*Start: *April 2014
*Places: *Senegal (Mbour, Dakar) / France (Montpellier)
*Context and research project*
The Center of Biology for Population Management (CBGP) offers a 18 month
position to work on an ANR-funded project examining the role of
parasites (or their absence) and immune trade-offs in the establishment
and proliferation of murine invasive species.
The aim of this post-doctoral position is to develop experimental
researches to evaluate the role of parasites and immune pathways in the
success of the house mouse /Mus musculus domesticus /bioinvasion in
Senegal. This work involves experimental infestations and immune
challenges that will be performed on the house mouse and on native
rodents (/Mastomys erythroleucus/) that share similar habitats.
·A preliminary study has emphasized parasites that could play a role in
the success of the mouse bioinvasion : a helminth with direct cycle
(/Aspiculuris/ sp.) and potentially murine malaria (/Plasmodium/ sp.),
which are both non pathogenic for humans and easy to breed in the lab
(eg : Gaherwal et al. 2012; Long et al. 2008). A first objective is to
evaluate the effects of these parasites on rodent fitness through
experimental infestations (cf. Graham /et al. /2011). Fecundity and
immune trade-offs could be investigated. Other experimentations using
infestations could also be performed to disentangle the effects of
parasitism vs immunopathologies on fitness decrease (e.g. Long et al.
2008 ; Belloni et al. 2010).
·A second objective is to compare immunocompetence of house mice living
on invasion fronts vs in anciently colonised areas. A preliminary work
has shown than humoral responses were higher in populations from the
invasion front, probably at the expense of inflammatory responses (Lee &
Klasing 2004). The applicant will test experimentally this result using
immune challenges. Experiments will be performed in the breeding lab
located in Mbour (Senegal). The applicant will work with local ingeneer,
technician and students. Immunological assays will be realised either in
Dakar (Elisa tests) or in Montpellier (multiplex immunoassays).
*Competence required and Procedure*
Ideal candidates would have one or more of the following areas of expertise
·PhD in immunoecology and post-doctoral experience
·Experimental work on rodents; infestations if possible using helminths
or /Plasmodium/
·Ability to work in a developing country
·Ability to work independently as well as in a team (management of
technicians and students)
Interested applicants should send their applications to Nathalie
Charbonnel (nathalie.charbonnel@supagro.inra.fr
(carine.brouat@ird.fr
Applications should include: a CV; a research statement explaining the
candidate's previous research experience and research interests, and
contact information of two or more references.
*Closing date: 31 January 2014***
