PIF2025 - Relevance of cell cycle dynamics on root developmental programs and cell fate acquisition - (PID2024-159682NB-I00).

We are seeking a highly motivated Predoctoral Researcher to join the team lead by Bénédicte Desvoyes and Crisanto Gutierrez and contribute to a project aimed at uncovering how cell cycle progression influences cell fate decisions and tissue patterning during plant development. We previously characterized that a cell cycle duration gradient is established during root organogenesis (Echevarria et al., Nature Plants, 2025 doi.org/10.1038/s41477-025-02109-3). The project will focus on understanding how specific phases of the cell cycle regulate gene expression programs that drive root patterning, stem cell niche organization, and lateral root formation. A combination of genetic and molecular biology techniques will be used along with cell biology approaches and advanced confocal microscopy. The PhD program relates to the funded Project PID2024- 159682NB-I00. The Ph.D candidate should hold a Master preferentially in Molecular Biology, Developmental Biology or related disciplines and ideally previous experience in molecular biology techniques/ genetics/confocal microscopy.