POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
TITLE: Postdoctoral Fellow
A postdoctoral fellowship is presently available in INRA (National
Institute of Agronomical Research, Dijon, France) for a qualified candidate
to conduct research on the determination of C and N flux circuating in
nodulated roots of leguminous plants.
Our team (Ecophysiology team of the Agronomy Station) is working since a
number of years on the acquisition of knowledge concerning the functioning
of indeterminate leguminous crops (Pea, Soybean). In these species, several
sinks are competing on the plant for assimilates as a function of time.
Vegetative meristems (apex, young leaves) then reproductive meristems
(flowers, young pods and seeds) are simultaneously present on the plant as
a consequence of the vegetative development which continues during the
reproductive phase. In order to understand the functioning of leguminous
crops and the elaboration of their yield we need to establish, taking into
account the phenology, the way (1) the crop is acquiring C and N from the
environment, (2) the dynamics of seed set and the seed metabolism (C and N
accumulation), (3) the partitioning of the assimilates between the plant
organs based on the potential demand of each sink and the assimilate
availability in the plant. The final objectives of our work are to propose
a dynamic model concerning the fonctioning of indeterminate leguminous
crops in the absence of limiting factors.
Position description : The Post Doc will carry on research (collection,
analysis, and reporting of controlled environment and field studies) on
topic 1 and specially on N acquisition by the symbiotic leguminous plants
using pea plant as model plant. Our team wants to quantify the N flux
entering into the plant (uptake kinetics of N assimilation and symbiotic
fixation of atmospheric N), to determine the nature of the C and N flux
(composition, intensity and duration) coming from the aerial parts of the
plant which feeds the nodulated roots and the C and N flux recycled by the
roots to the plant. We need to quantify and characterize the modifications
of these fluxes which might arise from the appearance (according to the
phenology) or the absence (experimental treatments such as defoliation or
pod removal) of competing sinks for the assimilates. The Post Doc should
use his knowledge and experimental skills for such research : he will have
to take into account the incoming N fluxes (N assimilation or symbiotic
fixation), the C and N flux coming from aerial parts (phloem sap) or
recycled by roots (xylem sap) and will have to use sap harvesting technics,
isotopic labellings (14C/15N) on plants in controlled environment
(labelling chamber). Research will also be conducted in fields.
Team : Our young team (mean age of 30) is composed of two researchers, two
PhDs and 4 technicians. The post doc will work in close collaboration with
one of the PhD.
Facilities : Our laboratory has growth chambers, greenhouses, an
experimental farm for field experiments, a labelling chamber (14C/15N
labelling), a CHN analyzer, a coulter multisizer, scintillation counter,
HPLC... We collaborate with a laboratory which possesses a triple collector
mass spectrometer and does our 15N content analysis.
Location : Dijon is located in the North-East of France, at 1.5 hour by
train of Paris, and Lyon, close to Switzerland and Germany. Our region is
well know for its landcape, architecture and of course the Burgundy wines.
Starting date : as soon as possible.
Qualifications and Responsibilities:
- Ph.D. degree in Agronomy or Plant Physiology or Ecophysiology.
- Previous research experience in Plant Physiology and/or Agronomy.
- The post-doc does not need to be fluent in French but should be fluent in
English.
Stipend: Salary of 11 000 French Francs, including social insurance, health
coverage.
Forward: (1) a resume/curriculum vitae; (2) list of reprints; (3) a cover
letter outlining your background experience, interest in this research to:
C. SALON, INRA
Station d'Agronomie, BV 1540, 17 rue Sully, 21034 Dijon Cedex.
Phone 33 80 63 32 38,
Fax 33 80 63 32 22,
E-Mail salon at dijon.inra.fr.
