Dear all, A 2-years post-doc position is available in Montpellier to work on the genomic and evolutionary aspects of the propagation in the environment of antibiotic resistances of public health concern. The postdoc will work in the context of the WATERISK project, funded by the ExposUM Institute (University of Montpellier). The aim of this project is to identify genomic and phenotypic characteristics determining the enrichment of emerging antimicrobial resistance genes of public health concern in hydric environments. WATERISK focuses on emerging resistances to ¦Â- lactams in Gram-negative bacteria and is designed at the local scale (watershed of a coastal river and hospitals from the Montpellier area). This project is composed of three main parts: (1) building a resistant isolates collection, (2) obtaining and analysing the genomes of the isolates of the collection and (3) characterizing the phenotype and evolutionary potential of associations of plasmid and strains from the collection. The postdoc will be in charge of the second part and will conduct the genome sequencing analysis of a collection of 500 Enterobacteriacea isolates collected at Montpellier University Hospitals and at different points along the coastal river. The goal of this analysis will be to identify the association of antibiotic resistance genes with strains, species, mobile genetic elements and other resistance genes across environments to better understand the circulation of antibiotic resistance genes. The postdoc will also participate in the characterization of the evolutionary potential of strain-plasmid associations by designing and implementing an experimental evolution approach and contributing to the phenotypic and genomic characterization of the evolved lines. The postdoc will be based at the Centre for Functional and Evolutionary Ecology (CEFE) in Montpellier, in the Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology team and will work in close interaction with the Physe team (Hydric Pathogens Health and Environment) at the Hydroscience institute in Montpellier. The CEFE is the largest French laboratory for ecology and evolution. It includes common services in molecular biology and chemistry, as well as several groups dedicated to evolutionary ecology. The Genetics and Evolutionary Ecology team is a very dynamic and stimulating scientific environment, with 11 permanent researchers and 10 to 15 PhD and post-doctoral students. HydroSciences Montpellier laboratory brings together disciplinary skills to study, quantify and forecast the impacts of climate and human activities on water resources in Mediterranean and tropical regions. Among the main themes studied is the dynamics of emerging contaminants and the health risks and adaptation mechanisms of waterborne pathogenic bacteria. Candidates are expected to hold a PhD in evolutionary biology or microbiology and to have confirmed skills in genomics. Expertise in experimental evolution will be a plus but is not mandatory. The position is for 2 years; the expected starting date is April 1st2024. Net monthly salary around 2100 euros. To apply, please send a CV, a cover letter and the contact for two references to St¨¦phanie Bedhomme (stephanie.bedhomme@cefe.cnrs.fr) and Estelle Bilak (estelle.bilak@umontpellier.fr) before February 12th, 2024. St¨¦phanie Bedhomme CR CNRS Equipe G¨¦n¨¦tique et Ecologie Evolutives Centre d¡¯Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive Montpellier GONZALEZ BRAVO Ignacio (to subscribe/unsubscribe the EvolDir send mail to golding@mcmaster.ca)