Deadline: Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled.
Location: Unité Evolution, Ecologie & Paléontologie (EEP), CNRS UMR 8198, Université de Lille, Bâtiment SN2, F-59655 Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, France
Theme: Climate change affects all ecosystems on the planet. The identification of general effects of temperature warming on species traits is of paramount importance in order to anticipate future changes of ecosystems. These effects, based either on genetic variability or phenotypic plasticity, can affect the functioning and stability of ecosystems and thus affect expected ecosystem services. For instance, temperature rise is expected to favor eventually smaller but more rapidly growing poikilotherms over larger slowly growing ones (the so-called temperature-size rule). In marine organisms, this could potentially affect the dispersal of larvae, and hence the genetic homogeneity of populations, as the size of passively dispersing larvae is bound to affect the duration and scale of dispersal. Immune defenses are also expected to be affected by the selective pressures associated with such a shift.
This PhD is an opportunity to study the association of dispersal ability and immune defense capacities in marine poikilotherms with larval dispersal. Through the study of developmental mode polymorphism in Capitella capitata, a littoral polychaete that can display either direct or indirect development, this project will endeavor to understand how developmental mode and maternal investment in immune protection are linked and thus how an increase in sea surface temperature can affect this trait association, especially through changes in encountered microbial communities.
Overall, this PhD project will address three important questions: (i) are there differential immune transfers among offspring within and among clutches, and, if so, are these different investments related to the dispersal ability of future larvae/juveniles? (ii) How do bacterial community shift with increases in water temperature and will these shifts affect the immunological performance of worms currently living on the littoral of the Hauts-de-France region? (iii) What will be the effects of an increase in water temperature on developmental strategy and transgenerational immunity transfer from mother to offspring in the marine annelid Capitella capitata? To answer these questions, the PhD student will develop lab-based evolution and acclimation experiments as well as theoretical models to predict expected effects resulting from changes in temperature.
Key words: climate change; eco-immunology; experimental evolution; larval dispersal; poecilogony; transgenerational immunity transfer
PhD supervisor(s):
François Massol (francois.massol@univ-lille1.fr), CR CNRS, HDR, Species Interactions and Comparative Immunology group, Evo-Eco-Paleo unit, CNRS UMR 8198, University of Lille, SN2 building, F-59655 Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, France.
Virginie Cuvillier-Hot (virginie.cuvillier@univ-lille1.fr), MCF Lille 1, Species Interactions and Comparative Immunology group, Evo-Eco-Paleo unit, CNRS UMR 8198, University of Lille, SN2 building, F-59655 Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, France.
Funding: ½ region Hauts-de-France fellowship, ½ Uni. Lille 1 presidency allocation
Doctoral school: ED "Sciences de la Matière, du Rayonnement et de l'Environnement" ("SMRE" ; ED 104), Université de Lille, Sciences et Technologies ; Filière doctorale : Géosciences Ecologie Paléontologie Océanologie
Profile: We are looking for a highly motivated candidate having a strong interest in both evolutionary ecology and eco-immunology. The ideal candidate will have good capacities for experimental evolution, rearing animals in the lab and setting up experimental treatments, as well as experience in molecular biology, immunological assays and/or biochemistry-related techniques. Prior experience with ecological modeling will be appreciated. Finally, the candidate should have obtained good marks and ranking at the master's degree.
Because of the project’s interdisciplinary nature, we are open to applicants from all fields of biology.
Interested applicants should have a look at the SPICI group website (http://spici.weebly.com) for information about the project and our research group.
Contact: Please send your application to François Massol (francois.massol@univ-lille1.fr) and Virginie Cuvillier-Hot (virginie.cuvillier@univ-lille1.fr). This should include (1) a detailed CV, (2) a cover letter putting forward relevant training, (3) a copy of grades and rank for the master degree (first and second-year marks), (4) name and contact information of two reference persons. We recommend that you send your application as soon as possible. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position has been filled.
Starting date: October-November 2016.