Postdoctoral position in computational modeling of metabolic interactions

Introduction

UNIL is a leading international teaching and research institution, with over 5,000 employees and 17,000 students split between its Dorigny campus, CHUV and Epalinges. As an employer, UNIL encourages excellence, individual recognition and responsibility.

Presentation

The Pacheco Lab ) in the Department of Fundamental Microbiology at the University of Lausanne offers a postdoctoral position in computational modeling of metabolic interactions.

Job information

Expected start date: flexible, earliest 01 January 2026

Contract length: 1 year, renewable

Activity rate: 100%

Workplace: University of Lausanne, Dorigny Campus

Your responsibilities

The Pacheco Lab has an open position in computational modeling to study the role of metabolic mechanisms in shaping microbial interactions and community ecology.

In nature, microbes form complex communities whose functions are tightly linked to those of their host ecosystems. While individual microbes exhibit distinct resource utilization strategies and metabolic dependencies, connecting these physiological traits to emergent properties such as coexistence and ecological stability remains a major challenge, particularly in environments with fluctuating and heterogeneous resource profiles.

Through this project, we aim to uncover general principles that link individual metabolic traits to community assembly and stability, with applications in microbiome engineering and ecosystem management. The successful candidate will develop and curate genome-scale metabolic models of host-associated and environmental microbes, and apply constraint-based modeling and network analysis to simulate emergent microbe-microbe and microbe-host interactions relevant to ecosystem and host functional dynamics. These models will integrate experimental datasets (including genomic, growth, and metabolomic data) to improve physiological representativeness and predictive accuracy. The candidate will also lead efforts to standardize workflows for model construction, curation, and validation, incorporating state-of-the-art tools and practices to ensure reproducibility and scalability across projects. They will collaborate closely with group members to design and interpret experiments that inform model refinement, and work with external partners to extend modeling frameworks to additional host-associated and environmental systems.

This role is ideal for candidates with a strong background in computational biology, microbial ecology, or systems biology, and an interest in data-driven approaches to understanding and engineering microbial communities.

Your qualifications

• Ph.D. diploma (or planned defense at time of application)
• Good publication record (at least one first-author publication in a reputable, international peer-reviewed journal)
• Strong practical experience in mathematical modeling (particularly genome-scale metabolic modeling) and bioinformatics techniques
• Enthusiasm for conceptual thinking in ecology is valued
• Proficiency in English
• Strong personal drive for scientific research, a curious nature, and the capability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a growing interdisciplinary team
• Interdisciplinary candidates with additional experience or interest in experimental (wet-lab) systems for microbial ecology are strongly encouraged to apply

What the post offers you

You will join a new and highly motivated interdisciplinary research group focused on understanding and engineering microbial interactions for host health and sustainability applications. Located in the Biophore building overlooking Lake Geneva and the Alps, our lab is embedded within the vibrant and international research environment of the Department of Fundamental Microbiology at the University of Lausanne. Our state-of-the-art biology and computational lab space is supported by UNIL's excellent research infrastructure (e.g., computing cluster and sequencing, metabolomics, and microscopy facilities) and a collaborative network of leading researchers in microbial ecology, computational biology, sustainable agriculture, and medicine (e.g., NCCR Microbiomes, Department of Ecology and Evolution, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, EPFL, and CHUV). UNIL is deeply integrated within the broader Lausanne community and region, which offers ample opportunities for professional training and a rich cultural life.

Please visit our website for more information on our group, research interests, and publications:

Contact for further information

Prof. Alan Pacheco:

Your application

Application deadline: Review of applications will start immediately until the position is filled.

Please include your full application in PDF format, including a motivation letter, a CV with grades, a short description of previous research, and the contact information of two references.

Only applications through this website will be considered.

Complementary information

Seeking to promote an equitable representation of men and women among its staff, the University of Lausanne encourages applications from women.

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