POST-DOCTORAL POSITION OPEN on Plant Molecular Genetics
and Physiology
THE WELLCOMING RESEARCH TEAM
The position is open in the "STRESS group" that is part
of a lab that shows strong expertise in plant mineral
nutrition (Drs. Briat, Davidian, Gaymard, Gojon, Grignon,
Sentenac, Touraine...). In the group, we are interested
in functions that control sodium transport and
accumulation in planta. We already characterized an
Arabidopsis mutant over-accumulating sodium in the
shoot (sas1) as being impaired in a root function
involved in the control of radial transport of sodium
from the soil to the xylem vessels (Nublat et al., 2001,
Plant Cell,13:125). The positional cloning of this locus
is nearly completed (manuscript in preparation). Other
recent publications of the group are: Cellier et al
(1998) Plant Physiol. 116:319; Sarda et al (1999) Plant
Mol. Biol. 40:179; Cellier et al (2000) J. Exp. Bot. 51:299.
RESEARCH PROGRAM:
For the post-doctoral position, the research program
will consist in characterizing a second Arabidopsis
mutant that overaccumulates sodium in the shoot and
displays increased sensitivity to salt stress, the sas2
mutant. The positional cloning of the sas2 locus has
been initiated. At the moment, the sas2 locus is bordered
by two genetic markers (CAPS markers) that are separated
by 270 kb on the physical map. A very good candidate gene
lies in the genomic region delimited by these markers. The
first part of work will consist in completing the positional
cloning of the sas2 locus by performing genetic
complementation of the mutant with the wild-type candidate
gene. At the same time, the fine mapping of the sas2 locus
and subsequent subcloning of the region encompassing it
will be pursued to succeed in cloning the sas2 locus
even if the candidate gene does not correspond to the
sas2 locus. Then, a molecular analysis will be conducted
to characterize the spatial and temporal expression of
the SAS2 gene, in normal and salt stress conditions.
Depending on the progress of the above mentioned work,
physiological analyses of the sas2 mutant will be
conducted, first to characterize the specificity of
ion accumulation, the spatial and temporal pattern of
Na+ accumulation, then to study different
aspects of salt tolerance.
GEOGRAPHIC AREA:
The lab is in Montpellier, south of France, 10 km to
the mediterranean sea. Montpellier is a town with
250,000 people of which 60,000 are University students.
Sunny weather almost all year long.
APPOINTMENT:
1 year renewable 1 more year, starting as soon as possible.
Salary is around 9,500 FF/month net of social and medical charges
QUALIFICATIONS
The candidate must have a Ph.D. A very good skill
in molecular biology is requested. A fair experience
in plant physiology will be appreciated but is not
prerequisite.
The candidate can not be of french nationality
APPLICATION:
Please submit a letter of application, a curriculum
vitae, list of publications and the names and
addresses of three references. Please indicate when
you are ready to start.
Send your application to
Dr. Pierre BERTHOMIEU e-mail:berthom at ensam.inra.fr
Assistant Professor tel: (+33) 499 612 611
UMR 5004 fax: (+33) 467 525 737
Agro.M - Place Viala
34060 MONTPELLIER Cedex 1
FRANCE
APPLICATION DEADLINE:
There is no dead line, candidacies will be examinated as soon as
we receive them.
