2-year Postdoc in evolutionary biology (M/W): Building a phylogenetic
model for horizontal transfers of transposable elements

Application deadline: Oct 15 2025
Application website:
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR9191-ARNLER-006/Default.aspx?lang=EN

** Project:

Transposable elements (TEs) are repetitive DNA sequences capable of
promoting their own mobility. They are widespread across the tree
of life and often represent a substantial fraction of eukaryotic
genomes. Beyond their ability to invade genomes, transposable
elements are frequently involved in horizontal transfers, allowing
them to colonize new hosts. However, understanding and predicting how
horizontal transfers shape the distribution of TEs among species is far
from straightforward. In particular, estimates of transfer rates based
on documented cases are both biased and approximate.

This project aims to develop explicit phylogenetic models of TE evolution
that incorporate horizontal transfers, and to use these models to
obtain statistical estimates of the main evolutionary dynamics of TE
families across species (for example, horizontal transfer and extinction
rates). The postdoctoral project will focus on exploring the impact of
horizontal transfers on the distribution of TE presence/absence among
related species, using statistical and/or computational approaches.

** Activities

During this project, the postdoc will be expected to:
* Implement a theoretical model of the distribution of
  transposable elements across a species phylogeny in the presence
  of horizontal transfers
* Explore this model to identify expected distribution patterns under
  different assumptions regarding variation in horizontal transfer rates
* Implement a statistical version of this model designed to estimate
  transfer rates from genomic data
* Apply the statistical model to real datasets

** Skills

We are looking for a motivated early-career theoretical biologist with
a PhD in theoretical evolutionary biology. Skills in statistics,
programming, bioinformatics, and phylogenetic modeling will be
appreciated.

** Work Context

The position will be part of a 4-year collaborative project funded by
the French National Agency (ANR). The research consortium gathers two
departments (from Paris-Saclay university and from Universit� Lyon 1),
and involves 7 PIs and 5 postdocs and PhD students devoted to distinct
workpackages of the project. The postdoc will be based at EGCE, which is
part of the Institute for Ecology and Evolution (IDEEV). The institute
offers an exciting and active scientific life, it is located on the new
research campus of Paris-Saclay, 35 km south of Paris.

Arnaud Le Rouzic <arnaud.le-rouzic@universite-paris-saclay.fr>

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