Job ID: 118251
Post-Doctoral position in Neurodevelopment & Cell Biology
Position: Post-doctoral Position
Deadline: 15 June 2024
Contract Length: 1 year renewable
City: Bordeaux
Country: France
Institution: INRAE
Department:
Description:
We are looking for a motivated post doctoral candidate with PhD in cell biology, molecular biology or neurosciences to join in the unit NutriNeuro UMR1286 (team NutriMind) at Bordeaux University, France, to dissect the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) on microglia maturation during brain development.
https://www6.bordeaux-aquitaine.inrae.fr/nutrineuro/
Context:
Postnatal developmental period is decisive for the optimal maturation of the mammalian brain. Programmed apoptosis is essential for proper postnatal brain development, resulting in neuronal network sculpting via elimination of in excess dead cells. Therefore, understanding brain physiological maturation cellular mechanisms is key to prevent alterations and restore an optimal neurodevelopment. Microglia, brain resident innate immune cells, have a determining role in sculpting neuronal networks via phagocytosis. The role of lipids as key players during brain development has been neglected. Long chain PUFAs largely accrete in the brain during early phases of postnatal brain development. Thus, you will aim to understand the LC-PUFAs-dependent cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying microglia maturation during brain development.
You will be evaluating microglia biology in different in vitro models including in vitro human induced pluripotent stem cell (IPSC)- derived brain cells in 2D cultures, 3D (cerebral organoids) and in vivo humanized mouse models.
Molecular and cellular approaches will be used including cell culture, gene edition technique (CRISPR-Cas9), flow cytometry (functional assays) and omics analysis.
Profile:
Applicants must have a PhD in a relevant discipline, and interest with experience in molecular and cellular biology. Bioinformatic analysis would be an advantage. Excellent written and verbal English communication skills are required. Skills sought: flexibility, team-player, rigor, motivation, enthusiasm, organizational skills. You will be working in collaboration with several researchers and post-docs of the team, also interacting with technicians/engineers and contributing to the everyday life of the laboratory and team.
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAE) is a public research establishment. It is a community of 12,000 people with more than 200 research units and 42 experimental units located throughout France. The institute is among the world leaders in agricultural and food sciences, in plant and animal sciences, and is 11th in the world in ecology and environment. INRAE’s main goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. In the face of the increase in population, climate change, scarcity of resources and decline in biodiversity, the institute develops solutions for multiperformance agriculture, high quality food and sustainable management of resources and ecosystems.