Description du sujet de thèse

This project is funded by the National Research Agency (ANR). The aim of the study is to disentangle the complex mosquito-microbiota interactions and their influence on the vector capacity of mosquitoes for Chikungunya transmission. To achieve this, the successful candidate will manipulate the microbiota of different Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) lines to assess whether genotype x microbiota interactions modulate the mosquito life history traits and behavior, as well as their ability to transmit the Chikungunya virus.
The project will be conducted in collaboration with a Postdoctoral researcher, a technician and collaborators from the Laboratory of Biometry and Evolutionary Biology.

-Perform high level research
-Contribute to field sampling
-NGS and bioinformatics (mostly metabarcoding)
-Molecular biology (extractions, PCR, qPCR…)
-Cell culture and microbiology
-Entomology (gnotobiology, life history traits measurements, behavior experiments)
-Virology (vector competence)
-Data analysis (statistics, multivariate analysis)
-Writing publications
-Communicate about your work

-Discuss with collaborators with different backgrounds / nationalities
-Contribute to the life of the laboratory and management of the insectary
-Follow 40h of courses proposed by the doctoral school (within 3 years)
-Opportunity to teach at the university (with a salary extension)

You hold a Master's degree in Biology, with a focus on Microbiology, Ecology, Infectiology and/or Entomology.
You have no constraints regarding the work in a level 3 containment laboratory.
You are highly enthusiastic about pursuing academic research.
You have a team spirit with a strong sense of collaboration.
You are organized, focus on results.
You have a problem-solving mindset.
You show good communication and writing skills.
You have a good knowledge of English (spoken and written).

Contexte de travail

The Microbial Ecology Unit is a research laboratory affiliated with Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, the CNRS, INRAE, and the veterinary school VetAgro Sup. It conducts research at the intersection of microbiology, ecology, and the environment. The unit is composed of 69 permanent staff members (researchers, teacher-researchers, research engineers, study engineers, assistant engineers, and technicians) and 40 to 50 non-permanent staff (postdoctoral researchers, PhD students, fixed-term contracts, and Master's students in their second year).
The successful candidate will join the Microbial Dynamics and Viral Transmission research team (DMTV) within the Microbial Ecology research department at Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, working under the supervision of Guillaume Minard, PhD (Associate Professor). The team consists of five university faculties, one engineer, one assistant engineer, one postdoctoral researcher and six PhD students. It investigates the multiplartite interactions between the Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus, its microbiota (including arborviruses) and its environment.

The DMTV team is located at the LyonTEch-La Doua campus of the Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 within the Lyon metropolitan area. It is one of seven research groups in the department, which conducts fundamental research on microbial communities and their interactions with the environment.

For more information, visit our website:
https://www.ecologiemicrobiennelyon.fr/internet_c45_lem-eng

Contraintes et risques

Field work and travels.
Biological risks (Work in Biosafety level 2 and 3 laboratory and insectary with mosquitoes, microorganisms and viral pathogens)
Chemical risks (handling of hazardous products)
Physical risks (high pressure autoclave, UVs, crushers…)