Postdoctoral Researcher (M/F) : Computational protein Design

Job Description

Missions

Computational design of bacterial membrane receptors.

Activity

The project aims to develop receptors with programmable specificity using AI-based computational design methods. Taking a resolutely computational approach, the candidate will work closely with synthetic biologists to:
• Optimize receptors, particularly for their integration into lipid vesicles;
• Characterize their functional and structural properties.

Your Profil

Skills

The selected candidate will hold a PhD in molecular biology, structural biology, or computational structural biology, and will have strong experience in establishing computational pipelines for protein design and characterization.

Your Work Environment

This position, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), is offered by the "Synthetic Biology" group at the Center for Structural Biology (CBS) in Montpellier, France.
The CBS is a dynamic research institute with outstanding infrastructure covering all structural biology and biophysics techniques, including NMR, X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, advanced fluorescence and super-resolution microscopes, single-molecule manipulation, molecular and cellular biology, and high-performance computing.
Montpellier is a major hub for biology, focusing on fundamental research, biomedicine, plant biology, and environmental sciences. Its scientific vibrancy, the beauty of the region, high quality of life, and proximity to other major regional research hubs (Paris, Barcelona, Toulouse, Marseille) make it an ideal destination for scientists worldwide.

For more information about our group:
Group publications related to the project:
1: Capin J, Mayonove P, DeVisch A, Becher A, Ngo G, Courbet A, Ragotte RJ, Cohen
Gonsaud M, Espeut J, Bonnet J. CF2H: a cell-free two-hybrid platform for rapid
protein binder screening. Nat Commun. 2026 Mar 10;17(1):3724. doi:
10.1038/s41467-026-69741-1. PMID: 41807394;

2: Capin J, Chabert E, Zuñiga A, Bonnet J. Microbial biosensors for diagnostics,
surveillance and epidemiology: Today's achievements and tomorrow's prospects.
Microb Biotechnol. 2024 Nov;17(11):e70047. doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.70047. PMID:
39548716;

3: Chang HJ, Zúñiga A, Conejero I, Voyvodic PL, Gracy J, Fajardo-Ruiz E, Cohen-
Gonsaud M, Cambray G, Pageaux GP, Meszaros M, Meunier L, Bonnet J. Programmable receptors enable bacterial biosensors to detect pathological biomarkers in clinical samples. Nat Commun. 2021 Sep 1;12(1):5216. doi:
10.1038/s41467-021-25538-y. PMID: 34471137;.

4: Chang HJ, Mayonove P, Zavala A, De Visch A, Minard P, Cohen-Gonsaud M, Bonnet J. A Modular Receptor Platform To Expand the Sensing Repertoire of Bacteria. ACS Synth Biol. 2018 Jan 19;7(1):166-175. doi: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00266. Epub 2017 Oct 30. PMID: 28946740;

Constraints and risks

Interested candidates should submit their CV along with a cover letter describing their research interests and motivations, as well as the names of individuals willing to provide letters of recommendation.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Between €3,071 and €4,258 gross per month, 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