Mots-Clés
adaptation
dominance
domestication
yeast
Description
As an assistant professor at the University of Strasbourg and a member of the HaploTeam
(https://www.haploteam.org), I am currently seeking a motivated postdoctoral fellow to join our lab and
contribute to research on the role of genetic dominance during adaptation to novel environments. The
fellow will be appoited for one year with possible renewal for one more year. The position is funded
through ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche) and is anticipated to start 1 September 2026
(negotiable).
Genetic dominance determines how mutations are exposed to natural selection and therefore strongly
influences evolutionary dynamics. While traditionally treated as a fixed parameter in population genetics
models, growing empirical evidence suggests that dominance can vary across genetic backgrounds and
environments, with important consequences for adaptation and the maintenance of genetic variation.
To shed light on the role of variable dominance in contributing to the maintenance of adaptive variation,
the project will combine empirical and theoretical approaches and leverage genomic and transcriptomic
data from natural and experimental populations of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Depending on the scientific
interests of the postdoctoral fellow, she/he will analyse growth phenotypes and RNA sequencing data from
controlled crosses, and model the evolution of dominance modifiers using computational tools as well as
implement machine learning techniques to infer genomic regions under selection and variable dominance
from empirical datasets. The postdoc will also be encouraged to develop independent research directions
within the scope of the project.
Required qualifications
• PhD (obtained or near completion) in evolutionary biology, population genetics, genomics, bioinformatics, or a related field
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment
Preferred (but not mandatory) qualifications
• Background in population genetics and/or evolutionary biology
• Wet lab experience (depending on the work to be developed)
• Prior experience with genomic and/or transcriptomic data analysis
• Proficiency in at least one scripting language (e.g. Python, R, or similar)
Environment
The position will be based at the IGBMC, University of Strasbourg, France, within a dynamic and international research environment. The institute offers strong expertise in functional genomics, yeast genetics, and bioinformatics, with access to high-performance computing resources and state-of-the-art experimental facilities. The lab has generated large-scale multi-omic datasets from hundreds of natural S.cerevisiae isolates. This project sits at the interface of evolutionary theory, functional genomics, and quantitative genetics, and includes a collaboration with Prof. Claudia Bank (University of Bern), an expert in epistatic interactions and fitness landscapes. The postdoctoral researcher will have ample opportunities to work closely with both experimentalists and theoreticians.
Application
Informal inquiries are welcome and can be addressed to Dr. Isabel Alves (itavaresalves@unistra.fr).
Applications should include a CV, a brief statement of research interests, and contact information for 2–3
referees. Review of applications will begin in April and continue until June 1, 2026 or until a suitable
candidate has been identified.