Missions

The proposed postdoctoral position, for a duration of 30 months (with possible extension), will focus on characterizing the structural and functional response of Arctic diatoms to sea ice formation. The studies will be conducted within the framework of the HFSP TrappedInIce project, involving interactions with the three other project partners (Marcel Babin's laboratory, Canada, François Fripiat, Belgium, and Manu Prakash, USA). The research strategy will be integrative, combining cellular imaging, genomic, transcriptomic, and lipidomic analyses. The project will involve both population analyses in culture and single-cell analyses. The postdoctoral researcher (M/F) will carry out the experiments, analyze the data, and play a significant role in writing articles.

Activities

The postdoctoral position will take place at the LPCV laboratory in Grenoble and will begin with the production of genomic sequences from the four selected diatom lineages. This initial phase will rely on LPCV's proven expertise and will combine culturing the lineages, DNA extraction for sequencing, assembly and annotation by an external provider, and the collection and analysis of the resulting data. These genomes will serve as references for transcriptomic studies of diatoms in cultures under conditions mimicking sea ice formation, conducted by Marcel Babin's laboratory in Canada. The cultures conducted in this laboratory will allow the extraction of RNA for transcriptomic and lipidomic profiling at LPCV. The expression profiles will be analyzed and interpreted by the postdoctoral researcher (M/F). Imaging analyses will be carried out in parallel, drawing on LPCV's expertise in 3D electron microscopy. Lipidomic profiling will be done in collaboration with the LIPANG platform. A second phase will aim to develop methods for the molecular and functional characterization of processes identified in the first phase, at the single-cell level. This more exploratory part will involve collaboration with Manu Prakash's laboratory, an expert in the manipulation of isolated cells. Altogether, this will enable the characterization of certain early responses during sea ice formation in the Arctic region.

Skills

The recruited candidate will hold a PhD in Biology, having followed an integrative and multi-scale approach (addressing a question that integrates several levels, such as molecular, metabolic, genomic, cellular, etc.). Knowledge of the biology/physiology of phytoplankton and microalgae will be appreciated. Two prerequisites are important. Firstly, the candidate must have experience (and autonomy) in studying microorganisms in sterile culture, ideally microalgae. Secondly, they must have a solid background in bioinformatics for the analysis of genomes and transcriptomes (e.g., using the Galaxy environment). Lipidomic and 3D imaging analyses will be conducted in collaboration with the LIPID team at LPCV. Any previous experience in single-cell studies will be an asset for the more exploratory second part of the postdoctoral position. The recruited individual must also have the ability to work in a team and within an international collaborative environment.

Work Context

Le post-doctorat se déroulera au Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, une unité mixte CNRS/CEA/INRAE/Univ. Grenoble Alpes, sur le polygone scientifique de Grenoble. La mission sera menée au sein de l'équipe LIPID, dans un environnement comprenant chambres de cultures de microalgues en conditions contrôlées, équipements pour la microbiologie/biologie moléculaire/biochimie, l'accès aux plateformes d'imagerie et d'analyses lipidomiques. Des missions dans les laboratoires partenaires seront considérées en fonction des avancées du projet.

Constraints and risks

The postdoctoral position will take place at the Laboratory of Cellular and Plant Physiology, a joint research unit of CNRS/CEA/INRAE/Univ. Grenoble Alpes, located in the Grenoble scientific polygon. The mission will be carried out within the LIPID team, in an environment that includes controlled-condition microalgae culture chambers, equipment for microbiology/molecular biology/biochemistry, and access to imaging and lipidomics analysis platforms. Visits to partner laboratories will be considered depending on the progress of the project.

Additional Information

The proposed postdoctoral position, lasting 30 months, will focus on characterizing the structural and functional response of Arctic diatoms to sea ice formation at the molecular and cellular levels. The studies will be conducted within the framework of the HFSP TrappedInIce project, involving interactions with the three other project partners (Marcel Babin's laboratory in Canada, François Fripiat in Belgium, and Manu Prakash in the USA). The research strategy will be integrative, combining cellular imaging, genomic, transcriptomic, and lipidomic analyses. The project will involve both population analyses in culture and single-cell analyses. The postdoctoral researcher (M/F) will conduct the experiments, analyze the data, and play a significant role in writing articles.