Missions

The objective of the present project is to retrace the comparative evolutionary analysis of canonical translocation pathways for mitochondria (TOM/TIM for translocase of the outer/inner membrane) and chloroplast (TOC/TIC for translocon on the outer/inner chloroplast membrane) through which proteins are imported into those organelles.

Within this evolutionary perspective, she/he will also revisit the evolution of the Calvin-Benson Cycle (CBC) towards an increase in its CO2-fixing activity. To this end, the candidate will infer ancestral sequences of the CBC enzymes, in order for experimentalists to design strains of two model organisms carrying these ancestral sequences, that will undergo directed evolution and be selected for their increased fitness. She/he will also analyze the mutational trajectories of the evolved strains.

Activités

- Produce an exhaustive bibliography of TIC/TOC, TOM/TIM complexes and bacterial translocons involved in antimicrobial peptide resistance.
– Trace the evolutionary and comparative history of these three protein systems
- Perform phylogenetic analyses on CBC enzymes
- Analyze the evolution of the genome structure of a microalgal population during an experimental evolution experiment
- Supervision of M2 trainees possible.

Compétences

Skills/Knowledge:
- General knowledge of bioinformatics
- In-depth knowledge and strong experience in comparative genomics and genome evolution
- In-depth knowledge of NGS data analysis
- Knowledge of evolutionary biology
- Fluency in scientific English (reading and writing)
- Basic knowledge of genetics
Know-how:
- Design and implement experimental protocols
- Ability to analyze and report information (keep laboratory notebooks, prepare tables summarizing results, prepare oral presentations).
- Prepare articles for publication in international peer-reviewed journals
- Innovation, rigor and reliability in the execution of work.
- Organizational skills.
- Ability to work as part of a team

Contexte de travail

The work will be carried out in the UMR7141 host laboratory “Photobiology and Physiology of Plastids and Microalgae (P3M)”, headed by Dr. Angela Falciatore at the Institut de Biologie-Physico-chimique in Paris (http://www.ibpc.fr/UMR7141/en/home/). This laboratory, located in the heart of the Latin Quarter, employs just over 30 people, including 19 statutory members. It addresses key questions on the biology, evolution and ecology of microalgae, focusing on various model species (e.g. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Phaeodactylum tricornutum) and ecologically important phytoplankton species, studied using ecophysiological, biophysical, biochemical, genomic and genetic approaches.
The project will be performed under the supervision of Ingrid Lafontaine.