Joost Mansour

scientific interest

My project is on mixoplanktonic single celled organism, these thus have inherent heterotrophic capabilities (zooplankton), and photosynthetic capabilities (like phytoplankton). I focus on those single celled organisms - specifically Radiolaria - that acquire their photosynthetic capabilities through a partner/symbiont living inside it. Researching the physiological (e.g. C and N nutrient flux) and gene interactions between symbionts and hosts for these endosymbiotic non-constitutive mixotrophs, which will also help improve models of mixotrophic cell functioning.

background

2018- SBR

2016-2017 Penn state University (USA), department of Biology, Medina lab.
    Project title: ‘Phenotypic plasticity, intra- and interspecific variation in thermal tolerance in Symbiodinium spp.’
    Research supervisors: F.J. Pollock dr.; M. Medina dr.
    Algal culturing; qPCR; photo-chemical efficiency measurements

2015  IMARES/NIOZ (NL), department of Biological Oceanography
    Project title: ‘Excavating sponge community composition and habitat preferences on the Caribbean reefs of Curacao’
    supervisors: D.M. de Bakker; J.M. de Goeij dr.
    Research Scuba diving; underwater photography and sampling; aquarium set-up for sponge samples and detritus collection; image analysis

2013  UvA, SILS, department of plant physiology, group of dr. Rob Schuurink
    Project title: ‘Regulation of rhythmic volatile emission in two Petunia cultivars’
    Research supervisor: N.F.B. M-Shaipulah
    qPCR, transient transformation of floral petals, floral volatile trapping and GC-MS

2014 – 2017 MSc in Biological sciences – Limnology and Oceanography

2010-2013 BSc in Biology