We are currently seeking a motivated postdoctoral researcher to join our team for a 2-year funded project.

As climate change accelerates, heat waves pose an ever-growing threat to plant reproduction worldwide, yet the biological mechanisms that make plant reproduction so vulnerable to temperature extremes remain largely unknown. Meiosis, the specialized cell division that produces gametes and generates genetic diversity through chromosomal crossovers, is among the most thermosensitive processes in plants: even brief heat or cold stress during meiosis can drastically reduce fertility and grain yield in crops such as wheat, rice, and maize.

This project aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms by which key meiotic proteins safeguard recombination and fertility under thermal stress, in both wheat and Arabidopsis. We will focus on the key meiotic recombinase DMC1, which is proposed to play an important role in meiotic recombination under thermal stress in wheat and we will use Arabidopsis thaliana as a genetically tractable model.

The project is highly multidisciplinary and involves molecular biology, cytology and biochemical approaches. The project involves a collaboration with the team of Pierre Sourdille (INRAE GDEC, Clermont-Ferrand; GeCO Team) working on wheat and Simon Amiard (CODED Team) for biochemistry analyses.

BACKGROUND AND SKILLS

• Ph.D. in a relevant field (genetics, cell biology, molecular biology, biochemistry, etc.).
• A background in plant chromosome biology, meiosis, or related areas will be appreciated.
• Experience and/or strong interest in working with plants
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, CV, and contact information for two references to Olivier Da Ines (Olivier.da_ines@uca.fr).