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

Ingénieur(e) d’étude en biologie cellulaire et moléculaire, CDD 1 an renouvelable F/H (Lyon 08)

Team Bessereau

Date limite de candidature : 13/12/2024.
Contact Bérangère PINAN-LUCARRÉ
Offre complète

Type of contract : CDD
Duration of contract : 1 an renouvelable
Deadline of application : 13/12/2024
Type of position : Temps complet
Salary : 2472€ brut/mois

Missions

L’ingénieur(e) travaillera sous la responsabilité de Bérangère PINAN-LUCARRÉ dans l’équipe Génétique et Neurobiologie de C. elegans dans le cadre d’un financement thématique de la Fondation pour la Recherche Médicale - Maladies Neurodégénératives. L'ingénieur(e) s'intégrera dans un programme de recherche pour étudier les synapses chez le ver C. elegans (voir cette pré-publication dans BioRxiv) en assurant la conception et la réalisation d’expériences incluant de la génétique, de l’ingénierie du génome, de la microscopie et de la biochimie.

Activités

• Génétique formelle de C. elegans (maintenance, croisements).
• Ingénierie génétique de C. elegans : création de lignées génétiquement modifiées (CRISPR/Cas9, transgenèse classique) impliquant des étapes de micro-injection et de cribles moléculaires (PCR) et phénotypiques.
• Microscopie confocale : acquisition d’images sur des vers in vivo et analyse d’images.
• Culture cellulaire pour l’expression de protéines.
• Biochimie : western blot, co-immunoprécipitation – spectrométrie de masse et BioID.
• Tâches mutualisées avec les autres membres de l’équipe, dont la gestion des stocks, des milieux de culture et l'évacuation des déchets (chimiques, biologiques) en accord avec les règles d'hygiène et de sécurité.

Compétences

• Bac +5 en biologie moléculaire, cellulaire, biochimie, génétique ou disciplines similaires.
• Maîtrise des techniques classiques de biologie moléculaire (PCR, construction de plasmides, extraction d’ADN).
• Apprentissage rapide, sens de l’organisation, curiosité et enthousiasme.
• Grande capacité de communication, y compris en anglais (niveau B1), et de travail en équipe.
• Une expérience avec C. elegans ou en biochimie (analyse d’interactions, étude de protéines membranaires) serait un plus.

Contexte de travail

L'activité sera conduite dans l'équipe "Génétique et Neurobiologie de C. elegans" qui regroupe une quinzaine de personnels permanents et non permanents, dans l’unité mixte de recherche MeLiS (Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 - CNRS UMR 5284 - INSERM U1314), sur le campus Rockefeller à Lyon. L’environnement de travail est stimulant et inclut des réunions d’équipe hebdomadaires et des séminaires d’instituts mensuels.

Contact

Pour candidater, envoyez un CV et une lettre de motivation à Bérangère PINAN-LUCARRÉ.

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.