Job ID: 121330
Dr. Claire Meissirel – PhD
Position: Ph.D. Student
Deadline: 16 December 2024
Employment Start Date: 15 January 2025
Contract Length: 3 years
City: Lyon
Country: France
Institution: Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 - CNRS UMR 5284 - INSERM U1314
Department: Mechanisms in Integrated Life Sciences (MeLiS). Research Team : HONNORAT
Description:
Funded PhD on Molecular mechanisms in anti-IgLON5 disease using disease-in-a-dish human neuron models.
Working place: MeLiS (Mechanisms in integrated Life Sciences) – Team Honnorat – https://inmg.fr/melis/fr/index.php
Missions: We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to work on the anti-IgLON5 disease mechanisms using an iPSC ‘disease-in-a-dish’ human neuron model.
Anti-IgLON5 disease is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by heterogeneous neurological symptoms and a neurodegenerative tauopathy. The etiology of this disease remains unclear, but recent studies indicate that autoantibodies targeting IgLON5 protein contribute to the early disease process by triggering neuron dysfunction and Tau alteration. As a PhD student, you will develop an innovative human neuron model of the disease using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to unveil the impact and pathogenic mechanism of patient-derived anti-IgLON5 autoantibodies on human neurons.
Requirements: Ideally, the PhD candidate has a strong background in Neuroscience and/or in Cellular and Molecular Biology, and experience in complex cell cultures, cell imaging and biochemical analyses. Experimental skill with hiPSCs is a plus. The work involves participating in experimental designs, conducting experiments with hiPSCs derived cultures and co-cultures, performing biochemical analysis of IgLON5 molecular partners by immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry and immunoblotting. Also, assessing autoantibodies’ impact using confocal and super-resolution microscopy, and transcriptomics to explore changes in cell signaling.
Qualifications:
- A strong motivation to work with complex cell cultures is an asset
- Passion for research, perseverance and scientific rigor skills
- Critical mind with a great sense of initiative
- Excellent oral English communication and presentation skills
- Good inter-personal skills