Missions

A 1-year fixed-term contract for a junior postdoctoral researcher (with less than two years' experience) is available at the Institute for Research on Cancer and Ageing (IRCAN) in Nice, France. The contract is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation as part of the Symbiosis Model Systems Solicitation (grant #9322).
The main objective of the tasks within this scope of recruitment is to develop and/or validate different genetic engineering approaches (ranging from transfection to genome editing) in temperate Symbiodiniaceae cultures.
The symbiosis between cnidarians and dinoflagellates is one of the most important marine symbioses between a metazoan and a single-celled eukaryote (dinoflagellate of the Symbiodiniaceae family). This association is widespread in temperate and subtropical coastal ecosystems, forming the foundation of the highly productive and diverse coral reef ecosystem. Within the cytoplasm of certain gastrodermal cells of the host, the symbiont triggers complex communication with host animal cells, leading to profound physiological changes. Despite several decades of study, the molecular signalling between the two partners and, the symbiosis competence properties of the animal cell remain unclear due to the lack of a reliable model for cellular and functional approaches. This project therefore aims to develop genetic engineering strategies (transfection, transformation, and genome editing) to decipher the molecular mechanisms underlying attraction and recognition between symbiotic partners.
The establishment of microalgae culture models in recent years has led to advances in fundamental and applied research. The recent development of genetic tools that enable the targeted modification of the diatom genome in culture represents a tremendous opportunity to expand knowledge of genome editing tools in other microalgae species. Currently, only a limited number of Symbiodiniaceae cultures are available, and our group is one of the few to have symbionts from the same animal host in culture. The postdoctoral researcher will carry out this work as part of a project funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, under the direct supervision of Prof. Furla and Dr Barnay-Verdier in Nice (IRCAN) and by Dr Fayza Daboussi and Dr Magali Siaut in Toulouse (TWB).

Activités

The postdoctoral researcher will face the main challenge of implementing and adapting genetic engineering techniques to these species of microalgae. This will require determining the optimal culture conditions (e.g. culture media, light intensity and temperature) and establishing the feasibility of transferring existing protocols to these species.
Description of tasks:
-Culture and maintenance of Symbiodiniaceae strains
- Analysis of cell viability and growth
- Development of different culture media
- Development of transfection/genome editing protocols
- DNA and RNA extraction and molecular analysis (PCR and RT-qPCR).
-Measurement and analysis of photosynthetic activity

Compétences

The candidate will have a strong background of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis, particularly the physiology of temperate Symbiodiniaceae. Experience in microalgae cultivation would be a significant advantage. As the remuneration level corresponds to that of a junior postdoctoral researcher (with less than two years' experience), the position is only open to candidates who defended their thesis less than two years before the planned start date of March 2026.

Contexte de travail

Our research group, 'Symbiose Marine' (IRCAN, Nice), uses symbiotic cnidarians as a model organism. One of our main research themes is to understand the cellular and molecular basis of cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis. We use the holobiont Anemonia viridis (a temperate sea anemone) as our study model and have developed cell cultures of both partners in the symbiosis (the animal and the symbionts).
As part of the research project funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, the postdoctoral researcher will collaborate with the leaders of this project area at TWB in Toulouse. Dr Daboussi and Dr Siaut have extensive experience in developing molecular tools (ddPCR, Gateway vectors and In-Fusion cloning) and genome-editing methods (TALEN and CRISPR Cas9 in RNP form) in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. This is a model organism that is produced on an industrial scale. These methodologies have been successfully adapted to several other organisms, including macroalgae and microalgae.

Contraintes et risques

The proposed research activities will take place within two research structures: IRCAN in Nice and TWB in Toulouse. Therefore, mobility due to travel is to be expected.