[BBC] POSTDOC: ANT ADAPTATION TO HOT AND ARID AREAS – TRANSCRIPTOMICS DATA ANALYSIS, BRUSSELS

[Matthieu Defrance]

POSTDOC: ANT ADAPTATION TO HOT AND ARID AREAS – TRANSCRIPTOMICS DATA ANALYSIS, BRUSSELS

The Evolutionary Biology & Ecology lab (ULB Belgium) and the Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels (ULB and VUB Belgium) are recruiting a 2-year postdoc researcher to study how desert ants have evolved their extreme degree of thermophily. The project is based on a comparative approach to examine how similar desert conditions have led either to the evolution of convergent traits in different lineages or to the adoption of alternative strategies. The postdoc will use a variety of molecular methods (including but not limited to RNA-seq) to explore the heat-shock responses (HSRs) in ants and will focus on the computational analysis of sequencing data (e.g. RNA-seq de novo assembly, differential expression analysis, clustering).

Candidates should have a strong experience with RNA-seq (including library preparation and computational analysis of sequencing data) and must have effective written and oral communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to publish peer-reviewed papers. He/She must have a PhD pending or obtained within the last 3 years in computer science, biology or bioinformatics. The applicant may not have resided or pursued his/her main activity (studies, employment, etc.) in Belgium for more than 24 months during the last 3 years immediately preceding the first period of postdoctoral residence.

The post-doc will be based in the the Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels under direct supervision of Matthieu Defrance (Associate Professor) and Serge Aron (Research Director of the Belgian NSF/ FNRS). He/She will work closely with a PhD student, who will focus on empirical data collection. The position is funded for 2 years. Start date is early 2019. The candidate's salary for the first year will be ~2 450 euros, net of tax; it will increase the second year in accordance with the legal rules in force in Belgium.

To apply, please send a cover letter, CV, and names and contact information for three references to Serge Aron (saron at ulb.ac.be) and Matthieu Defrance (matthieu.dc.defrance at ulb.ac.be). The application deadline is December 1st, 2018. ULB is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

For more information, please visit the Evolutionary Biology & Ecology lab website (http://ebe.ulb.ac.be) and the Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics in Brussels website (ibsquare.be) or contact Serge Aron (saron at ulb.ac.be) or Matthieu Defrance (matthieu.dc.defrance at ulb.ac.be).