Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) is a French public research Institute operating under the joint authority of the French Ministry for Higher Education, Research and Innovation and the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. It takes an innovative approach to research, expertise, training and knowledge-sharing for the benefit of countries and regions, making science and innovation key drivers in their development. Scientific progress is necessary to further sustainable and human development: IRD carries this conviction with it wherever it is present, and wherever it works with its partners.

TransVIHMI unit at IRD conducts multidisciplinary research on HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases of major Public Health importance (ex Ebola, SARS-CoV2, ...). The projects are focused on clinical and interventional research, social science, the genetic diversity of infectious agents and its consequences, as well as on the determinants of emergence of infectious diseases and zoonotic risks using a one health approach.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and competent postdoc with proven record in the laboratory use of next generation sequencing technologies (Illumina, MinION) and bioinformatics analysis to detect and characterize (re)- emerging viruses in humans and/or wildlife.
The post-doc will work in the following projects:

• BIODIV-AFREID: Biodiversity changes in African forests and Emerging Infectious Diseases: should we worry? The effect of biodiversity changes on the risk of spillover of these EID to humans is not yet clear. BIODIV-AFREID will explore these relations in different forest sites in DR Congo and Côte d'Ivoire. We will investigate a range of viral pathogens but with a focus on two contrasting EID that are of major concern: i.e. Monkeypoxvirus (found in a variety of small mammals and with frequent human infections) and Ebola virus (with rare spillover events to humans and the reservoir not yet identified with certainty). We will also search for representatives of other viral families like arenaviruses, coronaviruses and hantaviruses. The project is conducted by a consortium of European and African partners with strong zoological, ecological, biomedical, virological and anthropological expertise and vast experience in field work in Africa and a history of earlier collaborations; the University of Antwerp (Belgium), Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels, Belgium), University of Kisangani (DR Congo), IRD-TransVIHMI (Montpellier, France), Robert Koch Institute (Berlin, Germany) and One Health for All (Bingerville, Ivory Coast).
• EBOSURSY: Capacity building and monitoring of priority zoonotic diseases in Guinea, Cameroon and DR Congo
  The project aims to better understand the natural cycle of Ebola virus, Coronaviruses, etc.. and to strengthen technical capabilities and wildlife surveillance systems at the local, national and regional level using a "One Health" approach from the perspective to help countries better detect, characterize and prevent outbreaks with emerging (re-) zoonotic pathogens. The project is conducted by a consortium including OIE, CIRAD, IRD, Pasteur Institute and African partners with a history of earlier collaborations https://rr-africa.oie.int/projects/EBOSURSY_2018/fr_index.html.
  Position open on fixed-term contract during 24 months

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• Experience in next generation sequencing technologies (Illumina, MinION) and bioinformatics analysis
• Additional experience in ecology, epidemiology, phylogeny or modelling (preferably in some combination) are highly appreciated.
• Candidates should also be interested to participate in field studies in Africa and capacity building to transfer these technologies to the participating laboratories in Guinea, Cameroon and Democratic Republic of Congo.

To apply send a cv and a motivation letter to: martine.peeters@ird.fr and ahidjo.ayouba@ird.fr