Postdoc on evolutionary genetics / evolutionary ecology of African plants in Brussels

The group of Dr Olivier Hardy at the Universit? Libre de Bruxelles (Belgium) is seeking a candidate for a 2 years postdoctoral position to work on evolutionary genetics / evolutionary
ecology of central African plant species. The candidate should have experience in population genetics, phylogeography, phylogenetics and/or community ecology modeling. Experience with
tropical plants is a plus. The candidate will contribute to new projects funded by the Belgian National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS). One project is entitled "Population dynamics of trees
and herbaceous species characteristic of central African rain forests in relation to past human and climate perturbations", and the other "Organization of plant biodiversity across
African rain forests at different levels of integration using genetic markers: phylogeography, DNA barcoding, and phylogenetic structure of communities". The research project
of the candidate will be flexible and adapted to his previous experience. The candidate will be based in Brussels, will have access to a molecular lab and is also expected to do field missions in Africa.
Interested candidates should send their CV to Olivier Hardy (ohardy@ulb.ac.be) as soon as possible (deadline 15 September). More details about the projects will be provided. Olivier
Hardy will eventually propose one candidate for a postdoctoral grant from the FNRS (only non-Belgian candidates are eligible). Decision is expected in early December (expected success rate
is about 75%) and the grant can start in January 2010. Salary is ca. 2000 euros. The team lead by Olivier Hardy (cf. http://www.ulb.ac.be/sciences/ecoevol/index_EN.html)
is currently composed of 4 postdocs and 4 PhD students. Research topics focus on African rainforests and include phylogeographic studies of several forest dwelling tree, herbaceous and
epiphyte (orchids) species; population and quantitative genetics of some timber tree species; molecular sytematics (orchids, Psychotria); development of DNA barcoding
approaches for tree species; (phylo)diversity patterns of tree communities and plant-environment relationships. Most field work occurs in Cameroon, Gabon or Benin in

collaboration with local researchers. Olivier Hardy is also doing modeling research in population genetics and community ecology, and develops software for data analyses.