For PhD graduates on the lookout for postdoctoral fellowships, Institut Pasteur in Paris, France, has numerous opportunities available through their online application process. These positions span a wide range of research disciplines, providing a fertile ground for advancing your academic career. Known for its pioneering work in biomedical science, Institut Pasteur offers an environment rich in history and innovation.
The postdoctoral fellowships at Institut Pasteur allow researchers to engage in cutting-edge projects, contributing to significant advancements in science and medicine. With access to state-of-the-art facilities and a collaborative research community, fellows can expand their expertise and gain invaluable experience. The institute’s dedication to fostering scientific discovery ensures that fellows are well-supported in their endeavors.
Explore the array of research opportunities available and consider submitting an application soon. This could be a pivotal step in your career, providing the chance to work alongside leading scientists in a world-renowned institution. Don’t miss this opportunity to further your research ambitions in one of the most esteemed scientific environments globally.
1. Postdoctoral Position in Early Development Research
A postdoctoral opportunity is open for studying dynamic processes during the early development stages of insects and mammals. This position invites successful candidates to become part of a collaborative and interdisciplinary team within the newly established Physics of Biological Function unit, led by biophysicist Thomas Gregor.
This role offers the chance to engage in groundbreaking research at the intersection of biology and physics, focusing on the intricate mechanisms that govern early developmental stages. The unit aims to uncover fundamental principles underlying biological functions, offering a unique environment where diverse scientific approaches converge.
Candidates will work in a vibrant research setting that fosters innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration, providing ample opportunities for professional growth and development. This position is ideal for those with a strong background in developmental biology, biophysics, or related fields who are passionate about exploring the complexities of biological systems.
Joining this team means contributing to pioneering research that can significantly impact our understanding of biological development. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply and take part in this exciting scientific endeavor.
2. Autism Research at the Neuroscience Department of Institut Pasteur
The laboratory within the Neuroscience Department of the Institut Pasteur is dedicated to unraveling the causes of autism. This multidisciplinary team comprises psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and geneticists working together to shed light on the complexities of this condition.
A significant achievement of the lab was identifying the first mutations in the NLGN-NRXN-SHANK pathway, which plays a crucial role in synapse formation in the brain. This discovery underscores the genetic diversity associated with autism, while also highlighting common biological mechanisms that could be promising targets for novel treatments.
In addition to these findings, the lab is at the forefront of genetic research in autism as part of the AIMS-2-TRIALS project. This initiative is the largest autism research project in Europe, aiming to advance our understanding and treatment of autism. The genetic work package led by the lab seeks to identify new genetic factors involved in autism and explore their biological implications.
Through this collaborative effort, the team hopes to pave the way for more effective interventions and therapies. Their ongoing research not only contributes to the scientific understanding of autism but also holds potential for significant clinical applications, offering hope for improved outcomes for individuals with autism and their families.
This dedicated pursuit of knowledge and innovation continues to drive the lab’s mission to uncover the underlying causes of autism and develop targeted treatments that address its diverse manifestations.
3. Exploring Humoral Immunity and Virus-Specific Antibodies
Humoral immunity plays a crucial role in protecting hosts from human infections, relying on the remarkable diversity of antibody molecules that detect and neutralize pathogens. Recent advancements in technology have significantly enhanced our understanding of pathogen-specific B-cell responses, enabling detailed characterization of single B-cell-derived human monoclonal antibodies.
The laboratory focuses on studying human humoral responses to viruses at serological, cellular, and molecular levels. By generating and characterizing virus-specific antibodies, we aim to gain deeper insights into how the immune system combats viral infections. Our research covers a range of viruses, including HIV-1, Hepatitis E and B, and emerging viruses such as SARS-CoV-2.
Through meticulous analysis and innovative techniques, our team investigates the complex interactions between antibodies and viruses. This involves examining the structural and functional properties of antibodies and understanding their role in neutralizing viral threats. By exploring these mechanisms, we strive to uncover new strategies for enhancing immune responses and developing effective therapies.
