Missions

-Postdoctoral researcher (initial contract 1 year renewable up to 3 years) in charge of developing and conducting experiments, as part of research projects on the links between mechanical forces and cellular metabolism. The spatio-temporal control of cellular behavior requires the transmission of information from the complex structure of tissues to the cells. Mechanotransduction allows this transmission by detecting the mechanical environment and adapting cellular behavior. However, this process requires energy. Since 2016 and our pioneering study demonstrating a link between cellular mechanics and cellular metabolism (Bertero et al, J Clin Invest., 2016), our laboratory has been interested in deciphering how the mechanical properties of tissues shape - and are shaped by - cellular metabolism (Torrino and Bertero. Trends Cell. Biol. 2022). To this end, we exploit a combination of biophysical and biochemical approaches (AFM, STED, fluxomics, proteomics…), coupled with 3D cell culture models (organoids), genetically engineered rodent models (breast cancer and pulmonary hypertension models) and patient biopsies. Thanks to our translational discovery platform, we were the first to identify the mechano-induced metabolic cooperation of cells in the pulmonary vasculature (Bertero et al., Cell Rep. 2015, Bertero et al., J Clin Invest 2016; Rachedi et al Cell Metab. 2024) and the tumor niche (Torrino et al Cell, 2025; Bertero et al., Cell Metab., 2019; Torrino et al., Cell Metab, 2021)

Activities

- Study of cellular metabolism
- Study of the mechanical properties of the cell/tissue
- Implementation of a biomechanical systems (cell stretching, cell culture under flow, …).
- Biochemical approaches (protein purification, enzymatic test, etc.)
- 2D/3D line/primary cell culture
- Analysis of cellular behaviors (morphology, proliferation, migration, ….)
- Confocal/super resolution microscopy
- Formatting of results and statistical analysis.
- Monitoring of the literature and improvement/adaptation of techniques and analyses according to research projects.

Skills

- Expertise in cell biology and biochemistry or biophysics
- Knowledge to implement microscopy experiments.
- Knowledge to analyze data: statistical analysis, “omics” analysis
- Sense of organization, rigor and method, motivation, autonomy.
- Knowledge of written and oral English.

Work Context

The position is to be filled within the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology in Valbonne – Sophia Antipolis (Alpes-Maritimes). The IPMC is a joint research unit (UMR 7275) formed between the CNRS and the Université Côte d'Azur (220 people, 8000 m2 of buildings). Its 20 research teams benefit from a high-level technological environment in integrative biology, molecular and cellular biology, imaging, cytometry, analysis of biomolecules, functional genomics as well as common technical platforms for proteomics and metabolomics. The postdoc will work in the team "Cellular mechanics and metabolism: From tissue to molecule" under the supervision of Thomas BERTERO.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.

Constraints and risks

Common risks during laboratory handling