Missions

The project aims to study interactions between the parasitic fungus Pandora formicae and its ant hosts by combining approaches from experimental mycology, ecology, and host–parasite interaction biology. The successful candidate will actively participate in an interdisciplinary research project focusing on the culture, experimental manipulation, and ecological study of entomopathogenic fungi. They will contribute to the design and development of innovative experimental protocols, both in the laboratory and in the field, and will work in close collaboration with members of the research team.

Activités

Culturing and maintenance of entomopathogenic fungi under controlled conditions.
Development, adaptation, and optimization of fungal culture protocols.
Conducting experiments under sterile conditions (work in a laminar flow hood, preparation of media, inoculations).
Participation in experiments on fungus–ant interactions (infection, mortality monitoring, behavioral observations).
Field collection of samples (ants and fungi).
Analysis and management of experimental data; basic statistical analyses (R).

Compétences

Technical skills
Excellent proficiency in fungal culture techniques.
Proven experience working under sterile laboratory conditions.
Strong knowledge of mycology (fungal biology, life cycles, entomopathogens).
Basic skills in statistics and data analysis (R software preferred).
Experience in ecology, entomology, or interaction biology is a plus.
Cross-disciplinary skills
Enthusiasm for experimentation and openness to new scientific challenges.
Ability to work in a team within a collaborative research environment.
Autonomy, rigor, and strong organizational skills.
Willingness to participate in fieldwork.
Good writing skills.

Languages
English: professional proficiency required (reading, writing, speaking).

Contexte de travail

The position is based in Toulouse, and the research will be conducted at the CRCA (Centre de Recherche sur la Cognition Animale, https://cbi-cognition.cnrs.fr/en/home/
), which is part of the CBI (Centre de Biologie Intégrative, https://cbi-toulouse.fr/
). The successful candidate will be specifically affiliated with the IVEP team (https://cbi-toulouse.fr/equipe/ivep/) and will work under the direct supervision of the project leader, in close collaboration with the team's researchers, engineers, and students. They will fully participate in the scientific life of the laboratory (team meetings, seminars, interdisciplinary exchanges) and will be involved in experimental activities both in the laboratory and in the field. This project is part of an international research initiative; a good command of English is therefore essential. Applications must include a CV, a cover letter, and two letters of recommendation.