Doctorat / PhD — Procedure no. DSMBBC/2027/05: Umbelopsis as a potent decomposer with a compact genome

Doctorat / PhD Profil chercheur : First Stage Researcher (R1) Type de contrat : Temporary Date limite de candidature : 23 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Warsaw) Date de début : 1 Mar 2027 Programme UE : Not funded by a EU programme Domaine : Biological sciences

Fungi shape the fate of food chains and crops, their impact on the global economy is hard to overestimate. In our previous projects, we have linked the distribution of diverse gene classes to the ecology of fungi [1] and predicted the presence of traits that were considered absent from fungi [2]. The main idea of the project is to explore the properties of Umbelopsidales, a fungal genus that has broad biotechnological potential [3] as potent decomposer of plant matter, plant growth factors, oil producers, and displays several puzzling ecological features (inhabiting harsh environments, hosting associated bacteria). We will use a comparative genomic approach to aid the experimental design and our expertise in fungal genetics in the manipulation of selected traits. One of the properties of Umbelopsidales we find extraordinary is their high fucose content and the abundance of polysaccharide degrading enzymes (i.a. hemicelluloses and pectin). One of the aims of this project is to maximize the usage of available protein sequences and fragmented experimental knowledge on the biology of Umbelopsidales to decipher the role of selected hydrolases. We will re-annotate the proteins to comprehend the underpinnings of fungal ecology and adaptability. The project will integrate information on the evolution of Umbelopsidales compared to Mortierellomycota and other fungal groups, their characteristic structures, and ecological properties identified in the course of this project. We will try to answer questions about their genome organization, tendency to keep a compact genome and punctuated gene family proliferation.

Where to apply Website https://ibb.edu.pl/en/phd-studies/rekrutacja/