Missions

The postdoctoral researcher (four-month contract) will be responsible for developing, conducting, and analyzing experiments as part of research projects related to acute and chronic pain. The main objective of the project is to study the potential role of certain ion channels in the development and transmission of pain signals. The laboratory has various knockout and knock-in mouse models for certain genes encoding potassium channels of the two-pore channel family. One of the postdoctoral researcher's tasks will be to perform sensitivity tests to mechanical or thermal stimuli, for example, on these mouse lines. Other tests will also be performed to evaluate other sensory and cognitive functions. Another task will be to perform primary cultures of neurons from these different animal lines in order to carry out electrophysiological recordings. Different pain models will be developed after injections of inflammatory substances, and spontaneous and evoked tests will be performed. Finally, another task will be to perform histological sections of mouse nerve tissue for immunological or RNAscope labeling. All of this work is part of a preclinical approach to identify new therapeutic targets for the treatment of pain.

Activités

- Electrophysiological recordings (patch clamp and TEVC) - Behavioral tests on mice to quantify cognitive functions, motor skills, and pain. - Performing procedures on mice such as surgery, injections, sampling, labeling, etc. - Formatting results and statistical analysis. - Monitoring the literature and improving/adapting techniques and analyses according to research projects. - Writing scientific articles.

Compétences

- Cell culture and microscopy - Molecular biology and cloning - Electrophysiology on cells or xenopus oocytes - Surgery on mice. - Knowledge and ability to perform behavioral tests on mice. - Ability to analyze data: statistical analysis, electrophysiological signal analysis. - Histology, immunohistochemistry. - Training in animal experimentation and surgery. - Organizational skills, rigor and methodical approach, motivation, autonomy, team spirit. - Written and spoken English.

Contexte de travail

The position is available at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology in Valbonne – Sophia Antipolis (Alpes-Maritimes). The IPMC is a joint research unit (UMR 7275) formed by the CNRS, Inserm, and the Université Côte d'Azur (250 people, 8,000 m² of buildings). Its 20 research teams benefit from a high-level technological environment in integrative biology, electrophysiology, molecular and cellular biology, imaging, cytometry, biomolecular analysis, and functional genomics. In particular, the shared technical platforms for animal experimentation and the team's own equipment enable detailed phenotyping of mice. The postdoc will work in the “Physiology and Physiopathology of Potassium Channels” team under the supervision of Delphine Bichet and Franck Chatelain. The position is in a sector subject to the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST) and therefore requires, in accordance with regulations, that your arrival be authorized by the competent authority of the 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

Work on GMOs and animal models