Missions

A post-doctoral position (less than 4 years after PhD) is available for up to 36 months (1 year to be renewed) from June 2025 within the Applestorm project funded by the French national program PEPR B-BEST "Biomasses, biotechnologies et technologies durables pour la chimie et les carburants". The project brings together 3 groups from CNRS and INRAe to decipher the fine structure of polysaccharides in plant cell walls.
The development of a bioeconomy depends on the efficient utilization of a variety of plant biomass sources. The main obstacles are the structural diversity of plant cell wall components and how this connects to functional properties at relevant scales. Recent methodological advances have opened up the possibility to image at multiple scales and at unprecedented detail, the chemistry, orientation and mechanical properties of cell wall macromolecules and their assemblies

Activities

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. Such Cell Wall Polysaccharides Probes (CWPPs) will be produced from appropriate CBMs, lectins and lectenzymes. Higher affinity, or multispecificity CWPPs will be engineered by associating several of such domains or proteins. After cloning, heterologous expression and purification of the recombinant proteins of interest, biophysical characterization of the CWPPs will be performed by titration calorimetry, surface plasmon resonance and x-ray crystallography prior fluorescent labelling.

Skills

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

Work Context

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 Applestorm project, funded by PEPR V-BEST is coordinated by Dr. Alexis Peaucelles of INRAe Versailles and also involves research group at INRAe Nantes. The project involves scientific exchange and travelling between the groups.

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

none-
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Additional Information

Contract of 12 month with possibility to reconduct twice.