The knowledge gained from our research contributes to the broader field of immunology and virology, providing valuable insights that can inform the development of vaccines and treatments. Our commitment to advancing the understanding of humoral immunity and virus-specific antibodies underscores the importance of this research in improving public health and combating infectious diseases.
4. Investigating Autism at the Institut Pasteur Neuroscience Department
The Neuroscience Department at Institut Pasteur hosts a collaborative effort involving psychiatrists, neuroscientists, and geneticists dedicated to exploring autism’s origins. Pioneering research within this laboratory has identified initial mutations within the NLGN-NRXN-SHANK pathway, pivotal in brain synapse formation. These discoveries underscore autism’s genetic variability and reveal potential common biological targets for novel therapeutic approaches.
The team leads the genetic work package of AIMS-2-TRIALS, Europe’s largest autism research endeavor. This initiative focuses on comprehensive phenotyping of autism-affected individuals and controls through cutting-edge brain imaging techniques (MRI, fMRI, DTI, and EEG) and a battery of cognitive assessments.
By integrating genetic insights with neuroimaging and cognitive data, the aim is to unravel autism’s underlying mechanisms and identify prospective treatment avenues. This interdisciplinary approach promises a comprehensive understanding of autism, potentially paving the way for transformative interventions to improve the lives of those affected. This research stands at the forefront of unraveling autism’s complexities and advancing therapeutic solutions.
5. ERC Synergy Project DecoLeishRN as a Computational Biologist/Bioinformatician
A position is available for a computational biologist/bioinformatician at the postdoc/research assistant level to contribute to the ERC Synergy project DecoLeishRN. This project focuses on studying mechanisms of fitness improvement in the eukaryotic pathogen Leishmania using experimental evolution techniques.
The successful candidate will collaborate with an international team, engaging in the analysis of extensive datasets derived from short-read, long-read, and single-cell DNAseq/RNAseq analyses. These datasets originate from both in vitro culture experiments and in vivo studies involving infected animals. The primary objective of the project is to investigate how Leishmania utilizes its intrinsic genome instability to evolve advantageous traits.
Key responsibilities include applying and refining computational tools tailored for the comprehensive analysis of evolving cell populations. This role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research in evolutionary biology and pathogen evolution. The candidate will be integral to deciphering complex biological data, thereby advancing our understanding of adaptive evolution in Leishmania.
Join the dynamic team and embark on a journey to uncover the genetic underpinnings of pathogen adaptation. This position promises a stimulating research environment and the chance to make significant contributions to the field of computational biology and infectious disease research.
6. Investigating Rapid Dynamics of Type IV Pili Machineries
Type IV pili machineries are intricate bacterial nanomachines present in numerous pathogenic bacteria, facilitating the dynamic assembly of a polymeric fiber solely composed of a single protein, the major pilin. These fibers serve pivotal roles in bacterial physiology and pathogenicity. Recent advancements in visualization techniques have enabled real-time observation, unveiling that these filamentous structures assemble at an astonishing rate of 1000 monomers per second and disassemble just as rapidly. The underlying physical mechanisms governing these exceptionally swift processes, which involve both passive monomer diffusion and active motor-driven assembly/disassembly, remain inadequately understood.
Understanding these rapid dynamics poses a significant challenge in microbiology and biophysics. The interplay between passive diffusion and active assembly/disassembly processes drives the formation and degradation of type IV pili, influencing bacterial adhesion, motility, and biofilm formation. Unraveling the physics behind these phenomena promises insights into bacterial behavior and opens avenues for developing targeted antimicrobial strategies.
Advancing our comprehension of type IV pili machineries could lead to innovative approaches in combating bacterial infections, leveraging our understanding of their fundamental biological functions. This research underscores the complexity and importance of bacterial nanomachines in microbial pathogenesis and adaptation strategies.
