PhD position in Evolutionary Ecology of Plant Defenses

iEES Paris, INRA Versailles-Grignon, France

Updated: about 1 month ago
Location: Versailles, LE DE FRANCE
Job Type: FullTime
Deadline: 10 Apr 2025

14 Mar 2025
Job Information
Organisation/Company

iEES Paris, INRA Versailles-Grignon
Research Field

Biological sciences » Biology
Researcher Profile

Recognised Researcher (R2)
Leading Researcher (R4)
First Stage Researcher (R1)
Established Researcher (R3)
Country

France
Application Deadline

10 Apr 2025 - 22:00 (UTC)
Type of Contract

Temporary
Job Status

Full-time
Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme
Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

We are looking for a motivated student with experience and interest in evolutionary ecology, plant biology and biostatistics to discover how plant defenses have evolved by using statistical approaches combined with experimental work.

In this project you will have the opportunity to learn about the role of interactions with herbivores on generating the amazing chemical diversity observed in plants from a broad perspective. You will develop skills in ecology, advanced biostatistics and data analyses and help to contribute with new knowledge to evolutionary theory.

 

Introduction

At the Ecosens department of iEES-Paris we investigate how insects perceive their environment through chemical information and different aspects in the ecology of plant-insect interactions. We employ a diverse range of techniques according to each question, including: olfactometry, wind-tunnel, electrophysiology, analytical chemistry, transcriptomics and bioinformatics. This PhD will focus on studying plant chemical diversity from a broad and integrative perspective and will be part of the doctoral school in biological sciences of Paris-Saclay University, one of the leading research universities in Europe. The aim is to merge the knowledge from different fields in ecology and plant biology to advance our understanding in the evolution of plant defenses with implications for evolutionary theory and agricultural applications. By using a statistical approach to analyse the existing information on chemical pathways and their differential effects on herbivores across the plant phylogeny, the student will uncover how plant chemical diversity evolves and is shaped by herbivores counteradaptation. They will also perform bioassays in transgenerational experiments to explore the insect counteradaptations to plant chemical diversity and their trade-offs.

 

 

Supervisors

The student will be supervised by Dr. Carlos Bustos a specialist in plant-insect interactions and biostatistical approaches and Dr. Philippe Lucas an expert in insect physiology. Both are researchers at the Ecosens department of iEES-Paris campus Versailles.

 

 

Research objectives

With this project we aim to discover how plant defense diversity has evolved and its consequences to herbivore counteradaptations by combining statistical approaches with experimental work. There are three main questions on this project:

  • How defensive compound diversity is maintained through plant evolution? We will test different hypotheses in the evolution of plant chemical defenses. In particular we will focus on analysing whether molecular innovations with increased biological activity are more likely to be preserved. This will help to understand how biochemical pathways have been shaped by the interaction with herbivores and their counter adaptations in different plant families covering the plant phylogeny.
  • What makes a biochemical pathway inducible? Here we will analyse different biochemical pathways to know what are the components of the pathways that are necessary for defense induction by herbivores.
  • What are the transgenerational consequences of plant chemical diversity on herbivores? Here we will study how different blends of defensive chemicals affect successive generations and whether they cope better with diverse plant chemicals.


    • Funding category: Contrat doctoral
    PHD Country: France


    Where to apply
    Website
    https://www.abg.asso.fr/fr/candidatOffres/show/id_offre/129430

    Requirements
    Specific Requirements

    Master’s degree in biology (speciality in evolutionary ecology or biostatistics)
    Interest in plant chemistry
    Proficiency in English (both oral and written)
    Experience in these areas desirable:
    Advanced biostatistics (R, Python, etc)
    Plant ecology
    Insect bioassays

    Located in France or neighbour countries (final interview on site)


    Additional Information
    Work Location(s)
    Number of offers available
    1
    Company/Institute
    iEES Paris, INRA Versailles-Grignon
    Country
    France
    City
    Versailles
    Geofield


    STATUS: EXPIRED

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