Funded PhD position in community analysis and population genetics of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: The PhD project will aim at significantly expand available sampling of AMF populations, to further improve our understanding of their genetic, genomic and phenotypic diversity.
This work will include field sampling across different types of environments, as well as the isolation of fungal material, and involve the use of molecular techniques, and bioinformatics (mainly metagenomics).
Eligibility: Canadian citizens and Permanent residents will be given priority for the position. However, the position is also open to international applicants. For international applicants, good fluency in either English OR French is required. A complete application package includes
1) a CV, 2) Cover letter with a short description of past research accomplishments/future goals, and 3) the names and e-mail addresses of at least 2 references. Applicants are expected to have some background in at least one of the following areas: Isolation of fungal specimens from the field, and/or establishment of fungal cultures (axenic and/or in pots). Enquiries about the specific project and the lab environment should be sent to ncorradi@uottawa.ca. .
Starting date: 2023-24 (Flexible). Evaluation of applications starts immediately until a suitable candidate is found.
To apply: Complete applications can be sent to Dr. Nicolas Corradi (ncorradi@uottawa.ca ) with the following subject line “AMF research – PhD Application”. NB: Applications sent without the abovementioned requirements/documents and experience will not be evaluated.
Location: The University of Ottawa is a large, research-intensive university, hosting over 40.000 students and located in the downtown core area of Canada’s capital city (https://www2.uottawa.ca/en). Ottawa is a vibrant, multicultural city with a very high quality of life.(http://www.ottawatourism.ca/fr/).
Representative Publications and Preprints: Sperschneider J. , Yildirir Y., Malar C M., Mayrand Nicol A., Sorwar E., Chen E.C.H. , Brauer E.K , Bosnich W. and N. Corradi. Resolving the haplotypes of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi highlights the role of two nuclear populations in host interactions. 2023, Biorxiv.
Yildirir G., Sperschneider J., Malar M. C., Chen E.C.H., Iwasaki W., Cornell C., and Corradi N.. Long reads and Hi-C sequencing illuminate the two-compartment genome of the model arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiont Rhizophagus irregularis. 2022, New Phytologist
Malar M.C. , Krüger M., Krüger C.*, Wang Y., Stajich J.E., Keller J., Chen C.H., Yildirir G., Villeneuve-Laroche M., Roux C.R., Delaux P.M. and Corradi N. The genome of Geosiphon pyriformis reveals ancestral traits linked to the emergence of the arbuscular mycorrhizal symbiosis. Current Biology. 31, 1570-1577.e4
Kokkoris V., Chagnon P.L., Yildirir G., Clarke K., Goh D., MacLean A.M., Dettman J., Stefani F. and Corradi N. Host identity influences nuclear dynamics in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Current Biology. 31, 1531-1538.e6 8.
Vasilis V., Dettman J., Dalpé Y., Stefani F. and N. Corradi. Nuclear Dynamics in the Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. 2020. Trends in Plant Science 25 p. 41-48.
Ropars J., Kinga Sędzielewska Toro K. Noel J., Pelin A., Charron P., Farinelli L., Marton T., Krüger M., Fuchs J., Brachmann A., and N. Corradi. Evidence for the sexual origin of heterokaryosis in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. Nature Microbiology 1(6): 16033, 2016.