Postdoctoral position in evolutionary genomics

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

Presentation

The Group of Prof. Marc Robinson-Rechavi is proposing a Postdoctoral (Premier Assistant) position in evolutionary genomics at the Department of Ecology and Evolution, University of Lausanne, Switzerland. The postdoc will join a dynamic team working mainly on linking the evolution of animal development to genome evolution.

We are looking for a postdoc to participate in a project funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation on "Selection on gene expression at different time scales and vertebrate Evo-Devo". The postdoc will study how levels of polymorphism impact variability in gene expression, in outbred ray-finned fishes and in amphioxus. The project will build on ongoing work in the group: (1) On genetic variation in amphioxus, which has one of the highest rates of heterozygosity known among animals, despite being very conserved in anatomy, genome structure, and species diversity. And (2) on gene expression variability in fishes, in relation to gene function and evolution. Both amphioxus and fishes provide links between genome duplications and Evo-Devo, with a contrast between fast evolving teleost fishes, and slow evolving amphioxus or gar. All DNA and RNA data are already available and pre-processed.

The postdoc will have great freedom to define the specific directions of their work, and to initiate collaborations within and outside the group, within the broad framework of the project. They will notably have the opportunity to work with PhD students developing bioinformatics methods to characterize gene expression, and to collaborate with group alumni who are working on related projects in other universities.

The person will participate in the life of the Department of Ecology and Evolution (internal and external seminars, journal clubs, etc), one of the largest and most active of Europe. They will also be a member of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.
The contract will be for 1 year, renewable for an additional 2 years. The ideal starting date is 1 January 2026, but there is flexibility to start earlier or later. The postdoc will participate in some bachelor and/or masters teaching, in English or in French; they will have the opportunity to supervise master students or other interns.
Working conditions in Lausanne are extremely competitive, and include access to state-of-the-art computing and sequencing facilities. The Department and the group are highly international, and all activities are conducted in English. Salary and benefits are internationally highly competitive. Additional funding for consumables, computing, and to attend international conferences is available.

For background, please see:
https://bioinfo.unil.ch/
https://www.bgee.org/

Job information

Expected start date in position : 01.01.2026 or to be determined

Contract length : 1 year, renewable for additional 2 years, maximum 3 years

Activity rate : 100%, 80% possible

Workplace : Lausanne-Dorigny

Your responsibilities

The research project will be defined together with the group leader based on the Postdoc interests and competences in the field of evolutionary genomics. Most of their time will be dedicated to research, but a contribution to teaching is expected, including the possibility of supervising master students. The job description stipulates:
70% Personal research
25% Participation to teaching activities and master student supervision
5% Maintenance of lab equipment or other institutional tasks.

Your qualifications

We are seeking to recruit someone with a strong interest and a PhD degree in evolutionary biology, Evo-Devo, bioinformatics, genome biology, or a related field. The PhD must have been obtained in 2024 or 2025, or you must have plans to complete it in the next 6 months. Skills:

• Track record of publication necessary


• Good level of scientific English necessary


• Basic competence in R necessary


• Basic competence in a scripting language (e.g., Python, Perl) would be a plus


• Proven interest in evolutionary genomics or transcriptomics would be a plus


• Experience with animal genomics or transcriptomics would be a plus


• Proven autonomy in writing papers and projects would be a plus


• Experience in collaborative or interdisciplinary projects would be a plus

Interpersonal skills

• Good communication and collaboration skills would be a plus

What the position offers you

We offer a nice working place in a multicultural, diverse and dynamic academic environment, with opportunities for professional training. Possibilities of continuous training, a lot of activities and other opportunities to discover.
The Department of Ecology and Evolution in Lausanne University hosts research groups working on a broad range of topics, producing a rich intellectual and social life. Although French is the common language in Lausanne region, the department research activities and seminars are conducted in English. The campus is located on the shore of the Geneva Lake, with a view on the Alps.

Contact for further information

For further information please contact Prof. Marc Robinson-Rechavi : E-Mail schreiben

Your application

Deadline : 04.07.2025

Formal applications should include :

• your CV, including exact date of PhD obtention or of planned PhD defense


• statement of research experience and research interests (2 pages)


• name and contact information of 3 potential referees


• a copy of your PhD certificate. If you haven't yet finished your PhD indicate the scheduled or expected date; the applicant must have received their PhD in the last 2 years or be about to obtain a PhD very soon.

To receive full consideration, application documents should be uploaded online through the University of Lausanne recruitment platform. 
 
Review of applications will begin immediately.

Additional information

UNIL is committed to:
•    equality, diversity and inclusion within its community;
•    ensuring an open and respectful environment that is conducive to personal development;
•    offering working conditions that facilitate work-life balance;
•    supporting early career researchers.

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