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🚨 Postdoctoral Position in Cellular Biology – Cis-Regulatory Elements & Maize Drought Tolerance | INRAE
Institution: INRAE – GEvAD Team, UMR Quantitative Genetics and Evolution (GQE), Le Moulon / IDEEV, Paris-Saclay Campus
📍 Location: Gif-sur-Yvette, France 🇫🇷
🎓 Position: Postdoctoral Researcher – Cellular Biology
📅 Duration: 24 Months
🚀 Start: As Soon As Possible
👩🔬 PI / Research Leads: Maud Fagny & Clémentine Vitte
🔬 Research Area: Plant Molecular Biology | Cellular Biology | Functional Genomics | Cis-Regulatory Elements | CRISPR | Maize Genetics | Drought Stress | Comparative Genomics | Gene Regulatory Networks
The GEvAD Team (Evolutionary Genetics and Crops Adaptation) within the UMR Quantitative Genetics and Evolution (GQE) – Le Moulon, INRAE, is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher for a 24-month project focused on improving maize tolerance to water deficit through the editing of groups of cis-regulatory elements.
The project is part of the ANR DEREGULE project, funded through the Advanced Plant Breeding PEPR, and is connected with the ANR JCJC NETWITS (2024–2029) research program.
🔬 What You’ll Work On
🌽 Cis-Regulatory Element Validation
Validate the function of cis-regulatory elements identified as key components in rewiring gene regulatory networks during water-deficit stress across five maize genotypes.
🧬 CRISPR-Based Genome Editing
Contribute to obtaining maize lines with improved water-deficit tolerance through targeted CRISPR editing of regulatory elements.
🧪 In Vivo Functional Validation
Perform experimental validation using:
- Protoplast transformation assays
- Enhancer/silencer reporter assays
- dCas9-based assays
📊 Gene Regulatory Network Analysis
Conduct meta-analysis integrating:
- Gene regulatory networks
- eQTLs
- GWAS
- Chromatin opening and closing
- Gene expression responses to water deficit
🧬 Comparative Genomics
Investigate homologous regulatory elements in the transformable A188 maize line and perform comparative genomic analyses of cis-regulatory element families.
🌱 Phenotyping of Edited Lines
Work with the research team to phenotype CRISPR-edited maize lines under controlled greenhouse conditions.
🎯 Key Research Areas
The postdoctoral research will involve:
- Cis-regulatory elements
- Gene regulatory networks
- Maize genetics
- Plant molecular biology
- Cellular biology
- Functional genomics
- CRISPR genome editing
- Drought / water-deficit tolerance
- GWAS
- eQTL analysis
- Chromatin biology
- Comparative genomics
- Population genetics
- Bioinformatics
- Plant phenotyping
🧪 Research Activities
The successful candidate will contribute to several complementary research activities:
1. Functional Validation
Validate candidate regulatory elements using protoplast transformation, enhancer/silencer reporter assays, and dCas9 assays.
2. Genomic Data Analysis
Analyze networks, eQTLs, GWAS datasets, and chromatin accessibility changes associated with water-deficit responses.
3. Comparative Genomics
Identify and compare homologous regulatory elements across maize genotypes, including the transformable A188 line.
4. CRISPR Editing
Collaborate with the RDP laboratory in Lyon on genome-editing experiments.
5. Greenhouse Phenotyping
Participate in phenotyping of edited maize lines in the S2 greenhouse in collaboration with the technical team.
6. Data Organization
Organize research outputs and genomic data for deposition in appropriate public data repositories.
🎓 Ideal Candidate
Applicants must have:
- A PhD in a relevant biological or life-science discipline.
- Advanced knowledge of:
- Molecular biology
- Cellular biology
- Functional genomics
- Intermediate knowledge of:
- Genomics
- Biological data analysis
- Practical knowledge of bioinformatics analysis tools.
- Programming experience in at least one of:
- Python
- R
- Experience with shell scripting is expected.
- Familiarity with SLURM-based computing clusters.
- Knowledge of FAIR data management is appreciated.
- Knowledge of comparative genomics or population genetics is an advantage.
- Strong scientific writing and presentation skills.
- Ability to work effectively in an interdisciplinary computational biology and cellular biology team.
- English proficiency at approximately B1–B2 level.
Interest or experience in student supervision is appreciated, with opportunities to contribute to the supervision of PhD students.
🌟 What You’ll Gain
- Postdoctoral research experience at INRAE.
- Hands-on experience in plant molecular and cellular biology.
