PhD position - ERC Consolidator Grant - FOX project

Back to jobs listing

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 carry out your work within the joint research unit INRAE – Aix-Marseille University, Fungal Biodiversity and Biotechnology (BBF; https://www.bbf-lab.fr/), located on the Luminy science campus in Marseille, France.

This PhD position is fully funded by an European Research Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant (CoG) project: FOX (Principal Investigator: Dr. Bastien Bissaro). 

The PhD thesis will be co-directed by Dr. Bastien Bissaro and Prof. Mickael Lafond, and co-supervised by Dr. Joyce Álvarez-Barragán (INRAE, Bordeaux). The project will be benefit from a highly interdisciplinary and international network of collaborators.

🔬 Research Project

Fungal cell walls (FCWs) form the essential interface between fungal cells and their environment. They are highly dynamic carbohydrate-based structures that enable fungi to adapt to diverse lifestyles, including symbiosis, pathogenicity, and organic matter decomposition. Despite their importance, the extent, mechanisms, and biological roles of fungal cell wall (FCW) modifications remain largely unknown. The ERC FOX project is based on the hypothesis that fungi use carbohydrate oxidases to selectively cleave and/or functionalize FCW polysaccharides, thereby modulating their physico-chemical properties to support diverse biological functions.

The PhD project will contribute to uncovering the diversity and roles of these FCW-active enzymes.

🔎 Main objectives of the PhD thesis include:

- Characterization of pre-identified FCW-active carbohydrate oxidases in a model filamentous fungus.

- Functional analysis of CarbOx in fungal physiology and cell wall remodelling.

Training and skills

🎓 Candidate Profile

We are looking for a highly motivated, and curiosity-driven, candidate with:

• Master’s degree in Microbiology, Biochemistry or related field 
• Strong interest in fungal biology, enzymology, or carbohydrate chemistry 
• Hands on experience in at least one of the following: microbiology or enzymology
• Knowledge of carbohydrate-active enzymes is an advantage 
• Interest in interdisciplinary research combining wet lab and computational approaches 
• Good communication skills and ability to work in an international environment 
• Proficiency in English (written and spoken)

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