This project aims to investigate the effects of space-like radiation on plant growth, development, and nutritional quality, using both phenotypic and molecular approaches.

Plants produce secondary metabolites, such as carotenoids and phenolic compounds (Chanforan, 2010), which protect against oxidative stress. Quantifying these compounds via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) (Michel, 2011) provides key insights into their nutritional potential.

Our studies focus initially on five generations of irradiated dwarf tomatoes (Micro-Tom) exposed to thorium salts (0.33 mSv/day). Organs including roots, leaves, stems, flowers, fruits, and seeds have been harvested, and preliminary analyses show promising results.

Next steps include:

Expanding the study to other plant species of interest, particularly their leaves,

Conducting transcriptomic analyses to uncover molecular responses to radiation,

Identifying the most relevant plant varieties for detailed phenotypic and molecular characterization.

Led by Veronica Pereda-Loth at GSBMS (Toulouse), the platform is certified by ESA and CNES as a Ground-Based Facility, ensuring high-quality, reproducible experiments. The project addresses critical knowledge gaps in plant radiation biology and has direct implications for space agriculture, human nutrition, and long-term space missions.

The goal is to subsequently test the consumable components of plants on human intestinal organoids in order to evaluate their potential effects on human physiology, particularly in terms of nutrient absorption, gut barrier integrity, and microbiome balance. This approach will make it possible to identify both beneficial and adverse biological responses at the cellular and tissue levels, providing essential insights for the development of nutritional countermeasures aimed at preserving astronaut health and mitigating physiological risks during long-duration space missions.

This PhD subject is being developed in collaboration with the CNES Spaceship France project, with the aim of integrating its results into the development of food production systems for astronauts on future lunar and Martian missions. This research aligns with the CNES roadmaps “Habitat and Life Support Systems” and “Health, Performance Maintenance, and Nutrition of Astronauts”, and is consistent with the objectives of NASA’s ARTEMIS program and the “Moon to Mars Architecture Definition” document.

For the Spaceship France project, the points of contact are Alexis Paillet (alexis.paillet@cnes.fr), Project Manager, and Grégory Navarro (gregory.navarro@cnes.fr), Head of Habitat Development.

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For more Information about the topics and the co-financial partner (found by the lab!); contact Directeur de thèse - veronica.pereda@utoulouse.fr

Then, prepare a resume, a recent transcript and a reference letter from your M2 supervisor/ engineering school director and you will be ready to apply online  before March 13th, 2026 Midnight Paris time!