Missions

The engineer will support establishment of a new research team and contribute to experimental workflows in molecular and cellular biology. The position involves developing and implementing assays related to single-molecule imaging in live human cancer cell lines. The project provides the opportunity to work at the interface of fluorescence imaging and gene expression within a rapidly developing scientific field.

Activities

Main activities :
- Perform molecular biology experiments, including PCR, cloning, and plasmid construction
- Maintain mammalian cell cultures and generate stable cell lines expressing fluorescent reporters, including lentiviral transduction and CRISPR–Cas9 gene knock-in/knock-out approaches.
- Implement fluorescence-based assays to validate reporter expression and select optimal cell lines.
- Contribute to the setup and organization of the new laboratory, including establishing standard operating procedures.
- Collaborate with the PI and support data acquisition and basic data processing.
- The engineer will be responsible for independently executing established protocols and, once trained, contributing to the optimization of experimental workflows.
Secondary activities :
- Ensure compliance with biosafety rules and maintain laboratory stocks and reagents.
- Maintain accurate experimental records and participate in routine laboratory management tasks.
- Perform siRNA-based gene knockdown experiments.
- Provide training to students and new team members on established laboratory procedures once the workflows are in place.

Skills

1. Required knowledge:
- Solid background in molecular biology and cell biology
- Proficiency in mammalian cell culture techniques
- Familiarity in fluorescence microscopy
2. Required professional skills :
- Ability to perform cloning and construct DNA vectors
- Strong organizational and documentation skills
- Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively
3. Soft skills :
- Ability to communicate and work effectively in English within an international research environment.
- Willingness to learn advanced live-cell and single-molecule imaging techniques.
- Adaptability in a newly established laboratory environment

Work Context

The position is hosted at the IGH within the new research team lead by Sora Yang, starting in February 2026. The team will investigate gene expression dynamics and RNA–protein interactions in living cells, using single-molecule imaging and synthetic genetic reporters. The engineer will work closely with the PI and interact with onsite facilities, including the MRI imaging platform.
The IGH is a joint research unit of the CNRS and the University of Montpellier, located on the Arnaud de Villeneuve Campus in Biology-Health. A leading institute for life sciences research, the IGH offers state-of-the-art equipment and facilities in a first-rate international environment.

Constraints and risks

Regular handling of BSL-2 cell culture materials and biological samples.
Use of standard chemical reagents in molecular and cell biology.
Occasional work in low-light environments for microscopy.
Compliance with biosafety and laboratory safety regulations is mandatory.