About Me
Hi, my name is Domitille!
I am a PostDoc working at WSL and at the University of Zurich with a main study focus on tree genomics.
Studied species: Quercus petraea Fagus sylvatica
Soon to be studied: Torminalis glaberrima Quercus pubescens Acer platanoides Tilia cordata/platyphyllos
Language: English (B2-C1), French (mother tongue), German (A2-B1)
Keywords: population genomics, genome assembly, genome-wide association analysis, bioinformatics, metabolomics
Programming Skills: R, Python, Unix, Snakemake, Singularity, Slurm-HPCs, Git
Wet-lab: DNA extraction, metabolomic extraction (LC-MS)
Fieldwork: Leaf sampling in forest environments
Experience
PostDoc Ökologische Genetik (80%)
Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL
February 2026 - Present
PostDoc TreeGD project (Supervision Dr. Christian Rellstab)
Main focus:
Study of the genetic diversity and population structure of five native tree species across Switzerland
(Beech, Wild Service Tree, Downy oak, Linden, Norway Maple)
PostDoc Spatial Genetics (20%)
Universität Zurich, Department of Geography and Chemistry
February 2024 - Present
PostDoc in Spatial Genetics of Ecosystems group (Prof. Meredith Schuman)
Main focus:
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Genome-wide association study within the Laegern beech forest (Zurich, Switzerland). Can we identify the genetic basis of tree functional traits derived from Earth observation data?
-
Study of source of variation of leaf chemical production within beech provenances at early life stage
-
Metabolomic profiling of a southern beech population
Fundraising assistant (20%)
Plant Science Center, ETH
March 2025 - December 2025
Task: Fundraising, grant writing support (MSCA COFUND, MSCA DN)
PhD student (INRAe)
UMR BIOGECO (Cestas) - UMR GDEC (Clermont-Ferrand) FRANCE
December 2020 - Decembre 2023
http://www.theses.fr/s258031
PhD Subject: Genetic bases of specialized metabolites variation and effect on biotic interactions in a major crop (Triticum aestivum) and a dominant forest tree (Quercus petraea).
Preprints & Publications
Preprint
bioRxiv
Fundings
Rübel Fund 2025
Swiss Society for Plant Biology
Unraveling the genetic basis of survival “biomarkers” in a strongly selected early life stage of common beech trees
Workshops
Workshop Beech Genomes for the Future
April 4, 2025 University of Zurich
Member of workshop organization
Conference attendance
Talk title: Assessing the genetic basis of remotely evaluated drought response in a beech (Fagus sylvatica) population
EVOLTREE Conference 2025
18-21 November 2025 Madrid, Spain
https://www.evoltree.eu/conferences/conference/joint-evoltree-forgenius-conference---third-biannual-evoltree-conference
Poster: Genome-wide association with the remotely assessed drought response of a beech (Fagus sylvatica) population
ESEB Conference Barcelona 2025
17-22 September 2025 Barcelona, Spain
https://eseb2025.com/list-of-symposia/#S01
Symposium organizer: Adaptation to environmental changes in trees through the lens of common gardens and genomics
EVOLTREE Conference 2023
12-15 September 2023 Brasov, Romania
https://www.evoltree.eu/conferences/conference/second-evoltree-conference-2023-resilient-forests-for-the-future
Talk title: Genetic architecture of leaf specialized metabolites natural variation within sessile oak populations
Young researchers days
03-05 April 2023 Clermont-Ferrand, France
https://eng-jjc2023.journees.inrae.fr/
Member of the organizing commitee
Poster: Differentiated gene expression response of specialized metabolites-related genes among five modern bread wheat (Triticum aestivum) cultivars to the infection of Fusarium graminearum
Symposium Future PhDs for Future Forests
28-30 September 2022 Göttingen, Germany
Science & Environment Department mobility grant, Univerity of Bordeaux
https://www.evoltree.eu/training/item/symposium-future-phds-for-future-forests
Talk title: Genetic architecture of leaf specialized metabolites in sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
ESEB Conference Prague 2022
14-19 August 2022 Prague, Czech Republic
EVOLTREE Conference Grant
https://www.eseb2022.cz/
Talk title: Genetic architecture of leaf specialized metabolites in sessile oak (Quercus petraea)
EVOLTREE Conference 2021
14-17 September 2021, Online
https://www.evoltree.eu/conferences/conference/first-evoltree-conference-2021
Talk title: Genome-wide association study of leaf specialized metabolites in sessile oak (Quercus petraea) provenances.
Education
PhD - Evolutionary, Functional & Community Ecology
University of Bordeaux
2020 - 2023
Master of Science degree in Bioinformatics
University of Bordeaux
2018-2020