Bacterial consortia for biocontrol in agriculture

Developing and understanding biocontrol bacterial consortia to better protect agricultural crops and reduce the use of synthetic pesticides in the field, using advanced techniques in microbiology, molecular biology, and bioinformatics.

• Guaranteed annual stipend: $27,000
• PhD program: Biological sciences
• Minimum program duration: 3 years
• Start: January 2027

THE PROJECT

This project aims to explore biocontrol bacterial consortia as alternatives to synthetic pesticides, in order to improve the environmental footprint of agriculture. It lies at the intersection of microbiology, plant biology, and ecology. You will delve into the interactions between biocontrol bacteria that, when assembled into consortia, can lead to better plant protection. The project will focus on soybean white mold (also called stem rot), caused by the pathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, which leads to major crop losses worldwide every year. In particular, you will explore interactions among endophytic bacteria and the potential of these micro-organisms to protect soybean plants.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Characterization of endophytic bacteria
• Microbiome sequencing
• Analysis of bacterial genomes
• Study of bacterial consortia
• Plant trials under controlled conditions
• Directed mutagenesis

SKILLS INVOLVED

• Microbial culture
• Plant culture
• Pathogen handling
• Molecular biology
• Microbiome sequencing
• Bioinformaticscanalyses
• Data visualization

The successful candidate will join Dr. Antoine Zboralski’s team at the Institut de recherche en biologie végétale (IRBV; research institute in plant biology). The institute is located in the heart of the Botanical Garden and the city of Montreal. It hosts ~100 students and 20 multidisciplinary research teams. Many scientific and social activities are organized throughout the year, helping to foster a dynamic and welcoming community.

• Master's degree in microbiology, plant biology, plant pathology, or a related field
• Keen interest in laboratory work
• Experience in microbial culture
• Knowledge of bioinformatics analyses
• Independence, thoroughness, and curiosity