Host institution
The postdoc will be hosted at the Laboratory of Biometry – Evolutionary Biology (LBBE), located in
Villeurbanne on the LyonTech-La Doua campus. The LBBE is a joint research unit under the supervision
of Université Lyon 1, CNRS and VetAgro Sup. Around 250 staff are involved in research at the LBBE,
combining mathematical and computer modelling with questions in evolutionary ecology, genomics
and health. The project will be carried out within the Predictive Modelling and Ecotoxicology team
(MEPS). The MEPS team has a platform for modelling and analysing ecotoxicology data, MOSAIC, as
well as the expertise to develop mechanistic models and inference methods adapted to them. MOSAIC
is internationally visible (as evidenced by the usage statistics) and offers a conceptual framework that
is well suited to new functionalities, thereby helping to disseminate some of the work produced by
the project. The MEPS team members involved in MIND are also recognized for their significant
contribution to the wider use of modelling for environmental risk assessment.
Context
Landscape alteration and plant protection products (PPP) are the main drivers of biodiversity loss.
While PPP undoubtedly play a role in the decline of certain taxa in agricultural areas (aquatic and
terrestrial invertebrates and certain guilds of birds), their contribution is strongly suspected for many
other terrestrial vertebrate taxa. Some of these taxa are in serious global and national decline, such
as amphibians and chiropterans, but knowledge remains incomplete and insufficient to infer the
causes at the population level in nature.
The environment (soil, water, air and biota) contains PPP residues, parent molecules and/or
transformation products in mixtures composed of up to several dozen compounds (fungicides,
herbicides and insecticides) belonging to different chemical families. This implies multiple exposures
for wildlife. Small mammals and birds are involved in many ecological functions within
agroecosystems, including the regulation of crop pests. They are also central to risk assessment as
focal/sentinel species in risk (re-)assessments and as model species for ecotoxicological testing (or
pharmacological testing regarding mice and rats). However, apart from laboratory studies, there has
been little research on population-based ecotoxicological effects in wild mammals.
Based on these high-risk taxa, the MIND project aims to develop toxicokinetic (TK) models applied to
wildlife in agricultural landscapes and to provide user-friendly tools for assessing and monitoring
population exposure.
Job Description
The aim of the postdoctoral project is to develop multi-exposure risk indices based on measurements
of pesticide concentrations in hair or feathers of wild vertebrates. These risk indices will be based on
exposure-impregnation-effect models, which will make it possible to reconstruct the history of
exposure at the scale of agricultural landscapes and to provide quantitative tools for monitoring the
ecotoxicological effects associated with pesticide mixtures.
Tasks
The successful candidate will:
1. collect ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolisation, excretion) toxicokinetic (TK)
information on substances from public databases and marketing authorisations (MA).
2. develop physiologically based toxico-kinetics (PBTK) models applied to wildlife in order to
build tools for assessing population exposure.
Profile and skills
• Initial training
PhD in applied mathematics, pharmacology modelling, or ecology/ecotoxicology modelling.
• Professional experience
Experience in ecotoxicology is a plus.
Specific knowledge
• Required
o Mathematical modelling (ordinary differential equations)
o Programming (R and/or Python)
o Statistical inference (Bayesian inference)
• Desired
o Ecology and ecotoxicology
Professional qualities
• Ability to work in an interdisciplinary manner between ecology, chemistry and mathematics.
• Ability to make proposals for data analysis.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
Practical information
• Type of contract: Fixed-term contract (CDD)
• Contract duration: 12 months
• Location: mainly Villeurbanne, with travels to Montpellier and Besançon
• Starting date: 03/02/2025
• Application deadline: 30/11/2024
How to apply
• Applications must include a detailed CV, a motivation letter and 3 reference people.
• Applications must be sent by email at sandrine.charles@univ-lyon.fr.
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