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ESPCI Paris
ESPCI Paris PSL is a major institution of higher education (a French "Grande École d’Ingénieurs"), an internationally renowned research center and a fertile ground of innovation for industry, and founding member of the University Paris Sciences et Lettres (PSL).
Mission
Influenza A viruses are human and animal respiratory pathogens that represent a worldwide major public health threat : in addition to their yearly recurrence as “seasonal influenza”, the segmented nature of the influenza virus genome can lead to reassortment between highly divergent animal and human influenza viruses and the emergence of novel and potentially deadly pandemic viruses. The project will use an innovative droplet microfluidics approach coupled with next-generation sequencing, developed previously by LBC and RBIV (Chen et al, PNAS, under review), to allow analysis of reassortment on unprecedented numbers of viruses. The project has two main goals : (i) better understanding the shaping and dynamics of genetic reassortment, in particular in light of the of host-pathogen relationships and (ii) scrutinizing reassortment in pigs, to identify strains that represent a threat to human health
The project, funded by the DIM 1health2.0, brings together the complementary skills of the groups of Andrew Griffiths (project coordinator) at ESPCI Paris PSL and Nadia Naffakh/Catherine Isel at Institut Pasteur in the fields of droplet microfluidics and virology, respectively. The recruited candidate will join the multidisciplinary team at ESPCI, expert in biology, chemistry and physics, and will work in close contact with the Institut Pasteur for all aspects of virology.
ESPCI/LBC : Prof. A. Griffiths’ team
The research activities of the Laboratory of Biochemistry (LBC) at ESPCI Paris PSL, directed by Prof. A. Griffiths, are based around droplet-based microfluidics, a powerful new ultrahigh-throughput system in which reaction volumes can be miniaturized by up to a million-fold compared to conventional assays in microtitre plates. This opens up exciting prospects for the development of extremely innovative systems with many applications in the Life Sciences.
Institut Pasteur/RBIV : Dr. N. Naffakh’s team, with Dr. C. Isel.
The « RNA Biology and Influenza Viruses » (RBIV) team is headed by Dr N. Naffakh, in the Virology Department of Institut Pasteur (IP), whose mission is to prevent and treat diseases, mainly those of infectious origin. The RBIV unit studies the mechanisms of transcription/replication of the influenza viral genome as well as the complex and intimately linked packaging and reassortment mechanisms of the segmented genome of influenza viruses. The RBIV unit has access to all necessary infrastructures for successful realisation of the project.
Both institutions are highly multidisciplinary and located in the heart of Paris.
Activities
Virology – Droplet Microfluidics - Single-cell RNA sequencing - NGS - Bioinformatics.
Expertise
We wish to recruit a motivated post-doctoral researcher with experience in molecular biology and interest in bioinformatics. Prior experience in microfluidics or virology would be advantageous. Flexibility, autonomy, the ability to work in a highly multidisciplinary team and in a collaborative research consortium, are essential qualities for this position. Fluency in oral and written English is required.
NB : This position is subject to compliance with good laboratory practices in a BSL1, BSL2 and BSL2+ environment.
Recruitment terms
Starting date : December 2022
Duration : 2 years
Salary : according to professional experience
Address your applications (CV + cover letter + contact of 2 referees) by email to :
Prof. Andrew GRIFFITHS
ESPCI Paris - Laboratory of Biochemistry
10 Rue Vauquelin
75005 Paris
job-lbc@espci.fr
and
Dr Catherine ISEL
RBIV-Institut Pasteur
28 rue du Dr Roux
75015 Paris
Catherine.isel-griffiths@pasteur.fr