DC1 - Eco-physiology and evolutionary potential of HABs pathogens

Hosted by: FVB-IGB, Berlin, with the Doctoral candidate registered for a PhD degree from the Free University of Berlin

Advisors: Justyna Wolinska, Dedmer van de Waal, Bettina Scholz

The application deadline for this position was 22 April 2024 and we are not accepting any more applications at this time. 

Objectives: 
1) Identification of the key host-intrinsic and environmental factors affecting the spread of selected HABs pathogens, through eco-physiological experiments, 
2) Assess, using experimental evolution assays, the potential of HAB pathogens to adapt to novel host environments and characterize the responsible genomic regions encoding host-pathogen compatibility. 
3) Evaluate HABs evolutionary potential to resist pathogens and assess the importance of HABs intraspecific diversity to resist disease.   

Expected results:
1) Identify optimal host-intrinsic and abiotic conditions maximizing HABs disease spread for selected pathogens. 
2) Determine the evolutionary potential of selected HAB pathogens. 
3) Characterise the effect of HABs genetic diversity in the context of disease resistance.

Techniques to be used:
Experimental assays (including experimental evolution), field collections, metabarcoding, transcriptomics.

Planned secondment(s): 
At BioPol with Bettina Scholz to learn isolation, culturing and manipulation of algal-pathogens 
At UNIABDN with Pieter van West to learn comparative genomic techniques.