A 3-year postdoctoral research position in Evolutionary Genomics and Molecular and Cellular biology

Postdoctoral position in Evolutionary Genomics and Molecular and 
Cellular biology 

A 3-year postdoctoral research position is available to investigate the 
*/Molecular and cellular mechanisms of hyper-resistance to stress in the 
ameiotic bdelloid rotifer /Adineta vaga. *The research will be conducted 
in the group of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Genetics of 
Micro-organisms at the Catholic University of Louvain (UCL, Belgium) to 
take part in a collaborative ARC research program with the Research 
Units in Environmental and Evolutionary Biology (URBE) and in Cellular 
Biology (URBC) at the University of Namur (UNamur, Belgium).

This postdoc position is embedded within the research project entitled: 
/Asexuality and 'immortality', bdelloid rotifers as an evolutionary 
'scandal' and a model system in biology. /This project is funded during 
5 years and will start in October 2014.

*
PIs of the project:*

*Prof. Bernard Hallet (ISV, UCL), Prof. Karine Van Doninck (URBE, 
UNamur), *Dr. Florence Debacq-Chainiaux (URBC, UNamur)**

The involved consortium brings together experts in the fields of 
evolutionary biology and genomics of bdelloid rotifers (K. Van Doninck, 
URBE, UNamur), DNA recombination and genome plasticity (B. Hallet, ISV, 
UC) and oxidative stress response (F. Debacq-Chainiaux, URBC, UNamur). 
The appointed candidate will be expected to share its research time on 
both sites under the supervision of the three PIs of the consortium. The 
universities are at a distance of 35km from each other and easily 
connected by train.

*Project:*

Bdelloid rotifers are micro-organisms (animals) that have recently 
attracted much interest in the scientific community because of their 
ancient asexuality and their extreme resistance to stress, such as 
desiccation and high doses of ionizing radiation. They are capable to 
survive when their genome is shattered into small fragments and repair 
the DNA double strands breaks (DSBs) *(see Hespeels et al., JEB 2014)*. 
Repeated cycles of chromosomal repair are thought to promote allelic 
recombination and gene conversion in the absence of meiosis. Moreover 
desiccation and the induced DNA DSBs are also thought to provide a 
unique opportunity to acquire horizontally transferred genes, thereby 
contributing to the adaptive success of these organisms.

In this project, the mechanisms that make bdelloid rotifers unique in 
terms of evolutionary strategy and hyper-resistance to stress will be 
investigated based on genomic data recently obtained by our consortium 
for the bdelloid rotifer /Adineta vaga/ headed by Prof. Karine Van 
Doninck (*see Flot et al, 2013, Nature 500:453-7*). Genomic approaches 
will be used to study the dynamics of /A. vaga/ genome during cycles of 
desiccation/rehydration/radiationand to decipher the genetic expression 
program that governs the different stages of its life-style. Molecular 
and cellular approaches will be developed to unveil and characterize the 
mechanisms that allow /A. vaga/ to repair its shattered chromosomes and 
generate genetic diversity,as well as its dependence with respect to 
oxidative stress response. The ultimate prospect of the project is to 
establish bdelloid rotifers as a new model system for the understanding 
of fundamental biological processes such as DNA repair, cell survival 
and senescence.

*Contacts:*

*Prof. Bernard Hallet, **Bernard.hallet@uclouvain.be 
*

Université Catholique de Louvain. Institut des Sciences de la Vie (ISV)

http://www.uclouvain.be/en-isv.html

*Prof. Karine Van Doninck, **karine.vandoninck@unamur.be 
*

University of Namur, Laboartory of Evolutionary Genetics and Ecology 
(http://www.lege-unamur.be/)

*Qualifications:*

We are looking for a post-doc with a strong interest and background in 
evolutionary genomics and molecular and cell biology. Expertise in the 
field of DNA repair and recombination, chromosome structure and 
dynamics, and/or genomics (NGS approach) is a valuable asset. Additional 
experience in cell biology techniques like DNA transfection, 
immuno-localization, fluorescence hybridization and microscopy will be a 
benefit. Priority will be given to candidates with a proven track record 
(with several publications as a first author) who will express their 
motivation in developing their autonomy and their interest for new 
challenges.

*Application://*

The position is available to both foreign nationals and Belgian citizens 
under 'international mobility' status, meaning that they may not have 
resided in Belgium for more than 12 months over the past 3 years 
preceding the appointment. The duration is for 2 years (with a possible 
1-year renewal) starting on the *1^st of October 2014. *The closing date 
for applications is *August 31^st 2014.*

Interested applicants should send a cover letter (briefly describing 
research experience, interests, and career goal), a curriculum vitae 
(with list of publications), and the names of three references (With 
address, phone number and E mail) to Bernard HALLET 
(Bernard.hallet@uclouvain.be )

-- 

Karine VAN DONINCK
Full Professor
Department of Biology

T. +32 (0)81 724 407
F. +32 (0)81 724 362
karine.vandoninck@unamur.be 
http://perso.fundp.ac.be/~kvandoni/ 

Université de Namur ASBL
Rue de Bruxelles 61 - 5000 Namur
Belgique

Let's respect the environment together.
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Karine Van Doninck