The research will aim at investigating at multiple level the interconnected multilayered response in crops related to pest diseases in the framework of climate change. In more detail, ear fungal diseases will be considered as a model, and molecular approaches (MS-based metabolomics, gene expression patterns) will be combined with phenotyping and physiological assays. Competences from plant science, biochemistry and plant pathology will ensure a trans-disciplinary view, and data fusion will allow depicting the interaction between climate change triggered stresses and pest diseases in crops.

The candidate is supposed to have knowledge on plant science and agronomy, possibly including plant pathology and plant biochemistry basic knowledge.

The reference prof Luigi Lucini (Università cattolica del sacro Cuore, plant biochemistry and metabolomics) will benefit the contribution from Cristina Nali (university of Pisa, plant pathologist), Claudio Lovisolo (University of Turin, plant physiology) and prof Roberto Ferrise (University of Florence, agronomist). Thus, a multidisciplinary team will support the topic development, providing also facility for phenotyping and metabolomics.