Researcher specialising in the functional genomics of airborne plant pathogenic bacteria
With its partners, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD/ Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement) produces and transfers new knowledge to support innovation and agricultural development in the Global South. Its primary objective is to build a system of sustainable agriculture in tropical and Mediterranean regions, that is adapted to climate change and able to feed 10 billion people by 2050, at the same time being careful to preserve the environment.

CIRAD is recruiting a researcher specialising in the functional genomics of airborne plant pathogenic bacteria. They will be assigned to the “Plant Populations and Bio-Aggressors in Tropical Environments” joint research unit (UMR PVBMT/Peuplements Végétaux et Bioagresseurs en Milieu Tropical), which is mainly located at the Plant Protection Platform (Pôle de Protection des Plantes) in Saint-Pierre de la Réunion. They will join the Genomics and Epidemiology of Emerging Plant Pathogens (GENEPI/Génomique et Epidémiologie des agents phytopathogènes émergents) team, whose overall objective is to gain a better understanding of the biology of plant pathogenic microorganisms and the factors that can lead to their epidemic development. The specific objectives of the GENEPI team, working in partnership with the countries of the Indian Ocean and East Africa, are to (1) study the evolutionary history and emergence of phytopathogenic microorganisms, (2) examine the capacity of these emerging microorganisms to adapt to biotic and abiotic constraints, and (3) develop new innovative and effective tools for the molecular diagnosis and biological control of phytopathogenic microorganisms.

The factors behind the epidemic success of plant pathogenic bacteria, which appear to be mostly lineage-dependent, remain largely unknown. The selected researcher will draw on the extensive microbial and genomic resources of the PVBMT unit and its national and international partners, as well as on knowledge concerning the evolutionary mechanisms involved in the plasticity of gene content to (i) analyse the accessory genome of Xanthomonas citri, (ii) research the genetic and molecular determinants of the epidemic success of Xanthomonas lineages (performance in the plant, competition between lineages and, in a One Health context, adaptation to anthropogenic selection pressures [antimicrobials, global warming], etc.) and characterise them in terms of changes in fitness, and (iii) analyse the evolutionary processes associated with the acquisition of adaptive traits.

You have good knowledge of the concepts of evolutionary biology and those governing plant-bacteria-environment interactions, and are interested in applying these disciplines in a context of targeted development research.

We seek to appoint a genomic scientist with a PhD, who has preferably completed one or more post-doctoral contracts in France or abroad working with prokaryotic models.

The skills required are as follows:
- Proficiency in evolutionary and functional genomics approaches
- Proficiency in bioinformatics and biostatistics tools dedicated to genome analysis
- Proficiency in methodological approaches aiming to identify fitness determinants in genomes (directed mutagenesis, Tn-Seq, etc.)
- Proficiency in French and English (spoken and written)
- Ability to write scientific articles (international publications)
- Ability to respond to requests from funding agencies, set up/coordinate and manage projects
- Taste for teamwork and communication
- Clear desire to work in a subtropical island environment in collaboration with partners in the Global South

This post is strategically positioned within the team and is intended to help to structure some of the activities shared with the other teams in the UMR PVBMT, with other units (CIRAD, INRAE and IRD) working on bacteria in this taxonomic group, particularly as part of the FNX network, and with international partners. Very good interpersonal skills are therefore needed to interact on a daily basis within a multidisciplinary team and set up projects in collaboration with research and development partners.
Assignments in developing countries are a preferred form of research at CIRAD. The first assignment is scheduled for La Réunion, after an integration period in Montpellier. Subsequently, assignments in France or abroad will be the subject of discussion between the employee and management.