26 May 2023
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
University Caen Normandy- Department
UR 4651 ABTE- Research Field
Biological sciences » Other- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Country
France- Application Deadline
30 Jun 2023 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris)- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
35- Offer Starting Date
2 Oct 2023- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by an EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
Role of nutritional interactions in the bioprotective mechanism of lactic acid bacteria against Salmonella (NutriLac)
● PhD topic: Every year, one third of the food produced on the planet is lost/wasted (FAO, 2013). Understanding the microbial interactions in food is an essential issue for limiting losses and producing sustainable food, in particular using biopreservation. Interactions based on the production of antagonistic molecules are better and better described, but those based on nutritional competition are only very poorly described, whereas they may be involved in the inhibition of undesirable microorganisms by protective strains. This mode of inhibition is complex because it depends on the composition of the medium, therefore its study is a challenge that should be taken up. The NutriLac project marks the continuity of thesis work carried out in the laboratory (2017-2021) which made it possible to create microbial communities of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with anti-Salmonella activity in dairy environments. NutriLac aims to study the inhibitory mechanisms, in particular of the nutritional competition type, involved in the relationships between strains from previously developed communities and Salmonella strains of different serovars. The first objective is to study the impact of changes in the nutrient concentration of a chemically defined milk medium on population dynamics during co-cultures between selected LAB and susceptible Salmonella strains. Population monitoring will be carried out by qPCR, culture, and – for Salmonella only – luminescence. The primers required for qPCR will be defined using the genomes already available. The quantification of the captured or metabolized compounds will be carried out by appropriate chromatography/mass spectrometry methods (ICP-MS for metals and/or HPLC/GC-MS for amino acids, organic acids, vitamins). The second objective will be to identify the metabolic pathways and/or genes involved in the bioprotective effect. The mechanisms brought into play by LAB and the impact on Salmonella will be analysed at the molecular level by coupling approaches of metatranscriptomics by RNAseq (collaboration with UMR 0782 INRAE-AgroPArisTech-Université Paris-Saclay SAYFOOD) and metaproteomics (collaboration with PROTEOGEN platform of the US Emerode, Unicaen). Finally, the last objective will be to propose a methodology for the selection of new bioprotective strains. A multiple regression approach will be carried out in order to determine the response surfaces and to propose a predictive model of Salmonella growth on which the proposed methodology will be based (collaboration with the Laboratoire de Mathématiques Nicolas Oresme LMNO UMR 6139 CNRS Unicaen)
● Practical information about the position
The contract will begin on October 2, 2023 for a period of 3 years, with a gross salary of €2,044.12 per month (funding not subjected to competition from the doctoral school). The work will take place within the MALIM team of ABTE at the University of Caen (Campus 1). You will be supervised by:
- Nathalie Desmasures: Thesis director
- Margot Schlusselhuber: Thesis co-supervisor
- Marion Dalmasso: referent for RNAseq data analysis.
As part of the NutriLac project, you will also work in collaboration with another laboratory at the University of Caen, the LMNO (mathematics). You will discuss with the actors of the Normandy AOP dairy sector in order to report on the results. If necessary, you will travel occasionally for training in genome analysis (MicroScope external training, December 2023). You will also be required to regularly present your work at team meetings, to professionals in the cheese industry and at national and international congresses.
Finally, you will participate in the training offered by the Normande Doctoral School of Integrative Biology, Health, Environment (ED 497 NBISE), in-house training and other training as needed. You will be encouraged to present your thesis subject at events for the public (for example: Pint of Science festival, events organized by the Dôme in Caen such as "researchers" or "researchers' workshop"...).
● Description of the laboratory unit and the research team
The Food, Bioprocesses, Toxicology, Environments UR (57 teacher-researchers, 96 staff in total) is a Research Unit set up on January 1, 2012 under the supervision of the Universities of Caen and Rouen (https://abte.eu/ ). The UR projects for the next five-year contract concern (1) resources serving food, the environment and health and (2) biological responses to multiple exposures and their link with health. The UR has three teams, MALIM, EcoTea and ToxEMAC.
