Missions

This contract is part of a two-year international Franco-Swiss ANR project (2026–2028) – NanoForceX.
Cells continuously sense the forces present within a biological tissue in order to adapt their behavior. Being able to detect and quantify these forces is therefore crucial for understanding physiological mechanisms (cell migration, proliferation) and pathological ones (developmental disorders, cancer). To date, two types of molecular sensors capable of detecting cellular tension exist: protein-based sensors for detecting intracellular forces, and often hybrid molecular assemblies for detecting extracellular forces. While the former can be expressed in a variety of systems ranging from in vitro to in vivo, the non-encodable nature of the latter has restricted their use to simplified systems, typically isolated cells on a glass surface. As a result, the complexity and variability of soft, dense, three-dimensional biological tissues are largely lost.

The aim of the NanoForceX project is to develop nanometric mechano-sensors capable of detecting molecular tension in the extracellular space of multicellular assemblies. We propose two biocompatible and reversible mechanosensitive platforms for measuring forces (pN–nN) at cellular adhesion sites with a high signal-to-noise ratio. One approach is being developed by the Swiss partner. The other relies on core–shell polymeric nanoparticles functionalized with integrin ligands, the main cellular adhesion receptors. These ligands will be coupled to elastic peptides labeled with fluorophores, then grafted onto fluorescent nanoparticles to enable tension measurement via ratiometric FRET. The functional nanoparticles will be characterized structurally and photophysically, then studied by fluorescence microscopy in the presence of cells on 2D or 3D substrates in order to assess force measurements.

The project combines the expertise of C. Grazon (FR) in fluorescent nanoparticles and M. Rosendale (FR) in functional bioimaging to tackle a fundamental challenge in mechanobiology.

Required skills: nanoparticle functionalization, photophysics, physico-chemistry of colloidal systems, biochemistry, cell culture, fluorescence imaging.
The contract is to begin in March. Renewable for 1 year.

Activités

- Surface functionalization of nanoparticles
- Peptide modification
- Nanoparticle characterization (DLS, TEM)
- Spectroscopic characterization (brightness, FRET)
- Cell culture
- Fluorescence imaging

Compétences

Given the strong interdisciplinarity of the project, this aspect will be a major criterion in evaluating applications.
- Nanoparticle characterization
- Photophysics
- Basic knowledge of cell culture and/or fluorescence imaging is highly appreciated
- Fluent in English

Contexte de travail

The postdoctoral position is part of the Franco-Swiss ANR project NanoForceX (2026–2028) and takes place between the Institute of Molecular Sciences (ISM) and the Interdisciplinary Institute for Neuroscience (IINS). The ISM brings together a community of organic and physical-chemistry researchers interested in molecular architectures, working on their design, synthesis, characterization, reactivity, and analysis in various environments. The IINS conducts multidisciplinary research involving chemists, cell biologists, biophysicists, and neurobiologists to study the fundamental mechanisms underlying brain function and pathologies through the development and use of molecular tools and advanced microscopy.

A trip to Switzerland (~15 days) is expected.
The position is in a sector subject to the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore, in accordance with regulations, your arrival must be authorized by the competent authority of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR).

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.

Contraintes et risques

Exposure to chemical products and biological substances. Standing work. Screen-based work. Experiments conducted in two laboratories on the Bordeaux campus (IINS and ISM), requiring flexibility and mobility. A two-week stay in Switzerland is expected.