PhD Position at INRAE: The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is offering a PhD position focused on animal genetics and integrative biology. The successful candidate will join the GBoS team (Genetics for Bovine Sustainability) and the CHAMADE team (Characterization and Management of Genetic Diversity) to undertake research aimed at enhancing the sustainability of cattle production through the analysis of genetic diversity and genomic selection.
Designation
PhD Candidate
Research Area
Animal Genetics, Functional Genomics, Bioinformatics
Location
Jouy-en-Josas and Toulouse, France
Eligibility/Qualification
- Master’s degree or Engineering degree (Bac +5) in bioinformatics or a related field.
- Desired knowledge in genetics and genomics of eukaryotes.
- Preferred experience includes bioinformatics analysis of high-throughput genomic sequences.
- Required skills: Strong interest in animal genetics and genomics, experience in programming (Python and R), practical knowledge of computing clusters, and ability to write scientific articles and communicate orally.
- Proficiency in English is required.
Job Description
The doctoral candidate will focus on several key research questions related to:
- The genetic structure of French cattle breeds.
- Identification of genomic regions under artificial or natural selection.
- Isolation and assessment of potentially causal genetic variants affecting important traits such as milk production and adaptation.
- Application of findings for marker panel creation aimed at breed assignment and product origin verification.
Responsibilities:
- Analyze demographic composition and phylogenetic connections among French cattle breeds.
- Detect selection signatures in approximately thirty French cattle breeds.
- Identify causal variants within genomic regions experiencing selection pressure and evaluate their influence on relevant phenotypes.
The candidate will participate in regular discussions and collaborations with the GenPhySE unit in Toulouse and may need to travel between the two INRAE centers.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should send their CV and motivation letter via email to the following contacts:
- Mekki Boussaha: mekki.boussaha@inrae.fr
- Aurelien Capitan: aurelien.capitan@inrae.fr
Last Date for Apply
Application Deadline: August 31, 2025
This scholarship opportunity offers a unique chance to contribute to significant research that addresses critical challenges in animal genetics and sustainability in agriculture.
