Emmanuel Gaquerel and Hubert Schaller, with that of the JBS in the management of botanical collections.

The aim is to analyse the metabolic diversity of a large number of species in the garden using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, following standardised procedures. The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in the selection and sampling of species, the collection and traceability of associated metadata, as well as the preparation of samples and the establishment of a physical collection of plant material and extracts. He or she will also contribute to the processing, annotation and analysis of the metabolomic data obtained. The project will thus establish a reference resource for the study of plant chemodiversity, which can be used to analyse the distribution and evolution of families of metabolites of interest.

Activities

➢ Description of the research activities :

• Select and collect plant specimens from the Strasbourg Botanical Garden in collaboration with the JBS teams, in accordance with collection and conservation procedures.
• Ensure the traceability of the metadata associated with each specimen (botanical identification, collection conditions, location within the collections).
• Prepare samples (freeze-drying, grinding, extraction) and contribute to the establishment of a physical collection of plant material and extracts.
• Carry out metabolomic analyses using mass spectrometry in partnership with the two research teams involved and the metabolomics platform at the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology
• Process, annotate and analyse metabolomic data using dedicated pipelines (construction of molecular networks, querying spectral databases, in silico annotation, calculation of metabolic diversity indices).
• Contribute to the interpretation of results, particularly regarding the distribution and evolution of families of metabolites of interest.
• Contribute to the scientific dissemination of the project (writing articles, presenting at conferences, communicating results).

➢ Related activities :

• Take part in the project’s scientific meetings and those of the research teams
• Interact with project partners: the two teams at the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, the institute’s metabolomics platform, and the teams at the Strasbourg Botanical Garden.
• Contribute to the rigorous management and organisation of plant extracts and metabolomic data
• Contribute to the supervision of students where appropriate

Experience required : A recent PhD graduate who defended their thesis less than a year ago, with in-depth experience in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics gained during their PhD, covering the entire analytical workflow, from sample preparation to data analysis. A good understanding of plant metabolism is also desirable.

Skills

➢ Qualifications/knowledge :

• PhD in Plant Biology or Biochemistry, to have been awarded by the start date of 1 December 2026.
• In-depth knowledge of plant metabolism and concepts associated with the study of plant chemo-diversity
• Proficiency in metabolomic approaches using mass spectrometry and dedicated analysis pipelines
• An interest in plant diversity and the promotion of scientific literacy

➢ Operational skills/expertise :

• Experience in the preparation of plant extracts
• Experience in the characterisation of plant metabolites using a metabolomic approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry
• Proficiency in dedicated metabolomic analysis workflows: construction of molecular networks, querying spectral databases, in silico annotation, calculation of metabolic diversity indices
• Ability to analyse, interpret and disseminate scientific results
• Experience in scientific writing and publication in international journals

➢ Personal qualities :

• Organisational skills and the ability to work independently
• Ability to work as part of a team in an interdisciplinary environment
• Scientific rigor
• Good written and oral communication skills, in French and English

Environment and context of work

➢ Presentation of the laboratory/unity :
The CNRS Institute of Plant Molecular Biology (UPR2357) is the CNRS’s largest dedicated unit in the field of plant science. The institute, headed by Dr Philippe Giegé, currently comprises 20 research teams and numerous technological platforms. Its mission is to conduct fundamental research in integrative plant biology, covering the fields of plant metabolism, the molecular mechanisms regulating plant genome expression, and plant virology.

The BotaniChem project is coordinated by Prof. Emmanuel Gaquerel, head of the ‘Evolution and Diversity of Plant Metabolism’ team, whose research focuses on the multi-scale exploration of plant metabolism, ranging from its chemical characterisation to the study of the associated biosynthetic pathways. The project also involves the ‘Biology of Plant Isoprenoids’ team, led by Dr Hubert Schaller, as well as the Strasbourg Botanical Garden, where Frédéric Tournay is in charge of the collections.

Where to apply

Website : https://www.unistra.fr/fr/recrutement/chercheureuse-postdoctorale-biochimie-vegetale-cdd-1

Requirements

Research Field : Biological sciences » Botany
Education Level : PhD or equivalent

Emmanuel Gaquerel and Hubert Schaller, with that of the JBS in the management of botanical collections.

