PhD position available

PhD position available on Molecular Ecology of Planktonic Protistan Communities from the World Photic Oceans.

Thesis Co-Directors : Stéphane Audic (bioinformatics) & Colomban de Vargas (plankton ecology), Team EPPO - Evolution of Plankton and PaleoOceans, Station Biologique de Roscoff - http://www.sb-roscoff.fr/Phyto/

 Application - !!! DEADLINE MAY 25th !!!

This PhD thesis has been pre-selected by the Ecole Doctorale Diversite du Vivant –EDDV- from the University Paris-VI/Pierre et Marie Curie.

 Candidates should first and quickly email a detailed Curriculum Vitae and Statement of Interest, either in French or English, to : Colomban de Vargas – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " moz-do-not-send="true"> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 A complete application including the following documents will then be sent to C. de Vargas ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " moz-do-not-send="true"> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) and Gaelle Boutin ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " moz-do-not-send="true"> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) before May 25th: (1) Form “Fiche de candidature”; (2) Form “Appréciation de stage M2”; (3) detailed CV; (4) “Relevé de Notes de Master”; (5) ideally a couple of recommendation letters.

 A single, short-listed candidate will participate to the final selection jury in Paris on JUNE 25th 2012. Note that the Jury will attribute 5 fellowships for 15 topics, so competition is tough!

Thesis Abstract:

The main goal of this Thesis is to unveil the fundamental biotic and ecological structures of the populations of unicellular eukaryotes (protists) collected from the world plankton during the Tara-Oceans circum-global expedition (2009-2012; http://www.sb-roscoff.fr/Phyto/). A phenomenal collection of >1000 total DNA/RNA samples has been realized across the world oceans including 4 size-fractions from the smallest to the largest protists, 3 well-defined depths, and >150 carefully chosen stations (see map below). In collaboration with the GENOSCOPE and as part of several ANR projects, including the starting 8-Years national grant OCEANOMICS (http://www.sb-roscoff.fr/umr7144/361-equipe-eppo/1452-oceanomics-laureat-des-investissements-davenir.html), we are using ILLUMINA protocols to massively sequence metagenomes, metatranscriptomes, and metabarcodes from these samples. In this thesis we will use DNA and RNA-based metabarcodes, i.e. 100-200bp sequence reads markers of organismal or functional biodiversity, to measure the total biodiversity of oceanic protists from the photic zone (sub-surface and DCM), and interpret its structuration in terms of symbiotic interactions, life-cycling, biogeography, hydrography, and physico-chemical patterning. A preliminary dataset of >500 millions ribosomal DNA sequences from 36 Tara-Oceans stations shows that we will work very close to saturation (all taxa included!).

Skills –or at least a pronounced taste- for bioinformatics and/or ecological statistics required.

A detailed, French, description of the project is following. For English-spoken candidates, please contact C. de Vargas ( This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. " moz-do-not-send="true"> This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) for further details.

 

Reference: Karsenti E, Acinas SG, Bork P, Bowler C, De Vargas C, et al. (2011) A Holistic Approach to Marine Eco-

Systems Biology. PLoS Biol 9(10): e1001177. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.1001177