PhD Student (M/F) - Anthropogenic activities and host tolerance to pollutants: consequences for[...]

European Commission; France; Sur place; EUR 20 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institution in France is seeking a PhD candidate to study host-pathogen interactions in the Camargue region. The project focuses on understanding how environmental pollution affects biodiversity and disease dynamics. Candidates with a Master's in Biological Sciences, molecular biology skills, and experience in fieldwork are encouraged to apply for this full-time temporary position, starting October 1, 2025.

Qualifications

• Experience in molecular biology techniques is required.
• Field monitoring experience in aquatic environments is preferred.
• Strong analytical skills, including statistical analysis.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research on host-pathogen interactions in aquatic ecosystems.
• Participate in field monitoring in the Camargue.
• Present research findings in relevant scientific meetings.

Connaissances

Molecular biology

Field monitoring

Statistical analysis

Formation

Master's degree in Biological Sciences or related field

Outils

Laboratory equipment

Statistical software

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Interactions Hôtes-Pathogènes-Environnements Research Field Biological sciences Environmental science Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country France Application Deadline 25 Aug 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Oct 2025 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The thesis will mainly be carried out at the IHPE laboratory on the Perpignan site within the campus of the University of Perpignan Via Domitia (UPVD). This unit is composed of staff affiliated with UPVD, CNRS, IFREMER, and the University of Montpellier 2. This laboratory focuses on interactions between hosts, pathogens, and the environment, from molecules to ecosystems. It is structured into three teams that interact closely with each other. The candidat will be integrated into the MIA team, to which Olivier Rey is attached, but will also participate in the meetings of the 2MAP team, to which Annia Alba is attached. During this thesis, the candidat will have access to the various facilities of the IHPE laboratory (molecular biology platform, invertebrate animal facility) and to the services of the UPVD's BioEnvironnement platform. Short/medium-term assignments will be necessary to ensure field monitoring in the Camargue. This thesis project is part of the ZOOCAM project (PEPR PREZODE 2024-2029).
Supervision will be provided through weekly meetings with the doctoral student and participation in biweekly team meetings. The candidate will also participate in the “Doctoriales,” a scientific meeting of UMR 5244 dedicated to doctoral students in the unit who present the progress of their thesis work to all members of our laboratory. The student will also have the opportunity to present their research work at meetings of the PEPR ZOOCAM project, which brings together several partners working together on issues related to the circulation of zoonotic parasites in the Camargue region. Finally, each year, the doctoral student will also have to organize their CSI with a report sent to ED305 UPVD.

Human activities contribute to increased environmental pollution and stress on associated communities. These pressures have dramatic repercussions on both biodiversity and the dynamics of infectious disease transmission, including zoonotic diseases. Complex ecological processes link biodiversity, ecosystem stress, host physiology, and pathogen circulation, with varying effects depending on the species interacting in these disturbed environments. A given ecosystem disturbance can, depending on the context, either inhibit or promote parasite transmission.
This thesis will explore the extent to which certain anthropogenic pressures, particularly aquatic pollution, select for host species or populations that are more tolerant to pollutants but potentially more susceptible to parasitic infections. A central eco-evolutionary hypothesis will postulate the existence of an evolutionary trade-off between tolerance/resistance to pollutants and the effectiveness of the immune response. We will therefore seek to answer the following question: does the use of pollutants favor the emergence of hosts that are highly tolerant to pollutants but more permissive towards parasites?
We will answer this question by focusing on the interactions between freshwater gastropod mollusks and trematodes in the Camargue, a region rich in wetlands and subject to increasing anthropogenic pressure. These organisms are particularly relevant in the context of this thesis because: i. freshwater aquatic environments are receptacles for many chemicals through leaching and drainage of contaminated soil and water; ii. Aquatic mollusks are capable of accumulating a significant amount of pollutants compared to most invertebrates (3,4), particularly through complex detoxification pathways that are therefore potentially energy-intensive (5,6); iii. These organisms are intermediate hosts for many parasites, particularly trematodes (7). Furthermore, empirical studies have already highlighted the immunotoxicological effects of several anthropogenic pollutants on several species of aquatic molluscs, suggesting links between certain pollutants and the regulatory pathways of immune functions in these organisms. Together, these elements support the central hypothesis formulated in this thesis. To test this hypothesis, the project will integrate field approaches, controlled environment experiments, and functional approaches.
This thesis fits into the “One Health” context, which recognizes the interdependence between human, animal, and environmental health. In fact, this thesis will provide an overview of the aquatic environments of the Camargue in terms of biotic (communities of mollusks, vertebrates, and trematodes) and abiotic (quantification of the pressure exerted by phytosanitary, pharmaceutical, and industrial pollutants) factors. Furthermore, it will also provide a better understanding of the mechanisms linking the health of these aquatic ecosystems and the risks of local transmission of infectious diseases in humans and animals through the prism of evolutionary ecology.