Postdoc (Paris, France): GWAS between CNVs, agronomical traits and heterosis in maize

Postdoctoral position in Genetic/Statistics Position are available at AgroParisTech and Le Moulon Plant Genetics Lab located in Paris (France).

Subject:
Genome wide association study between structural variation, agronomical traits variation and heterosis in maize

Context:
The project aims at demonstrating the efficiency of combining innovative genome sequencing methods, microarrays, bioinformatics, statistics and association mapping to accelerate the identification and the use of structural variants in maize breeding. The Moulon Plant Genetics laboratory main scientific interest is to decipher the genetic determinism of complex traits. For this purpose, they develop complementary strategies based on QTL detection with linkage and association genetics approaches. The MIA lab (AgroParisTech) is a statistical group involved in bioinformatics application. They are interested in the general problem of breakpoint detection, particularly for large scale comparative genomic hybrididization (CGH) analysis. In the context of the ANR CNV-Maize project, both laboratories join efforts to address the effect of structural variation on complex traits in plants, considering maize as a model.

Program:
The post-doc will work first with the MIA lab (AgroParisTech) in order to devise suitable statistical methods for pangenomic CGH array signal analysis. Next the post-doc will apply these methods to the data from the 300 inbred lines covering the maize diversity hybridized on the pangenomic CGH array and perform association studies between the structural variants and some agronomic traits in the Moulon Lab.

Background:
The applicant should have a strong background in genetics and/or in applied statistics; typically a PhD in one of these fields. The person will be in charge of the statistical analysis of high-density CGH profiles and of their interpretation. He/she will collaborate with both geneticists from Le Moulon and statisticians from AgroParisTech. She/he will also contribute to develop new methods for the specific aim of the project, in particular to take into account specificities of CNV to develop original association genetics models. To achieve these tasks, she/he will benefit from the expertise of the two teams and will therefore collaborate in an inter-disciplinary context.A strong background statistics and/or statistical quantitative genetics is required. A strong experience in programming is also highly desirable.

Localization:
The UMR AgroParisTech / INRA “Applied Mathematics and Computer Sciences” (MIA lab) is located in center of Paris (http://www.agroparistech.fr/mia/). The UMR INRA/Univ. Paris XI/CNRS/AgroParisTech "Génétique Végétale du Moulon" (Moulon lab) is located in the south of Paris (30km) and close to the University of Paris XI (http://moulon.inra.fr/). Both labs are located along the express train RER B.

Salary:
1900 € per month including health insurance (2200 € before taxes).

Contacts:
Stéphane Robin (robin@agroparistech.fr); Stéphane Nicolas (snicolas@moulon.inra.fr); Emilie Lebarbier (emilie.lebarbier@agroparistech.fr)

Applications should be sent and should include a CV, a statement of research interests, and names of referees.

References:
Picard F, Lebarbier E, Hoebeke M, Rigaill G, Thiam B. (2011) Joint segmentation, calling, and normalization of multiple CGH profiles. /Biostatistics,/ doi:10.1093/biostatistics/kxq076
Ducrocq S., Madur D., Veyrieras J.B., Camus-Kulandaivelu L., Kloiber-Maitz M., Presterl T., Ouzunova M., Manicacci D., Charcosset A. (2008) Key impact of Vgt1 on flowering time adaptation in maize: Evidence from association mapping and ecogeographical information. /Genetics/ 178:2433-2437
Ducrocq S., Giauffret C., Madur D., Combes V., Dumas F., Jouanne S., Coubriche D., Jamin P., Moreau L., Charcosset A. (2009) Fine mapping and haplotype structure analysis of a major flowering time Quantitative Trait Locus on maize chromosome 10./ Genetics/ 183: 1555–1563