PhD and Postdoctoral Opportunities (Fall 2026) — Plant Morphogenesis & Biomechanics

Featured

Funding opportunity: Impact+ Canada Research Training Fellowships (Fall 2026 cohort)

I am recruiting highly motivated PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to join my group at the Université de Montréal (Canada).

Our research sits at the interface of plant developmental biology, biomechanics/solid mechanics, quantitative imaging, 3D image analysis, and computational modeling, with the goal of understanding how growth, mechanics, and feedback shape developing tissues and organs.

A new funding program, the Impact+ Canada Research Training Fellowships, supports recruitment of international candidates as well as Canadian citizens returning to Canada, working in national priority areas including:

  • advanced digital technologies (including AI, quantum technologies, cybersecurity)
  • health (including biotechnology)
  • clean technologies and resource value chains
  • environment, climate resilience, and the Arctic
  • food and water security
  • democratic and community resilience
  • advanced manufacturing and materials
  • defense and dual-use technologies

Fellowship amounts

  • PhD: $40,000/year for 3 years
  • Postdoc: $70,000/year for 2 years

The application process is expected to be very simple and must be submitted by the host supervisor. The success rate should be high for candidates who meet eligibility criteria, but internal quotas apply, so early contact is strongly recommended.

Timeline (supervisor-submitted)

At this stage, the official forms are not yet available. For an initial pre-selection step, I must submit (by February 4):

  • candidate name
  • host supervisor name
  • project title

The complete application will then be submitted by the supervisor by February 16, and will likely include a short project description and a brief statement of expected impacts for Canada aligned with program priorities.

How to apply / express interest

If you are interested (or would like to discuss potential projects), please contact me as soon as possible (ideally before January 31) with:

  • a CV
  • a brief description of your research background and interests

Contact:
al.routier@umontreal.ca
Anne-Lise Routier-Kierzkowska
Associate Professor & Canada Research Chair, Plant Cell Biophysics
Université de Montréal (Canada)

Funded PhD position – Modelling the Physics of Plant Cell Growth          

Starting Fall 2024 – Winter 2025

We are seeking a motivated candidate to join our biophysics group. The project will involve mechanical modeling (FEM) and 3D image analysis of growing plant organs. A background in Biophysics, Physics, Computer Sciences or Mathematics is required. Biology students with a strong interest in physics and programming are encouraged to apply. Experience with modeling or programming (C++, python, matlab) are a strong asset.

The PhD student will model organ growth to understand how biological shapes are generated from a physics perspective [1]. The project is based on mechanical simulations [2] and 3D image analysis [3]. The candidate will work in close collaboration with experimentalists (physicists and biologists) from the Routier lab and Kierzkowski lab. Our group belongs to the Research Institute in Plant Biology (IRBV) at University of Montreal.  

Please send your candidature to the supervisor, Anne-Lise Routier (al.routier@umontreal.ca), before July 14th , 2024:

  • motivation letter and research interests (1 page max)
  • CV (1 to 2 pages max)
  • university grade records
  • email addresses of 2 referees.

Recommended readings:
[1] “Cellular basis of growth in plants: geometry matters.” Kierzkowski & Routier-Kierzkowska, Current Opinion in Plant Biology 47, 56-63 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2018.09.008
[2] https://morphographx.org/morphomechanx/
[3] “MorphoGraphX: A platform for quantifying morphogenesis in 4D” Barbier de Reuille, Routier-Kierzkowska et al., eLife 4, e05864 (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05864.

Funded PhD position – Modelling the Physics of Plant Cell Growth          

Featured

Starting Fall 2024 – Winter 2025

We are seeking a motivated candidate to join our biophysics group. The project will involve mechanical modeling (FEM) and 3D image analysis of growing plant organs. A background in Biophysics, Physics, Computer Sciences or Mathematics is required. Biology students with a strong interest in physics and programming are encouraged to apply. Experience with modeling or programming (C++, python, matlab) are a strong asset.

The PhD student will model organ growth to understand how biological shapes are generated from a physics perspective [1]. The project is based on mechanical simulations [2] and 3D image analysis [3]. The candidate will work in close collaboration with experimentalists (physicists and biologists) from the Routier lab and Kierzkowski lab. Our group belongs to the Research Institute in Plant Biology (IRBV) at University of Montreal.  

Please send your candidature to the supervisor, Anne-Lise Routier (al.routier@umontreal.ca), before July 15th , 2024:

  • motivation letter and research interests (1 page max)
  • CV (1 to 2 pages max)
  • university grade records
  • email addresses of 2 referees.

Recommended readings:
[1] “Cellular basis of growth in plants: geometry matters.” Kierzkowski & Routier-Kierzkowska, Current Opinion in Plant Biology 47, 56-63 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pbi.2018.09.008
[2] https://morphographx.org/morphomechanx/
[3] “MorphoGraphX: A platform for quantifying morphogenesis in 4D” Barbier de Reuille, Routier-Kierzkowska et al., eLife 4, e05864 (2015). http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.05864.