open positions
PhD position in molecular population genetics
A PhD position in molecular population genetics is available at the Anthropology Unit of the Department of Genetics and Evolution, University of Geneva, Switzerland, under the supervision of Professor Alicia Sanchez-Mazas (http://ua.unige.ch/en/personne/aliciasanchezmazas). The project will consist in the analysis of DNA sequence data of the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) genes in African populations. The main aim is to investigate the molecular diversity and evolution of these immune genes in Africa within an evolutionary framework taking into account demographic history and selective pressures.
We are seeking a highly motivated person with a strong interest in human evolution, population genetics and genomics, immunogenetics and anthropology.
Contact: alicia.sanchez-mazas@unige.ch
Physics-Based Numerical Simulations of Animal Development & Evolution: Position for a Computer Scientist
In the context of a multidisciplinary study funded by an ERC advanced grant, the Milinkovitch lab offers one position for an outstanding, highly motivated, and creative computer scientist (at the Post-doc level or, possibly, the PhD student level) to investigate the interactions between physical and biological processes that generate and constrain Life’s complexity and diversity. The successful candidate will develop mathematical modelling and high performance physics-based numerical simulations that will require strong programming skills. The position is for 3 to 5 years and must start between September and December 2019. In this academic research position, you will join a multidisciplinary team of physicists, mathematicians, computer scientists and biologists, and you will apply your creative talent to uncover the self-organisational processes that generate complexity during morphogenesis and evolution.
Contact: lane-jobs [at] unige.ch
Full document with requirements for applications
Position for a Cell / Developmental Biologist or Biophysicist at the University of Geneva (Switzerland)
In the context of a multidisciplinary study funded by an ERC advanced grant, the Milinkovitch lab offers one position for an outstanding, highly motivated, and creative experimental wet-lab biologist or biophysicist (at the Post-doc level or, possibly, PhD student level) with strong skills in Cell and Developmental Biology as well as experience in Biophysics. The position is for 3 to 5 years and must start between September and December 2019. The successful candidate will use molecular/cell/developmental biology and biophysics methods to investigate (i) how cell proliferation and tissue differentiation are coupled to mechanical tension during scale development in reptiles and birds, and (ii) how geometry of the skin affects reaction diffusion during the development of skin colour patterns in reptiles. These analyses will be performed on new model species (lizards, snakes, crocodiles, birds) already established in the Milinkovitch lab.
Contact: lane-jobs [at] unige.ch
Full document with requirements for applications
3D Animations and Interactive Virtual Reality of Animal Development and Evolution: Position for a Computer Graphics Scientist in Switzerland
In the context of a multidisciplinary study combining mathematical modelling, physics-based numerical simulations, and biology, we offer one position for an outstanding, highly motivated, and creative computer scientist with Autodesk Maya and Unreal Engine 4 experience to produce animations, ultra-realistic interactive VR applications and educational software for teaching recently-discovered physical and biological processes generating Life’s complexity and diversity. These developments will be targeted to all levels of education and outreach, from the general public to university students to the physics-of-biology academic research community. Good written and verbal communication skills in the English language are mandatory.
Candidates must have a master’s degree in computer science and strong expertise in:
-Development and optimization of ultra-realistic VR graphics in Unreal Engine (and possibly Unity);
-3D modeling, point cloud and mesh processing, surface reconstruction, texturing and animation;
-C/C++ and GPU programming and optimization of 3D graphics rendering.
Interests and skills in artificial life, evolutionary algorithms, deep-learning, neural networks, image processing/analysis, pattern recognition and robotics are useful additional assets.
Candidates must have a master’s degree in computer science. The position is available at the level of a PhD student position or at the level of Research Scientist (requiring a PhD degree or at least 3 years of professional experience).
The University of Geneva (UNIGE) is world-renowned for its research and is among the top 1% best universities in the world. Research Scientists and PhD students are remunerated according to the standards of UNIGE, which are very generous when compared to other international programs.
Geneva is an international city occupying a privileged geographical situation with its beautiful lake and the close-by Alps.
References: A Living Mesoscopic Cellular Automaton Made of Skin Scales. Nature 544: 173-179 (2017); Bifurcation Analysis of Reaction Diffusion Systems on Arbitrary Surfaces. Bulletin of Mathematical Biology (2017); Photonic Crystals Cause Active Colour Change in Chameleons. Nature Communications 6: 6368 (2015); R2OBBIE-3D, a Fast Robotic High-Resolution System for Quantitative Phenotyping of Surface Geometry and Colour-Texture. PlosOne 10(6): e0126740 (2015) ; Crocodile Head Scales Are Not Developmental Units But Emerge from Physical Cracking. Science 339, 78-81 (2013).
The position description is also available at https://www.lanevol.org/jobs
How to Apply
Candidates must send their application — in the form of a single PDF file including a brief letter of interest, a CV, as well as contact information (not support letters) of two to three persons of reference — to: Prof. Michel Milinkovitch (michel.Milinkovitch@unige.ch). The position description is also available at https://www.lanevol.org/jobs