Researcher / Post-doctoral Glycobiochemistry and Glycobiotechnology of Plant Cell Walls (M/F)

Job Description

Missions

Analysing and building of plant cell walls in the context of plant parasitism
A post-doctoral position is available for up to 12 months renewed from January 2027 within the Checkpoint Cell Wall project funded by the Human Science Frontiers Program. The project brings together 4 groups from Tromso and Bergen (Norway), St. Louis (USA) and Grenoble to decipher how parasite plants invade the stems of their hosts.
Invasive cells penetrate and grow withing another organism by establishing new interfaces. For plants, this involves the cell wall which normally fulfil protective role but can be turn into a weapon at the heart of parasite's infection strategy. The project will focus on the interface between parasitic dodders (Cuscuta) and wild tobacco (Nicotiana benthamania) by analyzing, manipulating and modelling cell walls to recreate the intrusive cells and their interfaces.

Activity

The glycan composition of cell walls from both parasite and host will be analyzed on the chromatography platform of CERMAV. Based on the group expertise on glycan binding proteins (enzymes, Lectins, carbohydrate binding modules called CBMs …), novel fluorescent probes with high specificity for different cell wall oligosaccharide epitopes will be designed for high resolution microscopy. These probes will be engineered by associating lectins and CBMs through molecular biology approach, characterizing the resulting proteins by biophysical methods, and labeling them with fluorophore by chemobiology. Artificial plant cell walls will be produced by nano-engineering of lipids, polysaccharides and proteins in the form of supported bilayer and giant unilamellar vesicles.

Your Profil

Skills

-PhD in biochemistry, biotechnology, or chemistry/biology with a strong expertise in biochemistry.
-Knowledge and interest in polysaccharide analysis, protein engineering and/or glycobiology would be an asset.
-Ability to work independently and in collaborative.
-Motivated, organized individual with good writing skills.
-English level IELST 7 or B2

Your Work Environment

CERMAV (CEntre de Recherche sur la MAcromolécule Végétales) at CNRS-Université Grenoble Alpes, is a basic research laboratory on glycosciences. The multidisciplinary approach at CERMAV covers the specialties of chemistry, material science, physicochemistry and biology. The team "Structural and Molecular Glycobiology", in which the project will be conducted, studies lectins and carbohydrate-acting enzymes. The team includes about 15 people working on recombinant proteins from their identification to the biochemical, biophysical and structural characterizations of their interaction with carbohydrates. The project is under the supervision of Dr Anne Imberty & Annabelle Varrot
The Checkpoint Cell Wall project, funded by HSFP is coordinated by Prof Kirsten Krause of Artic University of Norway (Tromso) and also involves research groups at St Louis (USA) and Bergen (Norway). The project involves scientific exchange and travelling between the groups.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

Starting from €3,041 gross per month, depending on experience and the current CNRS salary scale

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

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