Temporary position OT-22768
Engineer in Rose Genetic Transformation Study
49070 BEAUCOUZE
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
You will be welcomed in the unit IRHS (Angers, France). The Research Institute of Horticulture and Seeds (IRHS) is a large laboratory with approximatively 240 members. The institute conducts research on the quality and health of horticultural crops and seeds. The main objects of study are roses and other ornamental plants, pome-fruits, vegetables, plant pathogenic bacteria and fungi, and grain legume seed. The IRHS develops integrated approaches by combining expertise in genetics, genomics, epi-genomics, breeding, microbiology, physiology, biochemistry,
metabolomics, eco-physiology, modelling, bioinformatics, image signal processing, and statistics. The institute is organized into 14 research teams including the GDO (Genetic and Diversity of Ornamentals) team, which is offering this engineer position. The GDO team’s objectives are: (i) to characterize the impact of evolutionary history, natural selection and human activities on Rosa diversity, (ii) to understand the genetic basis of traits of interest in ornamental plants. Plants emit a diversity of volatile compounds that are important for reproduction and defense, serve as products for humans, and influence atmospheric chemistry and climate. Over the past two decades, significant progress has been made in elucidating the biosynthesis of these molecules. However, their subcellular localization, storage in the cellular organelles, and release to the atmosphere remains largely unknown. As part of the international ANR STRASS
(Subcellular Trafficking and Secretion of Scent) project, coordinated by Sylvie Baudino (BvPAM, University of SaintEtienne), we will study the trafficking and the secretion of volatile compounds in three plant species, that differ in the volatiles they produced and stored: rose and petunia petals, and glandular trichomes of pelargonium leaves. State-ofthe-art imaging methods and mathematical modeling of metabolic fluxes will be used in addition to genetic, biochemical and cell biology approaches. In this project, the GDO team will focus on studying candidate genes involved in VOC emission by functional validation in rose. As Rose is a recalcitrant plant for genetic transformation, the candidate will be responsible for developing protocols for genetic transformation across different genotypes and then, he/she will validate candidate genes identified by project partners.
The successful candidate will be trained for the required techniques and will be supported in other academic activities
such as conference attendance, student supervision and grant & manuscript writing.
The position will be based in Angers, 300 km west of Paris. Angers is a medium-sized, dynamic and welcoming city.
Training and skills
Recommended training: PhD in plant Science
Knowledge required: strong background in plant cell biology. The working language is English and the candidate
should be fluent in both oral and written English
Appreciated experience: experience in in vitro culture techniques and/or genetic transformation methods will be
assessed positively
Skills sought: plant cell biology, in vitro culture, molecular biology, plant physiology.
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.