7. Investigating Epithelial Cell Death Regulation in Drosophila
Research at the Institut Pasteur focuses on the precise regulation of cell death in epithelial contexts using Drosophila as a model system. A wide range of methodologies are employed, including live imaging, live sensors, optogenetics, image analysis (including machine learning-assisted cellular event recognition), and modeling, to quantitatively dissect feedback mechanisms that fine-tune cell death dynamics.
Current projects within this group are examining the influence of mechanical stress on apoptosis regulation, investigating apoptosis’s role in tissue growth and morphogenesis, studying the coordination between cell proliferation and death, exploring how caspases regulate cell extrusion, and dissecting the decision-making process in epithelial cell death following caspase activation.
Through the integration of advanced imaging techniques and computational modeling, this research aims to deepen understanding of the mechanisms governing cell death regulation in epithelial tissues. Insights gained from this work have potential implications for advancing knowledge in tissue homeostasis and could inform future therapeutic strategies targeting cell death pathways in disease contexts.
8. Understanding Leptospirosis: A Neglected Zoonosis
Leptospirosis is recognized as a re-emerging neglected zoonosis, exacerbated by climate and demographic changes that create favorable conditions for rat-borne transmission to humans. Despite these alarming trends, there remains limited knowledge about the pathogen’s ability to adapt to various hosts and induce disease.
Leptospira, the etiological agent, presents significant challenges for genetic studies, characterized by a high proportion of proteins with unknown functions not found in other pathogens. This complexity extends to other spirochetes, a distinct and ancient group of bacteria that includes pathogens responsible for notable infectious diseases like Lyme disease and syphilis.
9. Bio-Inspired Neural Networks: Postdoctoral Research Focus
The postdoctoral objective is to derive insights from insect neuronal structures to develop classical neural networks (DNN) and spiking neural networks (SNN) that are highly compact, energy-efficient, and require minimal training data.
A key challenge is formalizing a methodology to effectively transfer biological knowledge into the creation of DNN and SNN architectures. This formalization process will be conducted in collaboration with teams at the Institut Pasteur. Subsequently, you will apply this methodology to design and implement bio-inspired DNN and SNN models, validating their effectiveness through comprehensive performance assessments (computational and energetic).
10. Computational Biologist in Pathogen Evolution Research
A position is available for a computational biologist interested in pathogen evolution. This role involves engaging in exciting projects that merge molecular epidemiology with functional studies of arboviral infections. The project aims to explore the dynamics of arbovirus emergence or endemic circulation at the scale of individual outbreaks. This research integrates genomic, temporal, and functional data to investigate the underlying mechanisms driving these dynamics.
11. Postdoctoral Position in Microbial Population Genomics
A postdoctoral or bioinformatician position is available for individuals experienced in microbial population genomics. This role focuses on developing and validating innovative strain subtyping methods and nomenclature systems for genomic characterization of bacterial pathogens. The position offers a 1-year contract with potential for extension, starting in July 2024.
The selected candidate will collaborate closely with Sylvain Brisse’s group and the Biological Resources Center of Institut Pasteur (CRBIP). They will contribute to the BIGSdb-Pasteur project team and collaborate with external partners from the CENTAUR project led by Mario Ramirez at the University of Lisbon, Portugal. This project, “Creating and refining whole-genome and core-genome typing schemes for pathogen surveillance,” aims to advance genomic typing strategies for enhanced pathogen surveillance and monitoring.
12. Computational Biologist in Pathogen Evolution
An exciting opportunity is available for a computational biologist with a keen interest in pathogen evolution. This position involves engaging in innovative projects that combine molecular epidemiology with functional studies of arboviral infections. The primary goal of the current project is to analyze the dynamics of arbovirus emergence or endemic circulation at the scale of individual outbreaks. This research uniquely integrates genomic, temporal, and functional data to elucidate the underlying mechanisms driving these dynamics. Successful candidates will work in a collaborative environment, contributing to a deeper understanding of how arboviruses evolve and spread, ultimately aiding in the development of more effective control and prevention strategies. This is a unique chance to make a significant impact in the field of infectious disease research.