- Experience with functional genomics and regulatory genomics.
- Exposure to CRISPR-based genome editing.
- Training in the analysis of GWAS, eQTL and gene regulatory network data.
- Experience combining experimental and computational biology.
- Research experience in maize drought-stress biology.
- Collaboration with multidisciplinary research teams and external laboratories.
- Opportunities to contribute to scientific publications and conference presentations.
- Experience with genomic data organization and FAIR data practices.
- Opportunity to contribute to an interdisciplinary research program within the Paris-Saclay research environment.
🧬 Research Focus
The project follows an integrated research strategy:
Water Deficit Response → Gene Regulatory Networks → Cis-Regulatory Elements → Functional Validation → CRISPR Editing → Maize Phenotyping
The primary objective is to identify and validate cis-regulatory elements involved in maize responses to water deficit and use targeted genome editing to develop maize lines with improved tolerance.
The project combines cellular biology, molecular biology, functional genomics, computational analysis, comparative genomics, genome editing, and plant phenotyping.
👩🔬 Key Responsibilities
The successful postdoctoral researcher will be expected to:
- Perform functional validation of candidate cis-regulatory elements.
- Conduct protoplast transformation experiments.
- Perform enhancer/silencer reporter and dCas9 assays.
- Analyze gene regulatory networks, eQTLs, GWAS and chromatin data.
- Perform comparative genomic analyses.
- Investigate regulatory-element homologs in maize.
- Collaborate on CRISPR editing experiments.
- Participate in greenhouse phenotyping of edited maize lines.
- Analyze and organize genomic and experimental datasets.
- Contribute to public data repositories.
- Perform meta-analyses and identify candidate regulatory elements.
- Write scientific articles and research reports.
- Present research through posters and conference talks.
- Participate in project meetings and collaborate with team members.
- Contribute to student supervision where appropriate.
🌍 Research Environment
The researcher will join the GEvAD Team (Evolutionary Genetics and Crops Adaptation) within the UMR Quantitative Genetics and Evolution (GQE) – Le Moulon.
The team is part of INRAE and the Institute for Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of the Living World (IDEEV) at the Paris-Saclay campus.
The position combines computational biology and cellular biology within an interdisciplinary research environment.
Remote work is possible for up to 3 days per week, depending on the tasks being performed. In-person team meetings are mandatory.
📄 How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit their application to:
📩 Maud Fagny: maud.fagny@inrae.fr
Application Materials
Applicants should provide:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Cover Letter
- Published Article
- Contact Details for 3 Referees
📅 Start Date: As soon as possible
⏳ Duration: 24 months
📌 Job Details
Institution: INRAE
Research Team: GEvAD – Evolutionary Genetics and Crops Adaptation
Research Unit: UMR Quantitative Genetics and Evolution (GQE) – Le Moulon
Institute: IDEEV – Institute for Diversity, Ecology and Evolution of the Living World
Position: Postdoctoral Researcher
Field: Cellular Biology
Duration: 24 months
Location: Gif-sur-Yvette, France
Research Leads: Maud Fagny & Clémentine Vitte
Project: ANR DEREGULE
Related Project: ANR JCJC NETWITS (2024–2029)
Research Focus: Cis-Regulatory Elements | Maize | Water-Deficit Tolerance | Functional Genomics | CRISPR
Techniques: Protoplast Transformation | Reporter Assays | dCas9 Assays | CRISPR Editing | GWAS | eQTL | Comparative Genomics
Computational Skills: Python | R | Shell | SLURM | Bioinformatics
Preferred Knowledge: Comparative Genomics | Population Genetics | FAIR Data Management
English Requirement: B1–B2
Work Arrangement: Remote work up to 3 days/week depending on tasks; in-person team meetings mandatory
Start: ASAP
Application Mode: Email
Application Email: maud.fagny@inrae.fr
Application Documents: CV | Cover Letter | Published Article | 3 Referee Contacts
Category
Postdoctoral Position | Postdoc France | Cellular Biology | Plant Molecular Biology | Functional Genomics | Cis-Regulatory Elements | Maize Genetics | CRISPR | Genome Editing | Plant Biotechnology | Drought Tolerance | Water-Deficit Stress | Comparative Genomics | Bioinformatics | INRAE | Paris-Saclay | Plant Science Research
🏷️ Tags
#PostdocPosition #PostdoctoralResearcher #INRAE #PlantBiology #CellularBiology #MolecularBiology #FunctionalGenomics #CRISPR #GenomeEditing
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