevine. We are located on the plant science campus of the INRAE (French National Research
Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment).
Bordeaux is an easy-going and enjoyable UNESCO world heritage city with many cultural, social,
sportive events, famous for its vineyards and only one hour away from marvellous sand beaches.
Skills: Skills in modelling, biostatistics are expected. Skills/interest in quantitative genetics would be a
plus. The person should be able to work independently and have the ability to interact with several
partners located on different sites in Bordeaux. A good knowledge of English is required as well as
writing and good communication skills.
Selection process: The candidate will submit their application, consisting of a letter of motivation and
a CV (including list of publications, if applicable), to Elisa Marguerit (elisa.marguerit@agro-bordeaux.fr)
and Jean-Marc Gion (jean-marc.gion@inrae.fr).
The advertisement is valid until the position is filled.
Team/lab website:
https://www6.bordeaux-aquitaine.inrae.fr/egfv/
https://www6.bordeaux-aquitaine.inrae.fr/biogeco
Selected publications:
📌 Marguerit E, Brendel O, Lebon E, van Leeuwen C, Ollat N (2012) Rootstock control of scion transpiration and its acclimation to water deficit are controlled by different genes. The New Phytologist 194: 416-429
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2012.04059.x
📌 Labadie M, Denoyes B, Guédon Y. 2019. Identifying phenological phases in strawberry using multiple
change-point models. Journal of Experimental Botany 70:5687-5701 doi: 10.1093/jxb/erz331.
MARGUERIT Elisa
elisa.marguerit@agro-bordeaux.fr
GION Jean-Marc
jean-marc.gion@inrae.fr