One PhD position is available at McGill University, Macdonald Campus. The students will work with Dr. Sebastien Faucher in collaboration with Dr. Michèle Prévost (Polytechnique), Dr. Émilie Bédard (Polytechnique)and Dr. Étienne Robert (Polytechnique). This project is funded by the NSERC.

Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is an aquatic bacterium that thrives in natural and artificial water systems, such as cooling towers and water distribution networks. Lp can be aerosolized by such systems and transmitted to humans. After inhalation, the bacterium reaches the lungs and causes a pneumonia called Legionnaire’s disease. In water systems, Lp is found associated with biofilms and growing inside phagocytic protozoans, such as amoeba and ciliates. We have previously shown that disinfection regime has a significant impact on the resident microbiota, promoting the dominance of Pseudomonas and the absence of Legionella (Paranjape, 2020, Water Research). Growth of L. pneumophila in the water system is dependent on a complex network of microbial interactions and multiple trophic levels (Paranjape, 2020, Microbiome, in press). The goal of this project is to refine our understanding of the relationship between Lp and the microbiome of water systems and to identify the properties of the microbiome that support the growth of Lp by considering other variables including time, seasonality, and location within the water system.

The candidate will work within a multidisciplinary and dynamic research team in collaboration with several industrial partners. The candidate will perform field sampling, lab-based analysis (including metagenomics) as well as deep bioinformatic analysis.

Information:

[email protected]

www.faucherlab.com

Interested applicants should hold a MSc degree in microbiology, bioinformatics, or related field. Experience in molecular biology and/or bioinformatics (R, Mothur, and/or Qiime) is considered an asset. Start date: winter 2021 or spring 2021.

Please send a detailed CV, university transcripts and contact information of 2 references to Sebastien Faucher. 

Master’s and PhD Positions Available to Study the Evolution of Legionella pneumophila in Water Systems.

Master’s and PhD positions are available at McGill University, Macdonald Campus. The project is funded by the NSERC.

Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is an aquatic bacterium that thrives in natural and artificial water systems, such as cooling towers and water distribution networks. Lp can be aerosolized by such systems and transmitted to humans. After inhalation, the bacterium reaches the lungs and causes a pneumonia called Legionnaire’s disease. In water systems, Lp is found associated with biofilms and grows inside phagocytic protozoans, such as amoeba and ciliates. Strains of Lp differ in their host range and their ability to survive stresses, including heat shock and disinfectant. The goal of this project is to identify horizontal gene transfer event between Lp and the resident microbiota of a model water system. The students will perform controlled experimental evolution assays and use high-throughput screening procedures and deep sequencing.

Information:

[email protected]

www.faucherlab.com

Interested applicants should hold a BSc degree in microbiology or related field. Experience in molecular biology and bioinformatics is considered an asset. Start date: fall 2019 or winter 2020.

Please send a detailed CV, unofficial university transcripts, and contact information of 2 references to:

Sebastien P. Faucher: [email protected]

Master’s and PhD Positions Available to Study the Interplay Between Legionella pneumophila and the Microbiome of Water Systems.

One Master’s and one PhD positions are available at McGill University, Macdonald Campus. The students will work with Dr. Sebastien Faucher in collaboration with Dr. Michèle Prévost (École Polytechnique), Cécile Tremblay (U. Montréal) and Jacques Corbeil (U. Laval). This project is funded by the FRQNT.

Legionella pneumophila (Lp) is an aquatic bacterium that thrives in natural and artificial water systems, such as cooling towers and water distribution networks. Lp can be aerosolized by such systems and transmitted to humans. After inhalation, the bacterium reaches the lungs and causes a pneumonia called Legionnaire’s disease. In water systems, Lp is found associated with biofilms and grows inside phagocytic protozoans, such as amoeba and ciliates. The goal of this project is to evaluate the relationship between Lp and the microbiome of water systems and to identify the properties of the microbiome that support the growth of Lp. For this project, the students will use high-throughput screening procedures and next-gen sequencing (Illumina Hi-Seq).

Interested applicants should hold a BSc degree in microbiology or related field. Experience in molecular biology and/or bioinformatics is considered an asset. Start date: fall 2015 or winter 2016.

Please send a detailed CV, university transcripts and contact information of 2 references to:

Sebastien P. Faucher (see contact info on the right).

They won best presentation in the PhD and MSc category.

http://ici.radio-canada.ca/emissions/les_annees_lumiere/2014-2015/chronique.asp?idChronique=353135

Congratulation!

Info

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 The Faucher lab at the BiSP!

Nilmini won again!

You can view the work of my students here: https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B8WHs_YU0G2dM3JETmhJMXBmYTA&usp=sharing.

Faucher lab at the CSM 2013 meeting.

Click here for more photos.