Missions

This position is part of the ANR 2025 ImmunoGUT project, which studies the role of the intestinal immune system in vertebrate aging. The project builds on our previous work on zebrafish, in which we established that telomerase-deficient zebrafish are a model for premature aging and demonstrated that short telomeres in key tissues trigger local and systemic aging (Carneiro et al., PLoS Genet 2016). Specifically, we identified cGAS-STING as a central sensor of telomere-associated DNA damage in vivo (Serifoglu et al. EMBO J 2025). Telomere erosion in the intestinal epithelium triggers cGAS-STING activation with robust type I interferon and SASP programs, leading to intestinal barrier dysfunction and propagating inflammation and aging to distal organs.

Activities

1. Tissue & cellular phenotyping of intestinal ageing across life stages in vertebrate models: histology and immunostaining for epithelial integrity and immune infiltration; quantitative image analysis (ImageJ/Fiji).
2. Innate and adaptive immune readouts: marker panels for myeloid/lymphoid compartments; inflammatory transcriptional profiling (e.g., cytokines/interferon-stimulated genes) by RT-qPCR/RNA.
3. Stress and damage signalling in gut epithelium: assays for DNA damage response and proliferative state (e.g., γH2AX/53BP1, PCNA), and senescence markers where relevant; alignment with organismal readouts.
4. Barrier function and homeostasis: assays linked to epithelial permeability and tight-junction components; integration with immune signatures to infer causal relationships.
5. Data management & integration: produce clear datasets with documented data; contribute to interim and final reports in line with ANR requirements.
6. Dissemination & supervision: contribute to manuscript drafting; present results in consortium meetings; mentor Master's trainees associated with the team.

Skills

We are looking for a highly motivated Research Engineer (preferably with a phd) who is eager to integrate knowledge ranging from molecular and cellular biology to the biology of aging. Specifically:
• Prior knowledge of barrier tissue immunology and/or the biology of aging; familiarity with zebrafish models.
• Practical experience in immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence, quantitative image analysis, and gene expression testing (RT-qPCR/RNA methods).
• Strong command of experimental design, statistics, data analysis, and reproducible documentation.
• Excellent scientific writing and communication skills in English. • Experience in intestinal epithelial biology (barrier integrity, regeneration) and interaction with innate/adaptive immunity.

Work Context

The project builds on our prior zebrafish work, where we established telomerase-deficient zebrafish as a premature-ageing model and demonstrated that short telomeres in key tissues initiate local and systemic ageing (Carneiro et al., PLoS Genet 2016). Specifically, we identified cGAS–STING as a central sensor of telomere-associated DNA damage in vivo (Serifoglu et al. EMBO J 2025) telomere erosion in intestinal epithelia triggers cGAS–STING activation with robust type-I interferon and SASP programs, driving gut barrier dysfunction and propagating inflammation and aging to distal organs.

Constraints and risks

N/A

Additional Information

• CV (methods mastered, publications; ORCID/Google Scholar links)
• Cover letter (≤2 pages) detailing fit with MGF team
• Two referees (email and phone)
• Availability and preferred start date
Scientific contact: Dr Miguel Godinho Ferreira — IRCAN, Université Côte d'Azur / CNRS (contact email to be provided for the emploi.cnrs.fr posting).