An annual budget of 150 k €/year is dedicated to this call for projects and can be used for all expenses: operation, subcontracting, missions, conferences, staff. Equipment investments only are not possible. Few projects are selected (2 to 5 projects maximum) in order to reach a good level of financing per project, the duration of which can be one or two years maximum. This call opened in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2022, it already allowed to financially support 23 projects after selection made by our International Scientific Board (ISB).

>>  Call for Projects "New Frontiers for INTERFACE" 2022-2023 CLOSED  <<
Deadline for submission of projects: February 17, 2023 

>>  Call for Projects New Frontiers 2022-2023  <<
Call CLOSED, results mid-december

Year 2022-2023

Year 2020-2021-2022

Year 2018

Caroline Baroukh project summary

Metabolic modelling of A Plant Pathogen Interaction (MAPPI)

« In this project, we propose to use a combination of modeling and experimental approaches to decipher the metabolic plant-pathogen interaction. Our objectives will be to i) better understand the metabolic adaptation that undergoes the pathogen once inside the plant, ii) know which substrates of the plant sustain the growth of the pathogen, and iii) identify pathways potentially targeted by the pathogen to increase its metabolic proficiency. The model organisms used will be the bacterial pathogen Ralstonia solanacearum and the agronomical plant tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum). To reach a precise representation of the plant pathogen system and accurate predictions, experiments will be necessary to calibrate the model. The budget will mainly be used to this end, via the employment of a research assistant. »

Simon Blanchet project summary

The contribution of intraspecific diversity to ecosystem functioning

« This project aims at quantifying the contribution of intraspecific diversity to the functioning of ecosystems, and at identifying the mechanisms underlying intraspecific BEFs. The project focuses on three freshwater species interacting within a trophic network, and it combines empirical and experimental approaches. A first task aims at determining whether intraspecific diversity substantially contributes to ecosystem functioning in the wild. Using observational data gathered along a climatic gradient, we will quantify the effects of intraspecific diversity on key ecological functions, compare the strength of intraspecific BEFs between the target species, and compare the contribution of intraspecific diversity to ecosystem functioning to that of climate. In a second task, we will set an experiment varying intraspecific diversity and climate to tease apart direct effects due to intraspecific diversity and climate, as well as indirect effects of climate mediated by intraspecific diversity on ecosystem functioning. This project should lead to an novel integrative framework linking abiotic drivers, intra- and interspecific diversity, and ecosystem functions. »

Fabrice Roux project summary

A citizen project for establishing a genomic map of local adaptation in Arabidopsis thaliana to climate, soil and microbiota (OPTIMA)

« A major challenge in evolutionary ecology is to describe the genomic architecture underlying local adaptation. Establishing genomic maps of local adaptation is particularly relevant to predict the potential of species to respond to global changes. However, although species are exposed to a large range of abiotic and biotic selective agents in their natural habitats, most genomic maps of local adaptation published so far have been established for climate variation. To fill this gap, this project aims at establishing a genomic map of local adaptation in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana to soil physico-chemical properties and soil microbiota, along with climate. To achieve this goal, we will combine the advantages of (i) Genome-Environment Association analysis based on 168 whole-genome sequenced natural populations of A. thaliana located in the south-west of France and (ii) reciprocal common gardens based on a unique citizen project that will allow estimating the performance of all these populations in 60 common gardens. This exploratory project represents an exciting opportunity (i) for estimating the relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors on the extent of local adaptation in A. thaliana, and (ii) for prospective research on the identification of novel functional mechanisms underlying local adaptation in A. thaliana. »

Year 2016

Year 2014

Year 2012