[BBC] POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION in quantitative genetics and machine learning (University of Liège)

[Pierre Geurts]

Job Advertisement: POST DOCTORAL RESEARCH POSITION in quantitative genetics and machine learning
 
We are inviting applications for a POST DOCTORAL RESEARCHER in the Unit of Animal Genomics at the University of Liège in Belgium.
 
The successful candidate will work on a project aimed at using Machine Learning techniques to improve haplotype clustering methods by combining various sources of information (LD, pedigree, next-generation sequencing data, etc). The objective is to improve the definition of haplotypes to allow for more efficient imputation, fine-mapping and genomic selection. The project will also explore how to optimally use these haplotypes in genomic selection by comparing traditional approaches (GBLUP, Bayesian Alphabet) to innovative Machine Learning techniques. The project is a collaboration between the Unit of Animal Genomics and the Systems and modeling unit of the University of Liège. The successful candidate will work under the joint supervision of Dr T. Druet and Prof P. Geurts.
 
The Unit of Animal Genomics, under the supervision of Prof Michel Georges, focuses on the forward genetic dissection of Mendelian and complex traits in domestic animals and humans. One of the key projects of the group is the development of approaches for the utilization of molecular information in livestock breeding, including genomic selection and transgenics. The unit is based in the Interdisciplinary Cluster of Applied Genoproteomics (GIGA-Research) at the University of Liège in Belgium
(http://www.giga.ulg.ac.be/jcms/prod_205624/unit-of-animal-genomics).

The research unit in Systems and Modeling belongs to the department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science of ULg (Institut Montefiore). This research unit is composed of about 50 members working in the area of machine learning, statistics, optimization, systems and control, and applications of these methods in various domains such as bioinformatics, networking, and power systems. About 15 members of the unit carry out their research within GIGA-Research, where they are part of the thematic research unit in Systems Biology and Chemical Biology.
(http://www.montefiore.ulg.ac.be/systmod/).
 
The main qualifications include:
 
-A PhD degree in quantitative genetics, statistical genomics, machine learning, or related fields, PhD students who will be presenting their thesis in the coming months are also encouraged to apply.
-Experience in scientific programming with Fortran, C, Python, or Perl
-Experience and strong interest in the field of quantitative genetics and/or machine learning
-Be fluent in English (no need to speak French)
 
Funding for a full-time position starts on July 1st and will be for an initial duration of 24 months with the possibility of an extension.
 
Applications should be addressed to both Dr Tom Druet and Prof Pierre Geurts
tom.druet at ulg.ac.be
p.geurts at ulg.ac.be