Post-doctoral Research Fellowship: MSCA-IF 2017 at the Department of Microbiology

Professor Maximino Manzanera, from the Department of Microbiology at the University of Granada, welcomes postdoctoral candidates interested in applying for a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (MSCA-IF) in this university. Applicants must comply with the Mobility Rule (more information in the participant guide: http://sl.ugr.es/097k).

The Institute for Water Research (IdA) was founded on January 9, 1990 as part of the University of Granada (UGR) to carry out scientific and technical research, as well as specialized teaching, in all subjects related to water, as a resource, a geodynamic agent or as a support for the biosphere and technical advice on raw materials. Since its inception, it has undertaken this mission in a multidisciplinary way, deepening above all in the knowledge of the functioning of aquatic systems and in the development of tools and products for a sustainable management of water resources.

Currently there are 69 researchers (Professors, Scholars and Contracts) and seven members of the Administration and Services Staff of the UGR.  Of them 26 permanent Professors of the University of Granada and 1 Researcher from the CSIC. Seventy-one percent of the members of the IdA carry out their full-time research activity at the Institute (49/69). The researchers, belonging to different disciplines and areas of knowledge, are formally integrated into six Research Groups from which the Environmental Microbiology Group has developed in the last decade, numerous research papers and patents on water management mediated by microorganisms, especially in the field of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) with the aim to improve water quality and to prevent water scarcity. This participating group has developed the technology to improve desiccation tolerance of microorganisms and plants by the addition of exogenous xeroprotectants.

Desiccation tolerant microorganisms have been used for the protection of plants against drought. The production of some metabolites such as trehalose seems to regulate the plant metabolism in order to produce an efficient water management by the plant. In this process also intervenes the phytohormones profile produced by the microorganism and those produced by the plant in response to the presence of the microorganisms as described by the applicants at Vilchez et al., 2016. However there is a need to access to a minimum water to protect the plant.

To favor the interaction, an appropriate model for delivery of the microorganisms is needed. In addition, arbuscular mycorrizal fungi (responsible of the most distributed endosymbiotic plant-interaction) can be used as microbial highways thanks to the underground networks they form.

The aim of this project is to research the development of affordable and autonomous systems for the recovery of fertile soil through the use of microorganisms in conjunction with plant seeds. Therefore, the ultimate aim is to produce a safe and efficient biological composite based on combination of microbial consortia jointly with plant seeds, and understand the molecular mechanism behind it. This main objective will be achieved by the following specific objectives (SO): Improvement of the Desiccation Tolerance of Methanotrophic bacteria and AM (SO1). Analysis of the Water produced by the consortium (SO2) and of the Plant Physiology in response to the Consortium (SO3). Study of the Effect of the Consortium in the Environment (SO4). Determination of the Survival and Effectiveness of the consortium to protect Plants from drying (SO5). Finally the Biosafety of the consortium(SO6) and its Integration (SO7) will be determined.

Research Area:

• Life Sciences (LIF)

For a correct evaluation of your candidature, please send the documents below to Professor (manzanera@ugr.es):

• CV
• Letter of recommendation (optional)