Réf ABG-139500 Sujet de Thèse
11/06/2026 Autre financement public
Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale
Lieu de travail
Montréal - Canada
Intitulé du sujet
Bacterial consortia for biocontrol in agriculture
Champs scientifiques
Biologie
Mots clés
bacteria, microbiology, plant, biocontrol, pathogen, soybean, consortia
Description du sujet
Developing and understanding biocontrol bacterial consortia to better protect agricultural crops and reduce the use of synthetic pesticides in the field, using advanced techniques in microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.
Guaranteed annual stipend: $27,000
PhD program: Biological sciences
Minimum program duration: 3 years
Start: January 2027
THE PROJECT
This project aims to explore biocontrol bacterial consortia as alternatives to synthetic pesticides, in order to improve the environmental footprint of agriculture. It lies at the intersection of microbiology, plant biology, and ecology. You will delve into the interactions between biocontrol bacteria that, when assembled into consortia, can lead to better plant protection. The project will focus on soybean white mold (also called stem rot), caused by the pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which leads to major crop losses worldwide every year. In particular, you will explore interactions among endophytic bacteria and the potential of these micro-organisms to protect soybean plants.
WHAT YOU WILL DO
Characterization of endophytic bacteria
Microbiome sequencing
Analysis of bacterial genomes
Study of bacterial consortia
Plant trials under controlled conditions
Directed mutagenesis
SKILLS INVOLVED
Microbial culture
Plant culture
Pathogen handling
Molecular biology
Microbiome sequencing
Bioinformaticscanalyses
Data visualization
Prise de fonction :
07/01/2027
Nature du financement
Autre financement public
Précisions sur le financement
Conseil de recherches en sciences naturelles et en génie du Canada
Présentation établissement et labo d'accueil
Institut de Recherche en Biologie Végétale
The successful candidate will join Dr. Antoine Zboralski’s team at the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV; research institute in plant biology). The institute is located in the heart of the Botanical Garden and the city of Montreal. It hosts ~100 students and 20 multidisciplinary research teams. Many scientific and social activities are organized throughout the year, helping to foster a dynamic and welcoming community.
Site web :
https://irbv.umontreal.ca/le-personnel/antoine-zboralski/
Intitulé du doctorat
PhD in Biological Sciences
Pays d'obtention du doctorat
Canada
Etablissement délivrant le doctorat
Université de Montréal
Profil du candidat
Master's degree in microbiology, plant biology, plant pathology, or a related field
Keen interest in laboratory work
Experience in microbial culture
Knowledge of bioinformatics analyses
Independence, thoroughness, and curiosity
