PhD in Evolutionary Sensory Neurobiology of Plankton

The Plankton Senses Team is looking for a highly motivated and creative student looking for a PhD position to join in the project to elucidate the evolution of pressure sensation in Zooplankton. The successful applicant will use marine larvae of the annelid Platynereis and the Ascidian Ciona to understand the molecular, cellular and neuronal mechanisms of pressure sensation. The comparative analysis will require the use of high-end techniques in neurobiology including calcium imaging and optogenetics, as well as genome editing and behavioural phenotyping. The student will acquire in the course of the PhD skills in live microscopy, experimental neurobiology, genetics and behavioural work. The student will receive mentoring and have the chance to guide the research and interact with other participants in the project.

Responsabilities

• Perform research on Platynereis and Ascidian larvae to investigate pressure sensory systems using neurobiology and genetics approaches

• Support in maintenance of the Platynereis culture

• Dissemination of results in oral and written form.

Activities

• Calcium imaging, data acquisition and analysis

• Opto/Chemogenetics at cellular and organismal levels

• Gene expression analysis (histology, scRNAseq data minining)

• Phenotyping using behavioural setups

• Acquisition and segmentation of image datasets

• Bioinformatic data analysis (genome and transcriptome resources)

• Participate in daily care tasks of the Platynereis worm culture

Required skills

• MSc in a relevant field (or in the final stages of completion). Bac + 4

• Basic to medium level skills in programming, image analysis and electronics

• Solid knowledge and hands-on experience in light and electron microscopy.

• Solid formation in genetics, statistics and molecular biology approaches.

• Previous work on neurobiology of marine systems or of genetic models is preferable.

• Fluent (B2+) in oral English

Work context

• Full immersion in the Plankton Senses team based

• at the LBDV/IMEV.

• Participation in regular meetings and engage in discussions with members of the team and of the institute.

• Participation in institutional seminars, retreats and social events organised by the team and by the institute.

• The student will communicate the results of the project in regular group meetings, and in international conferences.

Provisional starting date

• March 1^st, 2027 (or earlier)