Postdoctoral researcher (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

A 12-month postdoctoral position is currently available for a collaborative project (co-PI: Prof. Aimin XU, The University of Hong Kong, China), focusing on the role of TMEM33 in macrophages during fatty liver disease. Candidates should have a particular interest in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying metabolism, liver physiology, and associated diseases. A strong background in lipid biology, immunology, and mouse experimentation is required.

Activity

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD/MASLD) is a major cause of morbidity, characterized by chronic liver inflammation and end-stage fibrosis. Apart from improvement through lifestyle changes, there is currently no pharmacological treatment available besides recently approved Resmetirom and Semaglutide.
Our preliminary data reveal that mice with constitutive genetic deletion of TMEM33 are resistant to obesity-induced dyslipidemia, hepatic steatosis, inflammation, and liver injury. In addition, our preliminary findings indicate that hepatic TMEM33 expression is correlated with MASLD in obese patients.
Therefore, the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protein TMEM33 is considered as a novel and important player involved in the onset and/or progression of MASLD.
In this project, we will assess the impact of hepatocyte-specific TMEM33 knockout (KO) on disease progression using mouse models subjected to various diets that induce MASLD. We will investigate how TMEM33 influences lipid metabolism and lipid droplet biogenesis in hepatocytes by identifying key downstream effectors.
In addition, we will take advantage of a unique cohort of approximately 1,000 obese patients who underwent bariatric surgery and for whom biological and clinical data, serum samples, liver biopsies, and adipose tissue samples are available. This cohort will be used to investigate the clinical relationship between TMEM33 expression, MASLD severity, and metabolic profiles.
Finally, we will assess the anticipated protective effect of TMEM33-targeting siRNAs in MASLD.
The results of this study will provide new insights into the pathogenic mechanisms through which aberrant expression and/or dysfunction of TMEM33 contribute to the development and progression of MASLD.

Your Profil

Skills

1/Animal experimentation
2/Confocal microscopy
3/Immunology
4/Metabolism
5/Lipid biochemistry

Your Work Environment

Our laboratory is part of the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology (IPMC) of the CNRS, located in Nice-Sophia Antipolis, southeastern France. It is a leading research center in biology, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and technologies.
The city of Nice offers a vibrant international cultural environment, combined with beautiful scenery and easy access to air transportation.

Constraints and risks

None

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

€3,072 to €4,714 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