The research carried out by the MALIM host team (Food Matrix and Microbiota), aims to better understand the microbiota of food and the relationships between its structure and its functions, and in particular, seeks to explain the construction and functioning of microbial communities (bacteria, yeasts and moulds, phages) of fermented or non-fermented foods. The team is made up of around ten teacher-researchers and researchers from the University of Caen and almost as many trainees and non-permanent researchers depending on the research projects and the periods of the year. The team has 250 m2 of laboratory space with microbiology, biochemistry and molecular biology equipment. The unit also has an analytical platform to conduct metabolomics studies, targeted or not. The geographical and thematic proximity of the Emerode Service Unit of the University of Caen Normandy allows access to state-of-the-art equipment in microscopy, transcriptomics, proteomics and elementary analyses. The MALIM team is co-responsible for a technical platform within the US Emerode, the Center for Biodiversity of Microorganisms, which preserves and enhances the laboratory's collection of microorganisms, which currently includes approximately 23,000 isolates.
● Living in Caen, Working at the University of Caen Normandy
Between land and sea, Caen is a city of over 100,000 inhabitants that is regularly acclaimed in student surveys for its living environment and the quality of its training. It hosts the largest student carnival in Europe. Two hours from Paris by train and the A13 motorway, Caen is located about 10 kilometers from the Normandy coast. Bordering the south of England, the Cross-Channel Ferry connects the Port of Caen to Portsmouth (1h30 from London by car) in less than 4 hours.
The laboratory is located in the heart of the university campus, near the Castel in the city center of Caen and is easily accessible by public transport. In a green setting, you will have easy access to the various services offered by the University of Caen Normandy: libraries, university restaurants and cafeterias, university sports activities service, swimming pool and sports halls and training in French and foreign languages.
● To apply:
This offer is part of regional funding (RIN Doctorant 100%). Candidates must send a file by email ([email protected] and [email protected] ) no later than June 30, 2023. This file will include in a single pdf file: a motivation letter, contacts of two referees (and letter of recommendation, if applicable), transcripts and rankings of L3, M1 and M2, a curriculum vitae describing the previous training course and research experience. The files will be examined by a selection committee as they arise and the candidates will be interviewed at the beginning of July 2023. The final candidate will be then auditioned by the EdNBISE doctoral school (Integrative Biology, Health, Environment, https://ed497-nbise.normandie-univ.fr/ ) for validation.
For any inquiries about this offer:
PhD director:
Prof Nathalie DESMASURES
E.A. 4651 Aliments, Bioprocédés, Toxicologie, Environnements (ABTE), ER MALIM
Université de Caen Normandie
Esplanade de la paix CS 14032
14032 CAEN cedex 5, France
tel +33 (0)2 31 56 55 22
PhD co-supervisor:
Dr Margot SCHLUSSELHUBER
E.A. 4651 Aliments, Bioprocédés, Toxicologie, Environnements (ABTE), ER MALIM
Université de Caen Normandie
Esplanade de la paix CS 14032
14032 CAEN cedex 5, France
tel +33 (0)2 31 56 57 82
Requirements
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Other
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
Skills/Qualifications
Master 2 degree in microbiology or agroindustry or equivalent, with previous work experience in a research or R&D laboratory. Knowledge of bioinformatics tools and practical experience in handling them is highly desirable. The candidate must have a solid scientific background in order to carry out this multi-disciplinary PhD work (microbiology, biochemistry, molecular biology). He/She has a creative mind, and good communication, organization and interpersonal skills. He/She is meticulous, with a good level in English and writing skills.
- Languages
- ENGLISH
- Level
- Good
- Research Field
- Biological sciences » Other
- Years of Research Experience
- None
Additional Information
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Université de Caen Normandie
- Country
- France
- City
- CAEN
- Postal Code
- 14000
- Street
- Esplanade de la paix
- Geofield
Where to apply
[email protected]
Contact
- City
CAEN- Website
https://www.unicaen.fr/
http://abte.eu/- Street
Esplanade de la paix- Postal Code
14032
[email protected]
STATUS: EXPIRED