A fully-funded three-year position is opened to work on sexual
selection in plants with a special focus on pollen-pistil
interactions, under the supervision of Dr. Jeanne Tonnabel
(https://isem-evolution.fr/membre/tonnabel/ ) in the context of the
SEXIPLANTS project funded by the ERC.

Project goals ? Sexual selection is generally thought to apply to all
sexually reproducing organisms and should therefore include plants. Yet,
general predictions from sexual selection theory remains untested
for the plant kingdom. This PhD aims at testing the most fundamental
predictions of sexual selection theory, including female choice models
(Fisherian and good-genes models) with a special focus on pollen and
pistil traits. The PhD will benefit from a unique material developed
for plants: the output of experimentally evolved lines of Brassica
rapa 'fast plants' which have been maintained for 18 generations
in monogamy vs. polygamy. The PhD candidate will study the evolution of
pollen and pistil traits in these experimental evolution lines, but also
paternity biases induced by those traits and the genetic correlations
between them through quantitative genetics.

For whom? We are looking for candidates with a MSc degree in biology
(or equivalent) with strong motivation both for understanding and testing
general concepts in evolutionary biology and for conducting experimental
work. Knowledge on sexual selection and/or plant evolution and experience
on experimental evolution/quantitative genetics/paternity analyses would
be an advantage but is not required.

Where? The PhD student will join a stimulating working atmosphere
comprising enthusiastic researchers working on sexual selection in
plants in the context of the SEXIPLANTS project with high collaboration
opportunities. The PhD student will work at the Institut des Sciences
de l'Evolution

de Montpellier (ISEM, UMR 5554). Montpellier offers a stimulating
scientific environment for evolutionary biologists with many seminars
and opportunities

to interact with many renowned scientists. The working language will be
English but some notions of French will come in handy in the daily life.

Working contract? The PhD contract will consist three-year contract
funded by the ERC SEXIPLANTS led by Jeanne Tonnabel. The gross monthly
salary is around 2 135 euros. The contract includes health insurance
and 44 days of annual leave.

When? The ideal starting date of PhD would be September 1 st 2024 but
starting date is negotiable.

How to apply? All applications must be sent by email
to Jeanne Tonnabel (jeanne.tonnabel@umontpellier.fr)
and in parallel submitted to the CNRS plateform (
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UMR5554-JEATON-005/Default.aspx
) before June 1st. Applications should include 1) a motivation letter
describing research interests, relevant experience and motivation for
applying to this PhD position, 2) a CV and 3) contact information for
two referees.

Jeanne Tonnabel <jeanne.tonnabel@umontpellier.fr>

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