I am a CNRS senior investigator in the research team "Evolution and Genomes" of the Laboratory "Evolution, Genomes, Behavior, Ecology", a joint research unit of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), the Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD) and the University Paris-Saclay (France).
I am broadly interested in evolutionary questions at the genetic and genomic levels, in a wide range of organisms. Currently, I am involved in two major lines of research:
- Evolution of cytoplasmic sex determination: impact of inherited symbionts on the evolution of sex determination mechanisms, with emphasis on the pillbug/Wolbachia system.
- Evolution of transposable elements: transposition dynamics and impact on genomic plasticity in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, with emphasis on horizontal transfer.
European Research Council (ERC)
Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR)
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Région Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Follow me on Twitter! @RichardCordaux
February 2026 - Our latest paper on within-host Wolbachia genomic and phenotypic diversity is published in Environmental Microbiology Reports. Congratulations to all coauthors!
October 2025 - Our latest paper on the evolution of sex determination in Armadillidium vulgare is published in Biology Letters. Congratulations to all coauthors!
June 2025 - Our perspective on the mechanisms underlying sex ratio distorsion mediated by endosymbionts is published in Genome Biology and Evolution.
February 2025 - Welcome to Matteo Monnaert, who is joining us to work on the evolution of the Paris Sex Ratio system of Drosophila simulans.
August 2024 - Our latest paper on sex ratio distorter prevalence in Armadillidium vulgare populations is published in Heredity. Congratulations to all coauthors!
June 2024 - Our preprint on Wolbachia phenotypic and genomic variability within hosts is available in bioRxiv.
January 2024 - Welcome to Lili Babin, who is joining us to work on the evolution of the Paris Sex Ratio system of Drosophila simulans.
November 2023 - Our preprint on the temporal variation in sex ratio distorter distribution in natural populations of Armadillidium vulgare is available in bioRxiv.
July 2023 - Our latest paper on Nosema diversity in gammarid amphipods has been accepted for publication in PLoS Pathogens. Congratulations to all coauthors!
May 2023 - I am glad to join the Laboratory "Evolution, Genomes, Behavior, Ecology" of the CNRS, IRD and University Paris Saclay, located in Gif-sur-Yvette, near Paris!
February 2023 - Our latest paper on Wolbachia-mediated host protection in Armadillidium vulgare is published in JIP. Congratulations to all coauthors!
January 2023 - Our latest paper on the distribution of sex ratio distorters in natural populations of Armadillidium vulgare is published in Biology Letters. Congratulations to all coauthors!
September 2022 - Our preprint on the distribution of sex ratio distorters in natural populations of Armadillidium vulgare is available in bioRxiv.
April 2022 - Welcome to Lorn Ribon-Chaudat, who is joining us to work on the evolution of feminization in Armadillidium nasatum populations.
January 2022 - Welcome to Samuel Guéritault, who is joining us to work on the evolution of the feminizing f element of the isopod Armadillidium vulgare.
July 2021 - We have been awarded an ANR grant to continue investigating Wolbachia-mediated feminization in the isopod Armadillidium nasatum.
July 2021 - Our collaborative study with the Chandler lab on Trachelipus rathkei genomics and sex determination is published in Heredity. Congratulations to all coauthors!
June 2021 - Our latest paper on horizontal transfer of transposable elements is published in Molecular Biology and Evolution. Congratulations to all coauthors!
May 2021 - Our latest paper on A. vulgare sex-determining region is published in Genome Biology and Evolution. Congratulations to all coauthors!
April 2021 - Welcome to Claudia Pruvôt who is joining us to study sex determination in Armadillidium nasatum.