1 postdoctoral position in AI-guided protein design (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

A two-year postdoctoral position is available in the Computational Structural Biology Unit, led by Dr. Max Bonomi. The unit is part of CNRS UMR3528 and the Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry at Institut Pasteur (Paris, France).

The successful candidate will primarily focus on developing and applying state-of-the-art artificial intelligence (AI) methods for protein design. The research will be conducted in close collaboration with experimental teams at Institut Pasteur and other research institutions, with the aim of addressing biological questions and designing proteins with specific properties and functions.

The successful candidate will also be responsible for coordinating scientific collaborations associated with the projects, analyzing and interpreting results, and disseminating research findings through scientific publications and presentations at international conferences. They will actively contribute to the scientific activities of the unit and to the development of new computational approaches in structural biology.

Activity

- Develop, adapt, and implement state-of-the-art artificial intelligence methods for protein design, including generative models, diffusion models, and protein language models.
- Design and optimize proteins with specific structures, properties, or functions, according to the scientific objectives of the projects.
- Develop computational pipelines integrating sequence generation, structure prediction, and in silico evaluation of designed proteins.
- Analyze and interpret simulation and prediction results, and propose strategies to improve the performance of the methods employed.
- Work closely with experimental teams to define design objectives, select candidates for experimental testing, and integrate experimental results into iterative optimization cycles.
- Coordinate scientific collaborations and monitor the progress of joint projects with teams at Institut Pasteur and other partner institutions.
- Contribute to the development, documentation, and sharing of computational tools and software developed within the unit.
- Present research findings at scientific meetings, seminars, and international conferences, and contribute to the preparation of scientific publications.
- Participate in the scientific activities of the unit and contribute to the supervision of students and interns when appropriate.

Your Profil

Skills

We are seeking candidates with a PhD in computational biology, bioinformatics, biophysics, chemistry, physics, or a related field.

Essential qualifications:
- Strong background in structural biology, biophysics, or molecular modeling of proteins.
- Good programming skills, particularly in Python.
- Experience in developing or applying computational methods to study biomolecular systems.
- Experience with protein structure prediction and design tools (AlphaFold, RFdiffusion, ProteinMPNN, etc.).
- Ability to work independently, propose innovative solutions, and conduct research projects.
- Strong teamwork skills and ability to collaborate with researchers from different disciplines, particularly experimental teams.
- Good written and oral scientific communication skills in English.

Desirable qualifications:
- Experience in machine learning and deep learning, particularly with frameworks such as PyTorch.
- Familiarity with generative models for proteins, including diffusion models and protein language models.
- Experience with high-performance computing (HPC) resources and GPUs.
- Experience in interdisciplinary research projects involving collaborations with experimental teams.

Your Work Environment

The Computational Structural Biology Unit, led by Dr. Max Bonomi, is part of CNRS UMR3528 and the Department of Structural Biology and Chemistry at Institut Pasteur in Paris.

The unit's research focuses on the development and application of integrative modeling approaches to investigate the structure, dynamics, and functions of complex biological systems. The unit also develops innovative computational approaches, particularly those based on artificial intelligence, to design proteins with specific structures and functions.

The team consists of approximately 10 researchers with interdisciplinary expertise in physical chemistry, computational structural biology, and computer science, fostering a collaborative research environment at the interface of multiple disciplines.

The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of Dr. Max Bonomi, Head of the Computational Structural Biology Unit.

The team is based on the Institut Pasteur campus in the 15th arrondissement of Paris. The campus is easily accessible by public transportation, particularly via metro lines 6 and 12 (Pasteur station), as well as several bus routes. On-site dining facilities are available to Institut Pasteur staff.

Constraints and risks

For inquiries, please contact Dr. Max Bonomi (mbonomi@pasteur.fr).

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

The monthly gross salary varies from 3 131,32€ et 4 341,70€ € depending on experience

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

The research professions