Forest Genomics and Climate Adaptation
Scientic Supervisor / Contact Person
Name and Surname
Francisco Javier Gallego Rodríguez
ORCID (link)
Localization & Research Area
Faculty / Institute
Faculty of Biological Science
Department
Genetics, physiology and microbiology
Research Area
Life Sciences (LIF)
MSCA & ERC experience
Research group / research team hosted any MSCA fellow?
No
Research group / research team have any ERC beneficiaries?
No
Research Team & Research Topic
Research Team / Research Group Name (if any)
Forest Genetics / Agro-food and Environmental Genomics
Website of the Research team / Research Group / Department
Brief description of the Research Team / Research Group / Department
The Forest Genetics team at the Complutense University of Madrid investigates how forest trees respond and adapt to climate change, with a particular focus on drought vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive potential. Our research addresses fundamental and applied questions at the interface of forest genetics, genomics, molecular biology, and global change biology. We are especially interested in identifying the molecular and evolutionary mechanisms that determine why some trees and populations are more resistant or resilient than others under increasing climatic stress.
Our work integrates genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and population genetics with a broader multidisciplinary framework involving collaborations in ecology, physiology, dendrochronology, and climatology. This integrative perspective allows us to connect molecular processes with tree performance, stress responses, and long-term adaptation under real environmental conditions.
We work primarily on forest species of high ecological relevance, particularly within the Abies, Pinus, and Cedrus genera, as valuable systems to study adaptation to climate change and forest decline. Our goal is not only to understand the biological basis of climate sensitivity and resilience, but also to contribute to the conservation of forest genetic resources in a rapidly changing world.
The fellow will be hosted at the Faculty of Biological Sciences, in the Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, and will benefit from an active research environment with access to laboratory facilities, computational resources, software, and relevant databases required to develop a competitive and interdisciplinary MSCA project. The hosting environment is especially suitable for candidates seeking to develop an original proposal at the crossroads of forest genomics, stress biology, adaptation, and conservation.
We particularly welcome postdoctoral researchers who wish to develop an ambitious project within the broad field of forest responses to climate change, especially those interested in combining molecular approaches with evolutionary, ecological, or applied conservation perspectives. Candidates are encouraged to propose innovative project ideas aligned with the research lines below.
Our work integrates genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics, and population genetics with a broader multidisciplinary framework involving collaborations in ecology, physiology, dendrochronology, and climatology. This integrative perspective allows us to connect molecular processes with tree performance, stress responses, and long-term adaptation under real environmental conditions.
We work primarily on forest species of high ecological relevance, particularly within the Abies, Pinus, and Cedrus genera, as valuable systems to study adaptation to climate change and forest decline. Our goal is not only to understand the biological basis of climate sensitivity and resilience, but also to contribute to the conservation of forest genetic resources in a rapidly changing world.
The fellow will be hosted at the Faculty of Biological Sciences, in the Department of Genetics, Physiology and Microbiology, and will benefit from an active research environment with access to laboratory facilities, computational resources, software, and relevant databases required to develop a competitive and interdisciplinary MSCA project. The hosting environment is especially suitable for candidates seeking to develop an original proposal at the crossroads of forest genomics, stress biology, adaptation, and conservation.
We particularly welcome postdoctoral researchers who wish to develop an ambitious project within the broad field of forest responses to climate change, especially those interested in combining molecular approaches with evolutionary, ecological, or applied conservation perspectives. Candidates are encouraged to propose innovative project ideas aligned with the research lines below.
Research lines / projects proposed
1. Genomic basis of climate adaptation in forest trees
This line focuses on the identification of the genomic architecture underlying adaptation to climate change in forest species. We are interested in using massive sequencing approaches, population genomics, and genome-wide association analyses to detect adaptive variation, signatures of selection, and genomic regions associated with climate-related traits and stress responses. This line also contributes to the characterization and conservation of forest genetic resources.
