Missions

The successful candidate will be responsible for carrying out a range of molecular biology and biochemistry experiments. They will be recruited for a collaborative project aimed at better understanding the role of a chaperone protein in the virulence processes of pathogenic bacteria. The candidate will also be responsible for part of the team management (orders, equipment, etc.). The contract is for one year and may be extended to 22 months depending on experience.

Activities

Conduct bacteriology, molecular biology and protein biochemistry experiments in BSL-1 and BSL-2 laboratories in partnership with other laboratory members or independently – Format and analyse results using appropriate statistical tools - Manage part of the team's stocks and orders - Maintain a laboratory notebook containing the data generated - Write reports on a regular basis and present the work carried out at team meetings. Scientific monitoring in the field.

Skills

- Skills in bacteriology, prokaryotic genetic engineering, molecular biology (cloning, site-directed mutagenesis) and protein biochemistry (Western blot, protein purification, various interaction tests).
- Experience working in a BSL-2 laboratory is desirable.
- Ability to plan, design and analyse experiments.
- Ability to monitor the project (written reports, PowerPoint presentations, data management, etc.).
- Ability to work independently.
- Efficient, organised and rigorous work ethic.
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Compliance with health and safety regulations in a laboratory environment.

Work Context

This project will be carried out at the Macromolecular Systems Engineering Laboratory (UMR7255) within the 'Pathogenesis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa' under the supervision of Bérengère Ize and in close collaboration with Olivier Genest from the 'Bacterial Adaptation Systems' team at the Bioenergetics and Protein Engineering Laboratory (UMR 7281).

LISM is a research unit comprising approximately 70-80 people located on the CNRS Joseph Aiguier Microbiology Campus in Marseille, France. The unit is internationally recognised for its fundamental work on the biogenesis and maintenance of bacterial envelopes, the structural and functional biology of macromolecular machinery, and the transport of molecules across the bacterial wall. The teams are relatively small and highly cooperative, sharing diverse but complementary skills and interests, ensuring a stimulating and welcoming working environment. The unit has a wide range of scientific equipment and facilities already in place to carry out this project. These include two large, well-equipped BSL-2 laboratories dedicated to cell culture, bacteriology, and host-pathogen studies. In addition, LISM is also part of the Mediterranean Institute of Microbiology (IMM) and the Institute of Microbiology, Bioenergy and Biotechnology (IM2B), which has 28 state-of-the-art scientific and technological platforms (PST) or shared services that provide first-rate support for our research.

Constraints and risks

Handling pathogenic bacterial strains in a BSL-2 laboratory.