Postdoctoral researcher in evolutionary ecology (M/F)

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 55 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

CNRS is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher to study phenotypic responses to predation in two invasive freshwater gastropods. You will design and run laboratory experiments, analyze life-history and behavioural traits, and contribute to publishing results in collaboration with LEHNA and CEFE in France.

The role emphasizes experimental development, intra- and intergenerational plasticity, and potential morpho­logical analyses, with field components in Martinique. Candidates must hold a Ph.D.

Qualifications

• Experience with laboratory experiments using animal models or similar systems.
• Data analysis using R or equivalent statistical tools.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Strong scientific writing and communication abilities in English and French.

Responsabilités

• Develop experimental protocols to test project hypotheses.
• Conduct long-term experiments and possibly field components.
• Analyze resulting data with appropriate statistics and models.
• Disseminate findings through scientific articles and presentations.

Connaissances

Experimental lab work

Data analysis (R)

Independent work

Team collaboration

Scientific writing

French & English communication

Formation

Ph.D. in ecology or evolutionary biology

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Laboratoire d'Ecologie des Hydrosystèmes Naturels et Anthropisés Research Field Biological sciences Environmental science Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 15 Oct 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 4 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Understanding biodiversity and its dynamics is one of the most critical issues of our time, given the alarming context of its current collapse. To address this, the ECO-EVO BIODIV project aims to develop an integrative eco-evolutionary (eco-evo) approach. The project's general framework encompasses the main facets of biodiversity (levels of biodiversity, biological groups, and variability), the forces and processes that shape them, their spatiotemporal context, and their environment. ECO-EVO BIODIV is based on a wide range of conceptual frameworks, approaches, and methods from an interdisciplinary perspective. In particular, it focuses on analyzing the relative contribution of phenotypic plasticity and genetic variation to eco-evolution—including their relative rates and functional basis—in a context of environmental variability, using both conceptual and experimental approaches. Phenotypic plasticity is defined as the ability of a genotype to produce alternative phenotypes depending on environmental conditions and may, in some cases, prove to be adaptive. Long considered at the intragenerational scale, intergenerational effects on traits are regularly demonstrated and could enable rapid responses to environmental variation.

The part of the project covered by the proposed postdoctoral research focuses specifically on studying this relative contribution in two invasive freshwater gastropods in the French Antilles (Tarebia granifera and Melanoides tuberculata). These species, which are phylogenetically and ecologically closely related, reproduce clonally—the clones can be distinguished visually and are in competitive interaction with one another. The dynamics of the clones and species have been monitored in Martinique for several decades (at nearly 200 sites). They have recently been subjected to predation by a crayfish that is itself an invasive species. In this context of biotic interactions (competition and predation), the objective is to assess how traits (life history, morphology, behavior)—and consequently, selective value—are influenced by intraspecific and interspecific competition among snails, as well as by crayfish predation. These results will be incorporated into the analysis of population dynamics in Martinique and, potentially, into modeling results.

In this context, the successful candidate will be responsible for the part of the project aimed at characterizing phenotypic responses to predation (by crayfish) in the two gastropod species and their clones, as well as within clones, within and across generations (intra- and intergenerational plasticity). This work will primarily involve conducting laboratory experiments to characterize various life history and behavioral traits. Depending on the successful candidate's areas of interest, a detailed characterization of morphology (e.g., 3D analysis) may be considered. The tasks will therefore include (i) developing experimental protocols to test the hypotheses outlined in the project, (ii) conducting long-term experiments, (iii) analyzing the data using appropriate statistical methods, and (iv) interpreting and disseminating the results in the form of scientific articles. These data will be compared with data obtained elsewhere in other experimental contexts, both in the laboratory and in the field. They will also provide insights into the dynamics of snails and crayfish in the freshwater habitats of Martinique. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to participate in a field mission in Martinique and, potentially, in in situ experiments. The successful candidate will carry out this work in collaboration with other project participants (including students, postdoctoral researchers, and the engineer in charge of monitoring the ECO-EVO BIODIV project) and will be involved in the entire workflow, from design to publication.

The work will be conducted at the Laboratory of Ecology of Natural and Man-Impacted Hydrosystems (LEHNA) in Lyon (France; https://umr5023.univ-lyon1.fr/ ) in collaboration with the Center of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology (CEFE) in Montpellier (France; https://www.cefe.cnrs.fr ), in accordance with CNRS operating procedures (e.g., work schedules, leave policies). Research at LEHNA spans a range of fields, from evolutionary sciences to environmental sciences, including evolutionary ecology and functional ecology. These themes are explored at various organizational levels, from the individual to the ecosystem. The primary subjects of study are aquatic environments and the organisms that inhabit them. The successful candidate will join LEHNA's Biodiversity and Adaptations in Hydrosystems team, which focuses on microevolutionary and ecological processes and their interactions within hydrosystems using various approaches and biological models. In particular, this team possesses strong expertise in fieldwork in aquatic environments and in conducting experiments under controlled conditions, notably using an experimental platform for the study of gastropod mollusks (other tools and equipment are available within the laboratory). CEFE is one of France's largest ecology laboratories and a particularly well-suited setting for conducting interdisciplinary research in eco-evolution.

The ECO-EVO BIODIV project is led by CEFE's Genetics and Evolutionary Ecology team. The two teams involved (LEHNA and CEFE) have been collaborating for about fifteen years on issues related to evolutionary biology and plasticity. Visits to the CEFE may be arranged.

Candidates must hold a Ph.D. in ecology or evolutionary biology and have a strong interest in experimental methods (protocol development, animal husbandry, phenotyping).

Required skills

• Experience with experimental approaches (laboratory) using animal models, possibly including long-term monitoring or field experiments
• Data analysis (e.g., using R) and database management
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to interact with both scientific and non-scientific stakeholders
• Experience in scientific writing (e.g., articles, reports)
• Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in French and English

Desirable skills

• Experience working with aquatic organisms
• Interest in interdisciplinary work