Mots-Clés
genome assembly
genome annotation
comparative genomics
mammals
Y chromosome
speciation
Description
Postdoc Position in Evolutionary Genomics
The Institut Pasteur and Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris, France) seek for an evolutionary biologist with strong skills in genome assembly, genome annotation, and comparative analysis of mammal genomes.
Research project
We are looking for a post-doctoral candidate to assemble and annotate high-quality genomes from rope squirrel species identified as the most likely reservoir hosts of the monkeypox virus (Curaudeau et al., 2023; 2025). The selected candidate will assemble PacBio HiFi and Illumina reads to publish the first genome assembly of Funisciurus anerythrus and Funisciurus leucostigma (Mammalia, Sciuridae). Genome completeness will be assessed using BUSCO. The candidate will perform a comparative analysis with other mammalian genomes to detect potential signatures of selection in immune genes.
The position is funded by the ANRS MIE (Project ECTZ321229) for two years and will be based at the Institut Pasteur and Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle (Paris, France).
Salary
40 300€ brut/year or 44 300€ brut/year, depending on the year after the PhD.
Closing date
Open until filled. The position is available as soon as possible. Candidates should indicate in their cover letter the date they would be available to start the position.
Required qualifications
- A PhD in evolutionary genomics;
- Strong skills in genome assembly and annotation methods, comparative analysis tools and theoretical aspects of molecular evolution;
- Good publication record including several first-author publications;
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English;
- Ability to work independently and to lead a research project.
Application
Please send all application files, including a cover letter, CV, copies of relevant published papers and preprints, and two letters of recommendation to Antoine Gessain (antoine.gessain@pasteur.fr) and Alexandre Hassanin (alexandre.hassanin@mnhn.fr).
References
Curaudeau M., Kerbis Peterhans J., Le Flanchec T., Gilissen E., Granjon L., Barale L., Gessain A., Hassanin A. (2025). Squirrel reservoirs of monkeypox virus are sister species separated by the Sanaga River (Cameroon), as are the two main viral clades. One health 21: 101157. doi: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2025.101157
Curaudeau M., Besombes C., Nakouné E., Fontanet A., Gessain A., Hassanin A. (2023). Identifying the most probable mammal reservoir hosts for Monkeypox virus based on ecological niche comparisons. Viruses 15: 727. doi: 10.3390/v15030727
Gessain A., Nakoune E., Yazdanpanah Y. (2022) Monkeypox. N Engl J Med. 387(19): 1783-1793. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra2208860.