Proposition de stage de M2 (géomicrobiologie) Paris/Orsay

About the role

We are seeking a motivated intern to investigate the early stages of fossilization of eukaryotic microorganisms in microbialites from crater lakes with differing physico-chemical characteristics recently collected in Mexico and in slightly calcifying microbial mats. The study will focus on eukaryotes bearing external skeletons with contrasting chemistries: siliceous-shelled diatoms and carbonate-shelled testate amoebae.

Responsibilities

• Perform high-resolution observational methods (scanning and transmission electron microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy) to describe potential fossilization and/or degradation processes as a function of depth within microbialites and microbial mats.
• Correlate microscopy observations with multivariate statistical analyses of (i) water chemistry and (ii) eukaryotic diversity data obtained by high-throughput sequencing of marker gene fragments from the same samples.
• Become familiar with high-resolution observational methods (SEM, TEM, confocal microscopy) and molecular methods for diversity characterization and sequence analysis.

Qualifications

• Background in microbiology, microbial ecology, geobiology, or a related field.
• Interest in microscopy and molecular biology techniques.
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and to integrate diverse datasets.