Project: The prospective PhD candidate will address a research frontier In plant biology, which is to understand the processes in the cell wall that underpin plant growth and development.   The candidate will apply next-generation advanced bioimaging techniques to control and observe key elements involved in plant cell expansion at fast temporal and small spatial scales. A combination of optogenetics and multiplexed spectral FRET-FLIM will be used to provoke rapid perturbations while simultaneously reading the downstream effects. Super-resolution imaging will be used to map the nanometer-scale architecture and de novo formation of the plant cell wall.
Profile: We look for highly motivated and curious candidates with a background in biology, physics, biochemistry, or bioinformatics ready to work in a multidisciplinary environment and learn and develop new cutting-edge approaches. Experience in optical microscopy, molecular biology, and programming will be a plus.

Starting data: The PhD can start any time between September and December 2022. The project is funded by an ERC young investigator grant and a grant from the INRAe department for Plant Biology and Breeding.

Contact: If you are interested, please send your CV, two references and motivation letter to Alexis Peaucelle, contact (alexis.peaucelle@inrae.fr), Kalina Haas, contact, or Herman Höfte, contact.  

References:
Shoenaers et al., Current Biology 2018 Haas et al.,
Science 2020 Peaucelle et al.,
iScience 2021 Haas et al.,
Haas et al., The Cell Surface 2021