PhD position: Microbiome influence on oak adaptation to climate change

In this PhD thesis project, the candidate will explore the complex ecological interactions between forest microbial communities and oak adaptation to climate change, with the primary focus on current and future drought events. In a similar way that the microbiome can shape human health, forest microbes establish vital ecological associations with plants. However, the way in which forest microbiomes influence the adaptive evolution of trees remains poorly understood. The project will contribute to fill this knowledge gap by elucidating the contributions of microbes to phenotypic changes and subsequent adaptation of the oak populations. By focusing on the oak-rich regions of Hauts-de-France in Northern France, and considering the French government’s plans for assisted migration of native and exotic oaks into the North, the research will examine native and introduced species of oaks that are presumably better adapted to future climates, while considering the oak holobiont as the central unit of adaptive evolution. The PhD candidate will learn to use a multidisciplinary research approach, ranging from spatial modeling to field sampling, laboratory-controlled mesocosm experiments, metabarcoding sequencing, and bioinformatics. The candidate will integrate the EDYSAN – Ecology and Dynamics of Human-influenced Systems research unit at the Université de Picardie Jules Verne in Amiens, France, and will work under the joint supervision of Prof. Marco Cosme and Prof. Guillaume Decocq.
The candidate must hold a Master’s degree or possess equivalent competence in Biology, Ecology, Evolution, Forestry, Agricultural Sciences, or related disciplines. Good grades in courses related to the field and proficiency in both spoken and written English language will be advantageous. Additional advantageous skills and interests, though not mandatory, include:
• Interest in formulating research questions, designing experiments, and interpreting results;
• Enthusiasm for outdoor fieldwork and indoor laboratory and computational tasks;
• Knowledge of molecular biology and practical experience with PCR techniques;
• R and/or Python programming, coupled with experience in biological data analysis;
• And/or ability to work efficiently and independently, as well as collaboratively in a team.
Prospective applicants are invited to submit their motivation letter, CV, a recommendation letter, and a summary of relevant grades to Prof. Marco Cosme at marco.cosme@u-picardie.fr before the 15th of March 2024. Only the candidates selected for interview will be contacted. The position is expected to begin in September 2024, for a duration of three years. However, we are committed to selecting an enthusiastic and dedicated candidate to join our team. Hence, the position will remain open until we find a good fit.
For more information contact: marco.cosme@u-picardie.fr.