Missions

The mission of the researcher is to design enzyme bio-scavengers to neutralize against small molecule toxins. The researcher will use AI-based protein (re-)design tools, and experimentally validate the designs via protein crystallography.

Activities

- Development of a pipeline for protein design with existing software. These includes software for fold generation, sequence generation and structure prediction, and should be complemented with in silico validation measures.
- Application of the pipeline to (re-)design enzyme bio-scavengers against specific toxins. This encompasses the generation of entirely new proteins, as well as redesigning the active site of already existing enzymes.
- Protein crystallography to validate the fold and toxic compound binding.
- Write protocols and research articles and disseminate the work at conferences.
- Additional activities include presenting research findings within the research group and the research consortium; contributing to the group's shared life; assisting in the supervision of interns; and participating in the institute's scientific events.

Skills

- PhD in bio-informatics, biophysics, biochemistry, biology, physics, chemistry, mathematics, informatics or related.
- Experience in coding (python or other computer language).
- Proven track record of publications in peer-reviewed journals.
- English (written/oral) level of at least B2 (according to the common European framework of reference for languages CEFR)
- High level of autonomy.
- Strong communication skills (written and oral) and the ability to collaborate effectively with team members.
- Experience with one or more of the following skills would be highly evaluated: protein design or the usage of artificial intelligence for structural biology; protein expression and purification; protein crystallization and macromolecular crystallography.

Work Context

Located on the Grenoble Science Park (ESRF/ILL/EMBL/IBS), the Institut de Biologie Structurale (https://www.ibs.fr/) stands as a prominent national and international player in the field of integrated structural biology. As a research center, technical platform, host site and scientific training center, the IBS is committed to develop research in structural biology, a key area of research for understanding fundamental biological mechanisms. It is supported by 12 state-of-the-art platforms.
As a joint research unit (CEA-CNRS-UGA), the IBS comprises 20 research groups, each of which adopts a multi-disciplinary approach at the frontiers of biology, physics and chemistry, in line with 3 research axes. The institute employs approximately 320 people, including researchers, PhD students, engineers and technicians, within a multicultural and international environment.
The person recruited will join the DYNAMOP group (https://www.ibs.fr/en/research/assembly-dynamics-and-reactivity/dynamics-and-kinetics-of-molecular-processes-group-m-weik/), which studies the structure and dynamics of proteins via static and time-resolved X-ray diffraction and scattering, and neutron spectroscopy. The DYNAMOP group contains two teams of which the Serial NanoCrystallography (SNaX) team focusses on in-vivo crystallization and serial crystallography. The team is also active in the development of tools for time-resolved X-ray crystallography (NanoPeakCell and Xtrapol8), and recently started to incorporate AI-based protein design research lines.

The project will be carried out in close collaboration with other members of SNAX and the team of Dr. Florian Nachon (Biomedical Army Research Institute; IRBA, Brétigny-sur-Orge, France).

Constraints and risks

- The proposed position is part of a research project related to national security. The recruited person must comply with all the criteria defined in the project's funding agreement.
- The research will be carried out in either French or English, however it is expected that the non-French speaking candidate will strive to learn the basics of French in order to facilitate communication and integration into the laboratory.