The aim is to analyse the metabolic diversity of a large number of species in the garden using mass spectrometry-based metabolomics, following standardised procedures. The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in the selection and sampling of species, the collection and traceability of associated metadata, as well as the preparation of samples and the establishment of a physical collection of plant material and extracts. He or she will also contribute to the processing, annotation and analysis of the metabolomic data obtained. The project will thus establish a reference resource for the study of plant chemodiversity, which can be used to analyse the distribution and evolution of families of metabolites of interest.

Activities

➢ Description of the research activities :

• Select and collect plant specimens from the Strasbourg Botanical Garden in collaboration with the JBS teams, in accordance with collection and conservation procedures.
• Ensure the traceability of the metadata associated with each specimen (botanical identification, collection conditions, location within the collections).
• Prepare samples (freeze-drying, grinding, extraction) and contribute to the establishment of a physical collection of plant material and extracts.
• Carry out metabolomic analyses using mass spectrometry in partnership with the two research teams involved and the metabolomics platform at the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology
• Process, annotate and analyse metabolomic data using dedicated pipelines (construction of molecular networks, querying spectral databases, in silico annotation, calculation of metabolic diversity indices).
• Contribute to the interpretation of results, particularly regarding the distribution and evolution of families of metabolites of interest.
• Contribute to the scientific dissemination of the project (writing articles, presenting at conferences, communicating results).

➢ Related activities :

• Take part in the project’s scientific meetings and those of the research teams
• Interact with project partners: the two teams at the Institute of Molecular Plant Biology, the institute’s metabolomics platform, and the teams at the Strasbourg Botanical Garden.
• Contribute to the rigorous management and organisation of plant extracts and metabolomic data
• Contribute to the supervision of students where appropriate

Experience required : A recent PhD graduate who defended their thesis less than a year ago, with in-depth experience in mass spectrometry-based metabolomics gained during their PhD, covering the entire analytical workflow, from sample preparation to data analysis. A good understanding of plant metabolism is also desirable.

Skills

➢ Qualifications/knowledge :

• PhD in Plant Biology or Biochemistry, to have been awarded by the start date of 1 December 2026.
• In-depth knowledge of plant metabolism and concepts associated with the study of plant chemo-diversity
• Proficiency in metabolomic approaches using mass spectrometry and dedicated analysis pipelines
• An interest in plant diversity and the promotion of scientific literacy

➢ Operational skills/expertise :

• Experience in the preparation of plant extracts
• Experience in the characterisation of plant metabolites using a metabolomic approach based on high-resolution mass spectrometry
• Proficiency in dedicated metabolomic analysis workflows: construction of molecular networks, querying spectral databases, in silico annotation, calculation of metabolic diversity indices
• Ability to analyse, interpret and disseminate scientific results
• Experience in scientific writing and publication in international journals

➢ Personal qualities :

• Organisational skills and the ability to work independently
• Ability to work as part of a team in an interdisciplinary environment
• Scientific rigor
• Good written and oral communication skills, in French and English

Environment and context of work

➢ Presentation of the laboratory/unity :
The CNRS Institute of Plant Molecular Biology (UPR2357) is the CNRS’s largest dedicated unit in the field of plant science. The institute, headed by Dr Philippe Giegé, currently comprises 20 research teams and numerous technological platforms. Its mission is to conduct fundamental research in integrative plant biology, covering the fields of plant metabolism, the molecular mechanisms regulating plant genome expression, and plant virology.

The BotaniChem project is coordinated by Prof. Emmanuel Gaquerel, head of the ‘Evolution and Diversity of Plant Metabolism’ team, whose research focuses on the multi-scale exploration of plant metabolism, ranging from its chemical characterisation to the study of the associated biosynthetic pathways. The project also involves the ‘Biology of Plant Isoprenoids’ team, led by Dr Hubert Schaller, as well as the Strasbourg Botanical Garden, where Frédéric Tournay is in charge of the collections.

Where to apply

Website : https://www.unistra.fr/fr/recrutement/chercheureuse-postdoctorale-biochimie-vegetale-cdd-1

Requirements

Research Field : Biological sciences » Botany
Education Level : PhD or equivalent