Hela Younsi, a Tunisian doctoral student at the Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT) and at the University of Turin, spent one month within the “Symbiotic Nitrogen Acquisition in Plant-Microbe Systems” team at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences, where she worked under the supervision of Eoghan King et Alia Dellagi.

Hela Younsi

Tell us shortly about your PhD project

“My PhD project focuses on the interactions between durum wheat (local and improved varieties) and soil microorganisms, particularly fungi and bacteria. The goal is to better understand the ability of different wheat varieties to establish beneficial symbiotic relationships, particularly with mycorrhizal fungi. To do this, I use experimental approaches under controlled conditions (cultivation in sterile pots, inoculation, management of phosphate nutrition), field trials, and molecular analyses (PCR, ITS/16S sequencing, bioinformatics analyses). The expected results aim to identify varieties that are more efficient at mycorrhization and to enhance the microbial biodiversity of Tunisian soils for more sustainable agriculture. »

How will the mobility impact your project and which objectives will you be able to reach thanks to it? 

“This research opportunity will allow me to conduct in-depth molecular analyses of DNA samples extracted from soil, the rhizosphere, and roots, using high-throughput sequencing. The goal is to analyze these data to better understand the diversity of microorganisms present in the soils of Médenine (Tunisia), as well as the relationships between these microbial communities and the different genotypes of durum wheat. These results will then be compared with bioinformatics data already obtained for the sites in Tunis and Béja, in order to identify common or specific trends related to soil and climate conditions and the genotypes studied.”

What did you gain from this mobility experience on a personal level, beyond the scientific aspect? What is the best memory you carry from your time in Paris?

“On a personal level, this experience has helped me become more independent and confident in my work. It gave me the opportunity to meet researchers and doctoral students with whom I had very enriching discussions. The lab meetings were particularly formative, as they taught me to critically analyze results, discuss issues collectively, and propose solutions by combining our expertise.

I also greatly appreciated the team spirit within the lab. A highlight of my time there was organizing a picnic with the team members, which allowed us to share a friendly moment, get to know each other better, and exchange ideas. Furthermore, I was particularly grateful for the team’s responsiveness and support: when a PCR kit was about to run out, a solution was found within minutes, allowing me to continue and complete my experiments without interruption.”

Would you recommend to other PhD students to spend a period in another lab? Why? 

“Yes! This exchange was a defining experience in my doctoral journey. It allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and develop greater scientific rigor. Beyond the technical skills I acquired, my approach to thinking, analyzing results, and handling the unexpected evolved. I learned to be more independent, to know when to ask for help, and to work in a demanding yet highly stimulating environment. This experience truly helped me grow, both scientifically and personally, and strengthened my motivation for the rest of my thesis.”

Eoghan King & Alia Dellagi

What motivated you to host an international PhD student?

“Alia Dellagi, head of the SYNAPS team at the Institute Jean-Pierre Bourgin for Plant Sciences, is a member of the supervisory committee for Hela’s PhD, which is being conducted under a joint supervision arrangement between the University of Turin (Prof. Luisa Lanfranco and Prof. Valentina Fiorilli) and the Institut National Agronomique de Tunisie (INAT, Prof. Youssef Trifa and Dr. Ines Zouari). Since her research on durum wheat is very similar to the work we are conducting on corn, this visit provided an opportunity to formalize an international collaboration between the SYNAPS team and institutions in Tunisia and Italy, and to make use of the samples Hela collected in the field.”

In what ways has hosting an international student been enriching for you and your lab?

“This visit allowed us to develop experimental protocols for generating metabarcoding libraries to study bacterial and fungal communities. These protocols will serve as the foundation for our future analyses of plant microbial ecology, which are essential to many of the team’s research projects. Additionally, Hela, drawing on her extensive experience analyzing root colonization by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, was able to assist the team’s first-year PhD students in interpreting their results. »

Is there a particular interaction or moment from this visit that stands out to you?

“We were impressed by Hela’s eagerness to explore the Paris region. Every Monday, she told us about her weekend outings: the Musée d’Orsay, the Ferme de Gally, a Japanese-themed lunch, and more… all in less than four weeks! We also took advantage of another intern joining the team to organize a picnic in the sun. It was a chance to discover Hela’s culinary talents. Her Tunisian bricks were delicious!”

Do you have any advice for students about to start a research stay abroad?

“The objective of the stay must be clearly defined and realistic. We had planned more time than necessary on paper for Hela’s stay; this extra time was crucial for finalizing the protocols and achieving our objectives.”