Specialities Functional Plant Biology, Protein biochemistry, Modelling
Job Type Post-doctoral
Starting Date 1st March 2009
Duration 30 months
Gross Salary 2200 Euros / month
Location Joint Research Unit for Genetic, Diversity and Ecophysiology
of Cereals, INRA - University Blaise Pascal, Clermont-Ferrand,
France
Lab Web Sites http://www1.clermont.inra.fr/umr1095/

Project title
Quantification and modelling of the response of wheat storage proteins to nitrogen and sulphur availability.

Location
The position is open at the Joint Research Unit for Genetic, Diversity and Ecophysiology of Cereals (UMR1095 GDEC) of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA) and the Blaise Pascal University at Clermont-Ferrand, France. The successful candidate will join a multi-disciplinary group of scientists (crop physiologists, modellers, geneticists, and molecular biologists) actively working on wheat ecophysiology and genetics. He (she) will have access to state of the art laboratory and experimental facilities for simulation analysis, ecophysiology, genetics, and functional genomics. Clermont-Ferrand is a city of 140,000 ideally located in the Massif Central Mountains and 400 km south from Paris.

Job Description
Grain protein concentration and composition are the primary determinants of wheat grain end-use value. However, the mechanisms regulating the synthesis of grain storage proteins in response to environmental factors and nitrogen or sulphur availability are still largely unknown. The postdoctoral research fellow will work as part of an interdisciplinary team in an exciting research project between INRA, Biogemma, a plant biotechnology private company, and ARVALIS institut du vegetal, an extension for agriculture and arable crops. The aim of this project is to develop an integrated view of the regulatory mechanisms controlling the synthesis of grain storage proteins for bread wheat using Functional Genomic and System approaches. The successful applicant will first have to design and conduct experiments to study trans regulations of grain storage protein genes and compensatory mechanisms between storage protein fractions in response to nitrogen and sulphur availability. To this aim we have recently developed near-isogenic and transgenic lines for several transcription factors and high-molecular-weight glutenin subunits, which will be used in this project. In a second time the results of this experiments will be used to develop a simulation model of the synthesis of grain storage proteins based on the understanding of their regulation at the molecular level. This model will replace the empirically-determined allocation coefficients of the simulation model of grain protein accumulation SiriusQuality1 [Plant Physiology, 2003, 133: 1959-1967; European Journal of Agronomy, 2006, 25: 138-154].

Education and Experience Requirements
A PhD in Functional Plant Biology or Protein Biochemistry or a closely related field is required. Working experience with RP-HPLC is highly desirable. Expertise in modelling concepts and methods applicable to the study of the regulation of gene expression and gene networks is also desirable. Proficiency in spoken and written English would be considered an asset. Organizational skills and the ability to work collaboratively with various research groups are essential.

Application conditions
Candidate of any nationality may apply. The candidates must be doctor at recruitment date (French doctorate, PhD or foreign doctorate of equivalent level) for less than five years. Candidate must not have already carried out research work at the Clermont-Ferrand INRA Research Centre. Application form will be sent upon request.

Contact
For information on the position, contact Dr. Pierre Martre by phone at +33
473 624 351, or by email at pmartre@clermont.inra.fr.