PhD position OT-22737
PhD - Genetic and environmental determinants of N and P nutrition in Poaceae via mycorrhiza
21000 Dijon
INRAE presentation
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.
Work environment, missions and activities
Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) provide their host plants with mineral elements such as nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) gathered from a large volume of soil explored by their mycelial network. Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis thus improves plant nutrition and resistance to abiotic stresses. However, there is variability in the efficacy of this symbiosis in promoting host plant growth, which depends on both genetic factors (on the host and symbiont sides) and environmental factors, such as the availability of nutrients in the soil and the connection of the mycelial network to different hosts (genotypes or species). Little or nothing is known about how these factors regulate N and P nutrition via mycorrhiza. The aim of this PhD project is to characterise the effects of genotype*genotype*environment (G*G*E) interactions on the regulation of mycorrhizal N and P nutrition pathways, and host physiology. Soil N and P availability (amount, type and ratio) and plant-plant interactions via the mycelial network will be studied as environmental variables. Genes encoding transcription factors and transporters involved in mycorrhizal N (ammonium or nitrate) and P nutrition will be identified using in silico approaches and their expression will be studied using RNAseq and qRT-PCR. The biochemical properties of the transporters will be studied in yeast. The distribution of nutrients (N and P) by AMF to different plants connected by the mycelial network will be analysed by measuring 15N and 33P fluxes. Finally, host physiological traits, including N and P contents, will be measured. These studies will be carried out on the model species Brachypodium distachyon and then on other species, such as wheat, to determine whether the regulation of mycorrhizal N and P nutrition is conserved.
The PhD student will be based in two units: “ Laboratory of Plant-Microbe-Environment Interactions“ (LIPME, team “Arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis efficacy“, https://www.lipme.fr/efis; Castanet-Tolosan) and “Agroecology“ (team “Plant health: defence and mycorrhiza”, https://eng-umr-agroecologie.dijon.hub.inrae.fr/research-division/ipm/plant-health-defence-and-mycorrhiza-team; Dijon).
Training and skills
We are looking for a candidate with a background in plant physiology, molecular biology and on the study of plant-microorganism interactions. Knowledge on arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis would be a strong asset. The candidate should be interested in data analysis (transcriptomics, multivariate data…).
INRAE's life quality
By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):
- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.
How to apply
I send my CV and my motivation letter
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to its internal regulations, particularly with regard to the obligation of neutrality and respect for the principle of secularism. In carrying out their functions, whether or not they are in contact with the public, they must not express their religious, philosophical or political convictions through their behaviour or by what they wear.