Post-Doc( M/F) in protein NMR

Job Description

Missions

The successful candidate will join the ANR A-Sensing project “Deciphering antibiotic sensing mechanisms by a two-component system in bacteria,” which aims to elucidate a new molecular mechanism by which bacteria detect traces of antibiotics in their environment in order to develop a drug-tolerance phenotype. More specifically, the candidate will be responsible for carrying out the structural biology component of the project to better characterize the role of the PhoP/ PhoQ two-component signal transduction system in magnesium homeostasis in bacteria, and to analyze how its interaction with polycationic antibiotics of the aminoglycoside (AG) class stimulates Mg²⁺ influx to enhance resistance to antibiotic stress.

Activity

- NMR structural analysis of the periplasmic domain of the PhoQ protein from various organisms (E. coli, S. enterica, P. aeruginosa) and its interactions with antigens from different classes: acquisition of NMR spectra, assignment, structural and dynamic studies, investigation of interactions using biophysical methods and NMR, and data analysis.
- Integration of data into the overall context of the project, writing publications, and presenting posters and oral presentations at conferences.
- Some protein production and purification may be required, in collaboration with Dominique Fourmy's team at the LBPA.
- Participation in team activities: team and department meetings, monitoring the operation and use of equipment under the supervision of engineers and permanent team staff, etc.
- Potential contribution to other team projects in structural biology using NMR.

Your Profil

Skills

Knowledge / Skills
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy: operation of a spectrometer and multidimensional, multinuclear pulse sequences (in-depth knowledge).
- Structure, dynamics, and interactions of biomolecules (in-depth knowledge).
- Proficiency in computer tools for conducting experiments and analyzing liquid NMR data applied to biomolecules (in-depth knowledge).
- Protein production and purification techniques for NMR (basic knowledge).
- English language proficiency: B2 to C1 (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).

Practical Skills
- Use computer software to control instrumentation and acquire data for state-of-the-art NMR instruments (advanced level)
- Use software for interpreting NMR results (advanced level)
- Use bibliographic research tools (expert level)

Soft Skills
- Teamwork
- Independence and initiative
- Analytical skills—rigor and organization
- Ability to communicate and discuss scientific results.

Your Work Environment

The Institute of Natural Product Chemistry (ICSN) is an independent unit (UPR2301) of the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), a partner of Paris-Saclay University, located on the CNRS campus in Gif-sur-Yvette and spread across three buildings. The unit has 130 staff members distributed across four research departments, a Collections, Platforms, and Scientific Services department, and an administrative department. It is engaged in basic research related to the development of natural products, combining its expertise in chemistry with biological studies and focusing primarily on improving human health and advancing environmental protection.
The successful candidate will join the ChimiBiSA department, which currently has 30 staff members and relies on exceptional analytical equipment and strong expertise in molecular modeling, structural crystallography, mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), molecular/cellular biology, and various purification and analytical methods.
More specifically, they will be part of the department's “NMR, Biology, and Structural Chemistry” research area, which manages the high-field NMR platform RMNHC@UPSAY (https://icsn.cnrs.fr/recherche/cbsa/biologie-et-chimie-structurales).
They will report to Carine van Heijenoort, Partnership Manager at ANR A-Sensing, and will work closely on a day-to-day basis with Leonardo Bartkevihi di Piero, a Research Engineer on the NMR platform and an expert in protein NMR. The platform comprises four NMR spectrometers equipped with liquid cryoprobes (600 MHz, 700 MHz, 800 MHz, and 950 MHz), one 600 MHz NMR spectrometer equipped for NMR spectroscopy of liquids and biosolids, and a system capable of performing high-pressure NMR spectroscopy. It is affiliated with two national research infrastructures, FRISBI (IBISA label) and INFRANALYTICS (FR2054 CNRS-Chemistry), and is dedicated to conducting the most cutting-edge experiments using state-of-the-art equipment for the benefit of the local, national, and international academic and industrial scientific communities, for applications at the interface of chemistry and biology (https://icsn.cnrs.fr/plateformes/ir-rmn).

The CNRS campus in Gif-sur-Yvette (a 45-minute train ride from downtown Paris) is a very pleasant research campus primarily dedicated to research in chemistry and biology (http://www.dr4.cnrs.fr/spip.php?article126). The campus is part of the “Paris Saclay Campus” (https://www.universite-paris-saclay.fr/en), which brings together more than 10,000 researchers across all fields of research, with a very strong research community in structural biology (ICSN, I2BC, ENS-Paris-Saclay, SOLEIL synchrotron), fostering numerous scientific exchanges.

Constraints and risks

The position does not involve any specific constraints or risks.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

3133 - 3569€

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