postdoctoral position in marine chemical ecology (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

This postdoctoral fellowship is part of the research project of the RENATINS Junior Professorship, titled “Monitoring, Management, and Conservation of Natural Resources in Island Environments.” This project focuses on the specialized metabolism of seagrass beds in the Mediterranean as an indicator of resilience to global changes. Indeed, seagrass beds are coastal ecosystems of great ecological importance due to the ecosystem services they provide, namely maintaining coastal stability, filtering water, providing habitat for numerous plant and animal species, and their high capacity for blue carbon sequestration. However, these ecosystems are currently under serious threat due to human activities and climate change, particularly in the Mediterranean Sea—a highly urbanized region where waters tend to warm more rapidly due to its geographical context. For example, 34% of Posidonia oceanica beds are currently in decline in this area. It is therefore crucial to understand how these species will respond to current and future environmental conditions.
To this end, the study of specialized metabolism is key to understanding the defense mechanisms of seagrass beds. Indeed, this metabolism is known to produce metabolites that confer resistance against environmental stresses (both abiotic and biotic). Among all specialized metabolites, there are volatile compounds, also known as Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs), which, in addition to being defense compounds, also act as chemical mediators in intra- and inter-species interactions. Although previous studies have highlighted BVOC emissions from seagrass beds, their roles as chemical cues remain largely undocumented.

Activity

An initial study on the impact of herbivory on BVOC emissions from Mediterranean seagrass species identified potential volatile chemical mediators. The goal of this postdoctoral fellowship is to confirm the role of these VOCs as chemical mediators through priming experiments. Priming refers to a state of immune stimulation that enables a plant to respond more quickly and strongly to future stress, achieved following a specific treatment.
To this end, healthy individuals from seagrass beds (e.g. P. oceanica, C. nodosa) will be exposed to the chemical mediators for varying periods (ranging from a few days to several weeks). Subsequently, their chemical profiles will be analyzed and compared to those of control individuals at different sampling times. Chemical profiles will be determined for volatile compounds using PTR-ToF-MS and/or GC-MS, and for non-volatile compounds using UHPLC-qToF-MS/MS. Then, the attractiveness of primed individuals—that is, those exposed to the chemical mediators—will be assessed using various herbivores (e.g. Paracentrotus lividus).
This work is part of seagrass bed restoration programs.

In this context, the successful candidate will be responsible for designing, planning, and conducting experiments as well as evaluating the dataset by performing all BVOC analyses, including their identification and quantification; conducting statistical analyses; presenting the project's results and achievements; writing articles for peer-reviewed international journals; and presenting their results at national and international conferences.

Your Profil

Skills

- Ph.D. in chemical ecology, marine biology, or marine ecophysiology
- Knowledge of benthic ecology
- Knowledge on marine macrophyte physiology
- Knowledge on analytical chemistry (GC-MS, PTR-MS, HPLC-MS)
- Good English is required (written and spoken)
- Ability to work well in a team
- Knowledge of statistical analysis and R would be a plus

Your Work Environment

The successful candidate will work in the Support and Research Unit StellaMare (Sustainable TEchnologies for LittoraL Aquaculture and MArine REsearch, UAR 3514), which focuses on ecological engineering in coastal and marine environments and is affiliated with the CNRS and the University of Corsica. The StellaMare UAR aims to achieve the sustainable management and integrated stewardship of Corsica's fisheries and coastal resources and, more broadly, those of the Mediterranean Sea.

Constraints and risks

Office hours, travel for field sampling, and the possibility of working at multiple sites, particularly for chemical analyses.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

3041.58 - 3467.33 (gross monthly income)

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions