PhD Position: Efficiency of light harvesting and photoprotection in native and invasive trees

Background and Objectives

Invasive trees are a threat to forest sustainability in Hauts-de-France, including several species that have already been shown to be ecologically transformative (e.g., black cherry, black locust, box-elder) as well as those that are rapidly spreading from elsewhere in western Europe (e.g., northern red oak). As extreme weather increases the occurrence of stressful conditions, including drought and extreme heat, a key question facing forest managers is how new stressors will alter interactions between native and invasive trees. New evidence that forest invaders across the northern Hemisphere have greater light-use efficiency has prompted new research questions related to invader photosynthetic function and growth phenology (Fig. 1).

EDYSAN, Écologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés, UMR7058, est une Unité de recherche du CNRS et de l’Université de Picardie Jules Verne.

Elle s’intéresse aux effets des changements dits « globaux » sur les écosystèmes et les agrosystèmes.

Research Environment

The project will be conducted at the EDYSAN lab (Ecologie et Dynamique des Systèmes Anthropisés, UMR 7058 CNRS-UPJV), Jules Verne University of Picardie – Amiens (France). 

Experiments will take place in the Jules Verne University of Picardie plant phenomics facility, including the Plantscreen® platform equipped with automated fluorometric and hyperspectral imaging systems. The project will combine greenhouse experiments, controlled stress treatments, fluorometry, HPLC pigment analysis, and hyperspectral data analysis.

The candidate will work within an international and interdisciplinary research environment at the interface of ecophysiology, invasion ecology, and remote sensing.

Candidate Profile

We are seeking a highly motivated student with a strong interest in plant functional ecology and physiological mechanisms underlying stress tolerance and growth tradeoffs. The successful candidate should hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent) in plant biology, ecology, ecophysiology, environmental sciences, or a closely related field.

Required qualifications: 

• Solid background in plant physiology and ecology
• Strong quantitative and statistical skills (experience with R or similar software)
• Excellent organizational skills and scientific rigor
• Good written and oral communication skills in English

Desirable skills:

• Strong background in photosynthesis and/or leaf biochemistry

• Experience with leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence measurements, or HPLC
• Knowledge of photoprotective mechanisms (e.g., xanthophyll cycle)

The candidate should demonstrate autonomy, curiosity, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an international research environment.