Postdoc in Soil Molecular Biology and Microbial Diversity

Mohammed VI Polytechnic University invites applications for a Postdoctoral Researcher position within the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in Benguerir, Morocco. The successful candidate will focus on the isolation, purification, identification, and cultivation of soil photosynthetic microorganisms such as microalgae and cyanobacteria. The role combines culture-based approaches, molecular characterization, and controlled experiments to assess their ecological functions and contributions to sustainable agriculture. Responsibilities include designing sampling campaigns, optimizing growth conditions, analyzing microbial diversity, and publishing research findings.

• Design and execute soil sampling campaigns targeting photosynthetic microorganisms across diverse environments.
• Develop and optimize protocols for isolating soil microalgae and cyanobacteria using enrichment cultures and plating techniques.
• Establish, maintain, and document a collection of characterized soil photosynthetic strains and preserve cultures appropriately.
• Identify isolates utilizing microscopy and molecular markers, and characterize their growth, pigment production, and stress responses.
• Investigate interactions between photosynthetic microorganisms, soil bacteria, fungi, and plants.
• Apply DNA/RNA extraction, PCR, quantitative PCR, and sequencing approaches to study soil microbial diversity.
• Publish research findings in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to funding proposals and laboratory training.