Uncoupling Nitrogen Use Efficiency and response to drought by manipulating the CLCa vacuolar nitrate transporter in Arabidopsis (M/F)

Cnrs Inc; France; On-site; EUR 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

The PhD candidate will join the Integrated Approaches to Ion Transport team within the Cell Biology Department of the Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), located on the CNRS research campus in Gif-sur-Yvette, France. The project collaborates with INRAE teams to study nitrate storage and nitrogen use efficiency in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The successful candidate will access state-of-the-art facilities, participate in interdisciplinary collaborations, and contribute to publications

Qualifications

• Master's degree (or equivalent) in plant biology and physiology or related discipline.
• Strong background in plant nutritional physiology is required.
• Proficiency in scientific English, both written and spoken, is required.

Responsibilities

• Designing molecular constructs, cloning, and preparing plasmids for genetic transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana.
• Plant cultivation under controlled conditions (in vitro, substrate-based, and hydroponic systems).
• Analysis of traits related to nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), including nitrate, amino acid, and protein quantification, as well as the measurement of enzyme activities.
• Assessment of water use efficiency (WUE)-related parameters, including water content determination, gas exchange measurements, and stomatal aperture analyses.
• Development and implementation of phenotyping approaches to evaluate plant responses to nutritional and water stresses.
• Data analysis, visualization, and presentation during meetings with project collaborators.
• Dissemination of research findings through seminars, scientific conferences, and publications in peer‑reviewed international journals.

Skills

Scientific English

Education

Master's degree in Plant Biology and Physiology

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule Research Field Biological sciences Technology Biotechnology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 25 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 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 PhD candidate will join the Integrated Approaches to Ion Transport team within the Cell Biology Department of the Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), located on the CNRS research campus in Gif-sur-Yvette, France. The project will be carried out in close collaboration with the SATURNE team at IJPB (INRAE Versailles) and with the P2M2 team at IGEPP (INRAE Rennes), providing a highly complementary research environment at the interface of plant physiology, mineral nutrition, and cell biology.
The successful candidate will have access to state-of-the-art experimental facilities, including controlled growth chambers and fully equipped laboratories for molecular biology, biochemistry, and plant physiology. The I2BC team is member of the Saclay Plant Sciences (SPS) network, which brings together approximately 60 research groups. This unique environment offers numerous opportunities for interdisciplinary interactions, scientific collaborations, and professional development.

A 36-month doctoral position is available at the Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC), located on the CNRS research campus in Gif-sur-Yvette, France. The successful candidate will join a project funded by the ANR (French Agency for research) and conducted in close collaboration with the Jean-Pierre Bourgin Institute (IJPB-INRAE, Versailles) and the Institute of Genetics for the Environment and Plant Protection (IGEPP-INRAE, Rennes).
This project aims to investigate the effects of altering vacuolar nitrate storage on nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), water use efficiency (WUE), and drought stress tolerance by studying the CLCa transporter in the model plant species Arabidopsis thaliana.

Responsibilities

Using integrated approaches combining plant physiology, molecular biology, and phenotyping, the the PhD candidate will investigate the impact of modifying nitrate storage in different organs, cell types, or developmental stages.

• Designing molecular constructs, cloning, and preparing plasmids for the genetic transformation of Arabidopsis thaliana;
• Plant cultivation under controlled conditions (in vitro, substrate-based, and hydroponic systems);
• Analysis of traits related to nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), including nitrate, amino acid, and protein quantification, as well as the measurement of enzyme activities;
• Assessment of water use efficiency (WUE)-related parameters, including water content determination, gas exchange measurements, and stomatal aperture analyses;
• Development and implementation of phenotyping approaches to evaluate plant responses to nutritional and water stresses;
• Data analysis, visualization, and presentation during meetings with project collaborators;
• Dissemination of research findings through seminars, scientific conferences, and publications in peer-reviewed international journals.

Required qualifications

Applicants must hold a Master's degree (or equivalent) in plant biology and physiology or a related discipline. A strong background in plant nutritional physiology is required. Previous experience in plant molecular biology and physiology using the model species Arabidopsis thaliana, as well as in nitrogen physiology, would be an additional asset.
The successful candidate must be able to work effectively in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment to carry out the project. Proficiency in scientific English, both written and spoken, is required to present research findings, participate in consortium meetings, and interact effectively with the various project partners. Finally, the candidate must be willing to travel for research visits to partner institutes.