Open positions in plant mechano-eco-evo-devo

The Biological Design Unit at OIST studies ‘How’ and ‘Why’ behind biological shape and structure. Why do plants have a slender body design in their shoots and roots, when it is not trivial to construct such shapes? Is there a strong evolutionary pull – benefits for fitness – to have such a biological design?

We research across the fields of biology, physics, and engineering to understand the cell and organ design in living organisms, especially plants. Plants are rooted in a habitat throughout their lives, constantly sensing and responding to a changing environment. They modify their developmental programs in response to physical cues, such as light, temperature, and mechanical stimuli (e.g., touch and wind). The resulting changes in the cell and organ structure often underpin survival against environmental stressors. We study such structural solutions to biological fitness, combining approaches from cell and developmental biology, evolutionary biology, and ecology with physical functional analyses based on mechano-biology and biomechanics. We explore morphospace by creating structural variations using biomimetics (microfabrication) or developmental engineering (synthetic biology) and probe their physical functions in differential environmental conditions. With such investigations, we aim to gain insights into the biological design better suited to survive through the changing climate.

We welcome applications from highly motivated, skilled, and considerate researchers who share our vision. Candidates should demonstrate a strong background in any of the following fields:

• (plant) developmental biology
• (plant) mechano-devo
• evo-devo
• eco-devo
• biomechanics (solid and fluid)
• (plant) synthetic biology

Specific projects will be discussed and developed as the candidates are shortlisted. OIST enables hiring postdoctoral researchers at various levels of experience. We plan to identify the best-fit candidates for the team and assign the most suitable positions to each based on their career stage and track record.

In particular, we seek candidates interested in such projects as:

• Wind-induced remodelling of Arabidopsis shoot architecture – the molecular mechanisms and biological significance
• Morphospace functional mapping of Arabidopsis shoot architecture
• Form-function relationship of plant architecture in lab and field conditions