Plant epigenomics - Application for ACROSS Alliance PhD call in LGDP Perpignan France/Universit[...]

Plant Genome and Development Laboratory (LGDP) Organisation/Company CNRS Department Plant Genome and Development Laboratory (LGDP) Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 7 Apr 2026 - 12:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Jul 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description

PhD project:

Role of Plant Mobile Domain proteins in the formation of the plant protective periderm barrier Research environment This PhD project will be set in the frame of the

ACROSS European university alliance

involving research teams from University of Perpignan Via Domitia ,

University of Girona

and

University of Udine . The PhD candidate will work under the supervision of Guillaume Moissiard, leader of the team Epi2Trans in the Plant Genome and Development Laboratory at University of Perpignan (LGDP-UPVD), and the supervision of Olga Serra, co-leader of the Cork Laboratory at University of Girona (Cork Lab-UdG). The PhD candidate will also benefit from the Michele Morgante laboratory at University of Udine, experts in the field of bioinformatics and plant (epi)genomics. Experimental research will be mostly carried out in between the LGDP-UPVD and the Cork Lab-UdG. Besides, a secondment will be set up in the Michele Morgante laboratory to perform bioinformatic analyses and gain expertise in the field of plant (epi)genomics. This PhD project fits into the ACROSS alliance research thematics as part of the

knowledge creation team 4 - KCT 4: Natural Resource management . Research project The periderm

is a multilayer tissue covering several plant organs like roots, stems, tubers or specific fruits, that protects the inner tissues from intruders or dehydration. It plays essential roles in plant adaptation to changing environment. The periderm is made of

phellogen

(or cork cambium) that is a secondary meristem composed of stem cells from which derive outwardly the

phellem

(or cork or bark) and inwardly the

phelloderm

1 . The differentiation of cork and phelloderm from phellogen stem cells relies on the spatiotemporal expression of specific genes that are involved in these processes. To better understand plant development and adaptation to environmental constraints, it is important to study those molecular processes controlling periderm formation. Specific

transcription factors (TFs)

are proteins controlling the expression of target genes by allowing or repressing their transcription by RNA polymerase II. Specific TFs regulate gene expression often in concert with epigenetic factors modifying the DNA and histone proteins. In particular, specific TFs can recruit the

Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2)

that is involved in the deposition of methyl groups on histone H3 at lysine 27 ( H3K27me3 ), an epigenetic mark promoting gene silencing2. AtMAIL2

is a nuclear protein carrying a plant mobile domain (PMD) that is essential for Arabidopsis thaliana development and is highly conserved in Eudicots 3, 4 . We recently showed that AtMAIL2 localizes in the promoter of several genes carrying a specific DNA motif called AtM2M to secure their expression by antagonizing PRC2 3 . While atmail2 knockout plants are lethal, knockdown mutants are viable and display strong developmental phenotypes. AtMAIL2, as other family members, is expressed in several plant organs including meristematic tissues 5 , advocating for an important role in maintaining meristem identity and orchestrating cell differentiation. Over the last years, key TFs and epigenetic factors like PRC2 were identified as required for proper periderm development and to maintain phellogen stem cell identity 6 . However, the mechanisms and gene networks that are involved in those intricate processes are poorly understood. In particular, despite their essential functions in Arabidopsis development, the role of AtMAIL2 and homologs during periderm formation and phellogen activity has not been studied yet. This PhD project will first investigate the function of

Arabidopsis AtMAIL2 and homologs

in root phellogen and the alteration in periderm formation. Second, it will study the unknown function of

StPMD2 , which is AtMAIL2 ortholog in potato

Solanum tuberosum , a highly valuable crop, to determine its role during periderm formation in potato tuber. Finally, it will decipher the interaction between StPMD2 and (epi)genetic factors that drives the periderm formation. The PhD project will be organized in three work packages (WPs). WP1

will study the AtMAIL2 function in the formation of periderm in Arabidopsis roots. WP2

will determine the role of StPMD2 during periderm formation in tubers (translational research). WP3

will apply bioinformatic tools to decipher the molecular mechanisms and gene network involving PMD proteins in the regulation of gene expression at the (epi)genomic levels. Keywords: periderm, phellogen, meristem, Plant Mobile Domain (PMD), Polycomb, roots, tuber 1. Serra O, Mahonen AP, Hetherington AJ, et al. The Making of Plant Armor: The Periderm. Annu Rev Plant Biol 2022; 73: 405–432. 2022/01/06. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-102720-031405. 2. Bieluszewski T, Xiao J, Yang Y, et al. PRC2 activity, recruitment, and silencing: a comparative perspective. Trends Plant Sci 2021; 26: 1186–1198. 2021/07/24. DOI: 10.1016/j.tplants.2021.06.006. 3. Pelissier T, Jarry L, Olivier M, et al. Plant mobile domain protein-DNA motif modules counteract Polycomb silencing to stabilize gene expression. Nat Plants 2025 2025/10/04. DOI: 10.1038/s41477-025-02127-1. 4. Nicolau M, Picault N, Descombin J, et al. The plant mobile domain proteins MAIN and MAIL1 interact with the phosphatase PP7L to regulate gene expression and silence transposable elements in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS Genet 2020; 16: e1008324. 2020/04/15. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008324. 5. Uhlken C, Horvath B, Stadler R, et al. MAIN-LIKE1 is a crucial factor for correct cell division and differentiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant J 2014; 78: 107–120. DOI: 10.1111/tpj.12455. 6. Inacio V, Santos R, Prazeres R, et al. Epigenetics at the crossroads of secondary growth regulation. Front Plant Sci 2022; 13: 970342. 2022/08/23. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.970342. Where to apply

E-mail guillaume.moissiard@univ-perp.fr Requirements

Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Education Level Master Degree or equivalent Languages ENGLISH Level Good Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Additional Information

Eligibility criteria Candidates must hold a Master degree (M2) or equivalent by June 30th 2026. Selection process Interview on April 13th 2026 -preferentially in-person. Work Location(s)

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute LGDP UPVD CNRS Country France State/Province PO City Perpignan Postal Code 66860 Street 58 avenue Paul Alduy Geofield Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute University of Girona - Aulari Comú Country Spain State/Province Catalonia City Girona Postal Code 17003 Street C/ Maria Aurèlia Capmany, 40 Campus Montilivi Geofield

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