2. Molecular responses to drought stress
This line explores the molecular mechanisms involved in drought response in forest trees, particularly through RNA-seq-based transcriptomic analyses. We aim to compare tolerant and sensitive individuals in order to identify key genes, pathways, and regulatory responses associated with drought resistance, acclimation, and physiological decline under water limitation.
3. Epigenetic mechanisms of resilience and tree decline
This line investigates the contribution of epigenetic variation, especially DNA methylation, to stress responses and forest decline. By comparing healthy trees with individuals showing signs of decline, we aim to identify epigenetic markers associated with stress exposure, resilience, and vulnerability. This research opens promising avenues for understanding non-genetic components of climate response in long-lived organisms such as trees.
4. Integrative omics approaches to forest resilience
A particularly attractive direction for an MSCA fellow is the integration of genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics to better understand how forest trees respond to environmental stress across multiple biological scales. Projects under this line may combine different omics layers to address complex questions related to adaptation, plasticity, resilience, and early signals of decline.
5. Forest genetics for conservation under global change
Candidates interested in more applied research are also welcome to develop projects addressing the conservation of forest genetic resources under climate change. Possible directions include the identification of climate-vulnerable populations, the study of adaptive diversity, and the development of genetic knowledge relevant to forest conservation, monitoring, and management under global change.
This line focuses on the identification of the genomic architecture underlying adaptation to climate change in forest species. We are interested in using massive sequencing approaches, population genomics, and genome-wide association analyses to detect adaptive variation, signatures of selection, and genomic regions associated with climate-related traits and stress responses. This line also contributes to the characterization and conservation of forest genetic resources.
2. Molecular responses to drought stress
This line explores the molecular mechanisms involved in drought response in forest trees, particularly through RNA-seq-based transcriptomic analyses. We aim to compare tolerant and sensitive individuals in order to identify key genes, pathways, and regulatory responses associated with drought resistance, acclimation, and physiological decline under water limitation.
3. Epigenetic mechanisms of resilience and tree decline
This line investigates the contribution of epigenetic variation, especially DNA methylation, to stress responses and forest decline. By comparing healthy trees with individuals showing signs of decline, we aim to identify epigenetic markers associated with stress exposure, resilience, and vulnerability. This research opens promising avenues for understanding non-genetic components of climate response in long-lived organisms such as trees.
4. Integrative omics approaches to forest resilience
A particularly attractive direction for an MSCA fellow is the integration of genomics, transcriptomics, and epigenomics to better understand how forest trees respond to environmental stress across multiple biological scales. Projects under this line may combine different omics layers to address complex questions related to adaptation, plasticity, resilience, and early signals of decline.
5. Forest genetics for conservation under global change
Candidates interested in more applied research are also welcome to develop projects addressing the conservation of forest genetic resources under climate change. Possible directions include the identification of climate-vulnerable populations, the study of adaptive diversity, and the development of genetic knowledge relevant to forest conservation, monitoring, and management under global change.
Key words
Application requirements
Professional Experience & Documents
- Curriculum vitae.
- Cover letter describing the applicant’s scientific interests, background, and motivation for applying.
- One-page project idea aligned with one or more of the research lines above.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to include a one-page proposal outlining a preliminary project idea aligned with the host team’s research interests. Proposals that demonstrate scientific originality, interdisciplinary ambition, and a clear fit with the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme will be especially welcome.
- Cover letter describing the applicant’s scientific interests, background, and motivation for applying.
- One-page project idea aligned with one or more of the research lines above.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to include a one-page proposal outlining a preliminary project idea aligned with the host team’s research interests. Proposals that demonstrate scientific originality, interdisciplinary ambition, and a clear fit with the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship scheme will be especially welcome.
One Page Proposal
You can attach the 'One Page Proposal' to enhance the attractiveness of your application. Supervisors usually appreciate it. Please take into account your background and the information provided in Research Team & Research Topic section to fill in it.
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