We offer a Research Personnel Training (FPI) contract associated with the research project “From the spore to the store"The omics history of fungi and their mycotoxins throughout the cereal production chain." The doctoral thesis will be carried out in the Microbiology Unit of the Faculty of Biological Sciences of the Complutense University of Madrid and the doctoral student will join the “Fungi and yeasts of interest in agri-food” research group. For some time now, we have been dedicated to studying the biology and genetics of mycotoxin-producing fungi and developing methods to avoid the presence of these compounds in foods.
The project of this doctoral thesis has four main objectives: (1) Characterize the taxonomic diversity and toxigenic potential of fungal communities in cereal fields in Spain, (2) Study the fate of mycotoxins in soils, (3) Verify the presence of new toxigenic species in Spanish cereals and (4) Optimize a digital PCR protocol for the detection of these species.
In achieving these objectives, it is proposed that both basic microbiological and molecular techniques be handled, as well as that more advanced techniques that require more complex bioinformatic analyzes (metataxonomic, genome sequencing, etc.) be learned.
The person who joins the project also commits to carrying out two pre-doctoral stays financed by the contract itself at Cranfield University (UK). During these periods, he will learn mycotoxin analysis techniques, as well as automated methods for monitoring the growth of toxigenic fungi. This will allow you to carry out a doctoral thesis with international mention.
The candidate must meet the requirements to be able to enroll in a doctoral program. Additionally, we will assess the following aspects:
- Degree in Biology, Biochemistry or similar.
- Master in Microbiology, Biotechnology, Bioinformatics or similar.
- Desirable experience in a microbiology laboratory.
- English management.
If you are interested in requesting this contract or need more information, please contact Belén Patiño (belenp@ucm.es) and Jéssica Gil-Serna (jgilsern@ucm.es).
