PhD project in Cell Biology

Characterizing the function of proteins associated with ciliopathies

Team Durand - Cilia assembly and Development

Starting date : 1 October 2024.
Contact Prof. Bénédicte Durand

Complete job offer

Host Institute : Mechanisms of integrative Life Sciences (MeLiS); Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL), Lyon, France
Team : Cilia assembly and Development
PhD supervisor : Bénédicte Durand & Véronique Morel
Research project : Characterizing the function of proteins associated with ciliopathies
Funding grants : CEFIPRA joint project with S.C. Jana, NCBS, Bangalore India, UCBL

Project description

Eukaryotic cilia and flagella are highly conserved microtubule-based organelles that play important roles in cell/fluid motility and cell signaling. In humans, an increasing number of inherited disorders are associated with defects in cilia assembly or function and are now classified as ciliopathies. Their surprising characteristic is the manifestation of a wide range of symptoms, from chronic respiratory infections to cystic kidneys, obesity, diabetes, retinal degeneration or mental retardation. The range of organs affected in ciliopathies is still expanding and new syndromes are likely to emerge as ciliopathies in the future.

The PhD project aims to understand the precise function of two proteins whose mutations in humans are associated with retinal ciliopathy. In this project, the PhD candidate will combine the power of functional genetic approaches in Drosophila (RNAi and/or CrispR-Cas9 genome editing) with cutting-edge imaging strategies (Expansion microscopy coupled with spinning-confocal and STED microscopies) and biochemical strategies to determine the contribution of each protein to cilia assembly and maintenance.

This PhD proposal is part of a collaborative project with the group of S.C. Jana lab, NCBS in Bangalore (India) and involves two reciprocal meetings in India (Bangalore) and France (Lyon) for the PhD students involved in each country.

Qualifications

• Candidates should hold a Master's degree in Biological Sciences with qualifications in Genetics, Cell Biology and Developmental Biology.
• Knowledge of imaging approaches is an advantage. Experience with model organisms will be considered positively, but experience with the Drosophila model is not required.
• An interest in basic cell and developmental biology is important.
• Proficiency in English (International collaborative program).
• A strong interest in challenging experimental work is desirable.
• Good interpersonal, communication, organizational and presentation skills.

Advantages in joining the lab

• Join a team with leading expertise in Drosophila genetics and Expansion microscopy approaches
• International exchange with S.C. Jana lab, NCBS, Bangalore India (2x2 weeks)
• Join a highly dynamic research institute devoted to basic science
• Benefit from living in a vibrant city and University
• Enjoy a workplace designed to support your quality of life

Contact

CV and names of referees should be sent to Bénédicte Durand : durand-b@univ-lyon1.fr

Assistant(e) ingénieur(e), CDD 1 an (renouvelable) H/F

Team Marcelle

Date limite de candidature : 15/02/2024.
Contact Valérie Morin
Offre complète

Type of contract : CDD Technique
Duration of contract : 12 mois
Deadline of application : 15 février 2024
Type of position : Temps complet
Salary : 26267,64€ brut/an

Un poste d’Assistant ingénieur est ouvert à compter de Mars 2024 et pour un an (renouvelable) financé sur un contrat ANR dans l’équipe Formation, croissance et réparation du muscle, dirigée par le professeur Christophe Marcelle. L’équipe est située dans l’unité MeLiS (Mechanisms in Integrative Life Sciences, MeLiS - UCBL-CNRS UMR 5284 - INSERM U1314) sur le campus de Rockefeller de l’Université Claude Bernard Lyon-1. L’équipe est composée de 3 chercheurs ou enseignants-chercheurs, 3 étudiants en thèse, 1 post-doctorant, 2 étudiantes de M2 et 2 ingénieurs).

Description du poste

En collaboration avec un large consortium de chercheurs français, nous avons récemment obtenu un contrat important de type "RHU", destiné à trouver des thérapies innovantes pour améliorer la tolérance des organes transplantés. La transplantation d'organes solides est vitale pour beaucoup de patients atteints de maladies chroniques terminales. Les médicaments immunosuppresseurs ont amélioré les taux de survie chez ces patients, mais présentent des effets secondaires importants. Les cellules T régulatrices (Treg) jouent un rôle crucial dans la tolérance des greffes chez les patients, et leur utilisation généralisée pourrait diminuer fortement la dépendance aux immunosuppresseurs, réduisant ainsi la morbidité, et améliorant significativement la qualité de vie. Toutefois, les Treg ont une forte tendance à être instable et à se transformer en cellules toxiques.

L'objectif de ce projet RHU est de générer des "Treg améliorés" par génie génétique. Ces modifications consistent en la perte et le gain de fonction de plusieurs gènes. Notre contribution à cette étude consiste à construire, générer et à utiliser des vecteurs lentiviraux porteurs de gènes thérapeutiques pour produire des Treg améliorés pouvant être utilisés chez les patients.

L’assistant ingénieur participera au développement des outils moléculaires et les testera. Le(la) candidat devra concevoir et mettre en œuvre les expériences, les analyser et rendre compte régulièrement des résultats au sein de l’équipe. L’assistant ingénieur travaillera de manière indépendante mais en coordination avec les chercheurs et les étudiants de l’équipe.

Profil du candidat

• Spécialité/domaine : biologie cellulaire.
• Expérience professionnelle souhaitée dans le domaine : entre 1 et 3 ans
• Compétences attendues : Maitriser la culture cellulaire, Savoir communiquer en anglais.
• Savoir être : Rigueur, Autonomie, Sens de l'organisation.

Salaire

En fonction de l’expérience du candidat, selon barèmes UCBL.

Contact

Valérie Morin Lab manager/Ingénieur d’étude : valerie.morin@univ-lyon1.fr

Application deadline : until the position is filled
Contact Olivier Pascual

Team Honnorat

Complete offer description

Post-Doctoral position on microglia-neuron interactions at MeLis in Lyon

Dr Olivier Pascual is looking for a talented post-doctoral fellow to work on neuron-glia interactions.

The aim of the current project is to determine, whether microglia processes contacts with synapses play a role in memory and how they participate to neuronal homeostasis during sleep. Using a combination of electrophysiology (EEG-EMG) and live two-photon imaging on awake transgenic mice, we will image microglia contacts with spine during a learning task, the consolidation phase during sleep and the recall. To evaluate the role of microglia on neuronal homeostasis during sleep, we will invalidate microglia-neuron communication genetically or by replacing sleep by anesthesia. Results obtained will provide information on the signaling and mechanisms used by microglia to regulate synaptic function during a learning task.

Required skills: Surgery (viral injections, electrode implantation), live two-photon imaging on awake mice, electrophysiology, Python or Matlab coding is required but not mandatory.

We are looking for:

• Highly motivated researcher holding a PhD in Neurosciences
• Capable of autonomous and independent organizational and experimental activity
• Good team player, collaborative, self-driven and detail-oriented
• Fluent in both spoken and written English (B2-C1) and with good/excellent communication skills
• Capable of structuring and writing research articles
• Good track-record of publications in relation to the academic year and research experience

What we do offer:

• Access to excellent equipment to perform a variety of methods.
• Working in a novel, hot and unexplored field of research
• Participation to national and international conferences
• Receiving training in scientific writing and other soft skills necessary to become a competitive candidate in the professional field of choice.

The position will be available for 1 year, starting early 2024. The gross salary will be in accordance with the French University scale, and can be implemented according to the candidate experience. Please send updated CV, motivation letter and at least 2 reference contacts to: Olivier Pascual.

Applications will be considered until the position is filled.