Tackle Climate Change Through Genomics: Apply Now for a PhD at Université Paris-Saclay (2025 Intake)
Are you passionate about climate change adaptation, plant genomics, and AI-driven research? A fully funded PhD opportunity in Genomic Vulnerability and Climate Resilience is now open at the prestigious Université Paris-Saclay in France. This interdisciplinary PhD combines environmental genomics, machine learning, statistics, and plant science to build tools for understanding species resilience under climate stress.
🔬 About the PhD Program
As climate change accelerates, predicting how plant populations respond to extreme environmental shifts is critical for ensuring global food security. This PhD project aims to advance our understanding of genomic adaptation in crops like maize and teosinte under future climate scenarios.
Key Objective: Develop cutting-edge statistical and deep learning methods to model genomic vulnerability using Genome-Environment Association (GEA) and Genomic Offset (GO) frameworks.
💡 Why Choose This PhD?
- 🧪 Host Laboratory: MIA Lab at INRAE, Université Paris-Saclay — a hub for innovation in statistical modeling and quantitative genetics.
- 👨🏫 Expert Supervision: Work under the guidance of leading scientists including Julie Aubert, Tristan Mary-Huard, M. Tenaillon, Laurence Moreau, and Mathieu Gautier.
- 🤝 Collaborative Research: Jointly conducted with UMR Génétique Quantitative et Évolution and the University of Montpellier.
- 🌽 Real-World Relevance: Focused on analyzing genomic data of maize and teosinte to assess their drought tolerance and climate resilience.
🔍 Research Highlights
- Climate change impact modeling
- Environmental and adaptive genomics
- Machine learning & neural networks
- High-dimensional data analysis
- Variational inference & stochastic optimization
🎓 Who Should Apply?
If you have a strong background in applied mathematics, machine learning, or statistics, and you’re curious about genomics and environmental adaptation, this opportunity is tailor-made for you.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Master’s degree (or equivalent) in Applied Mathematics, Statistics, Bioinformatics, Machine Learning, or related fields
- Proficiency in Python and/or R
- Interest in plant biology, climate science, and computational genomics
- Motivation to work on real-world problems with an interdisciplinary team
📍 Program Details
- Degree Level: PhD in Environmental and Computational Genomics
- Location: Université Paris-Saclay, France
- Start Date: September or October 2025
- Duration: 3 years
- Funding Source: CLand Project & PEPR Maths-Vives
- Doctoral School: École Doctorale de Mathématiques Hadamard (EDMH)
📬 How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit the following documents via email:
- CV (with academic background and skills)
- Cover Letter (outlining your motivation and fit for the project)
- Contact details of two academic referees
Send Applications To:
- 📧 Tristan Mary-Huard: tristan.mary-huard@agroparistech.fr
- 📧 Julie Aubert: julie.aubert@agroparistech.fr
⏳ Deadline: Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early submission is highly encouraged!