PhD in Plant Pathology in the Plant Pathology group at the ETH Zurich

A PhD position is available in the Plant Pathology group at the ETH Zurich. The candidate will develop a research project to evaluate the molecular mechanisms controlling the effect of multi-infections on disease development in plants and pathogen evolution.
 

Summary of project

Natural infections are often caused by mixtures of genetically different pathogen strains (multi-infection). The consequences of simultaneous infection by multiple pathogen strains on disease development, epidemiology and pathogen evolution remain largely unexplored. This research project aims to understand the consequences of multi-infections on disease outcome and pathogen evolution.
 
Zymoseptoria tritici (also called Mycosphaerella graminicola) is a major fungal pathogen of wheat that commonly exhibits multi-infection in nature. Extensive knowledge of Z. tritici population genetics and genomics, transcriptomics and infection processes already exist, and advanced quantitative measures of virulence based on digital image analysis have already been developed. Hence Z. tritici provides a powerful model system for studying the consequences of multi-infections.
 
This research project has three main objectives:

1- Determine the effect of multi-infections on disease development and epidemiology.
2- Characterize how growth patterns in planta are affected in multi-infections compared to mono-infections.
3- Characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying strain interactions in multi-infections.
 

Supervisors: Dr. Andrea Sanchez Vallet, Prof. Bruce A. McDonald

 
Requirements: We seek highly motivated individuals interested in host-parasite interactions. Experience in molecular biology, confocal microscopy and bioinformatics is preferred, but not required. Requirements include a BSc or MSc in plant science, microbiology or plant pathology and good spoken and written English.
 
Group: The Professorship of Plant Pathology conducts research related to the molecular biology, population genomics and evolutionary ecology of plant pathogens. It is embedded within the Institute of Integrative Biology at the ETH Zurich, which possesses advanced research infrastructure including the Genetic Diversity Center and the Functional Genomics Center.
 
Applications:  The application should include a 2-3 pages motivation letter describing your research interests and your rationale for applying for this PhD position, a detailed CV that includes all relevant experience, and names, addresses and phone numbers of three referees. The application should be submitted as a single pdf file sent to andrea.sanchez@usys.ethz.ch before the 15^th February.

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