Postdoc position in marine microbial interactions

Coral reef ecosystems are critically threatened by the effects of global
climate change. As corals are long-lived organisms, it is likely that
the current rate of climate change is rapidly outpacing the capacity
for genetic adaptation in reef-building corals. In recent years,
non-genetic mechanisms of adaptation, such es epigenetic mechanisms,
phenotypic plasticity, or changes to the microbial communities and
metabolisms, have increasingly shifted into the focus of coral reef
research. Reef-building corals are complex holobionts that associate
with intracellular algae (Symbiodiniaceae), bacteria, archaea, fungi, and
viruses. Decades of functional research are testament to the importance of
the coral-algae symbiosis, a reciprocal nutrient-exchange relationship
that forms the functional basis of coral reef formation. However,
our understanding of the functions of the other microbes in the coral
holobiont remains limited. Increasingly, microbial roles are considered
in the health, resilience, and acclimatization of coral holobionts
to global environmental change. As such, the molecular and metabolic
interactions of bacteria in the coral holobiont remain poorly understood,
and experimental data supporting the mutualistic lifestyles of bacteria
in corals are largely lacking.

A motivated postdoc on a research engineer contract will develop
hypothesis-driven research of microbial interactions and functions in
cnidarian health and stress responses in the context of global climate
change using a reduced model system approach. The postdoc will develop a
research project using dinoflagellate, bacterial and fungal co-cultures
to identify crosstalk, i.e. specific molecular pathways and metabolites
involved in the interactions of different microbial partners. You will
further assess how this crosstalk is affected by the effects of global
climate change. The recipient of this postdoctoral contract will have
access to microbial cultures to establish the co-culture work.

This work is embedded into the ANR CPJ Project 'A connected underwater
world' based at the UMR 3278 CRIOBE at the University of Perpignan Via
Domitia, which focuses on the chemical ecology and molecular interactions
of complex marine holobionts.

Required:
- Experience in microbial ecology (ideally marine)
- Experience with aseptic technique and cultivation of (marine) microbes
  (of at least one of the following groups: dinoflagellate algae,
  bacteria, fungi)
- Experience in molecular biology (PCR; nucleic acid extraction, library
  preparation)
- Experience with or keen interest to work on metabolomics
- Experience in bioinformatics, specifically analysis of gene expression
  and/or metabolomics data is desirable
- English language skills are required, French language skills are
  an advantage

The candidate will work at the Moulin à Vent Campus of the University
of Perpignan Via Domitia.

Contract duration: 18 months, extension depending on funding

Desired start date: 1 September 2024

Working hours : 37.3 hours and 57 days annual leave.

Salary range : Remuneration will be commensurate with experience (gross
salary range is 2,326 and 2,500 euros a month).

Degree requirements: PhD

Interviews for this position will be held during the week of 15-19
July 2024.

Interested? Please submit your CV and a motivation letter outlining your
skills and interests in the framework of the proposed project to

CPJ Dr. Claudia Pogoreutz (PI): claudia.pogoreutz@univ-perp.fr
Dr. Pierre Sasal (Director of CRIOBE): sasal@univ-perp.fr

Company Description
The University of Perpignan Via Domitia is a multidisciplinary
university with 5 major areas of education and research. These areas
include Sciences, Technologies, Health; Law, Economics and Management;
Social Sciences and Humanities; Arts, Literature and Languages; and
Sports Science and Techniques.

Role Description
This is a full-time on-site role for a Postdoc position in marine
microbial interactions. The Postdoc will be responsible for conducting
laboratory experiments focusing to disentangle molecular and chemical
crosstalk in marine microbial interactions,.

Qualifications
- Background in microbial ecology (ideally marine)
- Aseptic technique and cultivation of (marine) microbes; experience
  with at least one of the following groups: dinoflagellate algae,
  bacteria, fungi
- Molecular biology (PCR; nucleic acid extraction, library
  preparation)
- Experience with or keen interest to work with metabolomics data
- Experience in bioinformatics (gene expression and/or metabolomics
  data) is desirable
- English language skills are required, French language skills are
  an advantage

The candidate will work at the CRIOBE on the Moulin à Vent Campus of
the University of Perpignan Via Domitia.

Claudia Pogoreutz <claudia.pogoreutz@univ-perp.fr>

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