Ph.D. student (M/F) in membrane biology

Job Description

Thesis Subject

Membrane lipids are not only essential for the formation of lipid bilayers. They are involved in signaling, organelle identity, and the regulation of membrane physical properties. However, the way in which different lipids regulate cellular functions under pathophysiological conditions remains poorly understood. In particular, it is unclear how the functions of different membrane proteins (ion channels, receptors, etc.) are regulated by their membrane environment. Consequently, an entire layer of biological process regulation remains unexplored. By determining how the detailed structures of lipids (e.g., omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated lipids) affect biological functions, we could understand how membrane composition influences various diseases, or how different diets impact our health.

In this project, we will focus on phosphatidylserine, an important membrane lipid involved in apoptosis, membrane trafficking, and signaling. We will use an approach combining cellular genetic engineering and lipidomics, an analytical method enabling the comprehensive detection of lipids, to elucidate the metabolic regulation of phosphatidylserine structure (its two hydrophobic tails). We will target several recently discovered enzymes, allowing us to explore novel metabolic pathways.

Furthermore, we will investigate the physiological roles of phosphatidylserine by analyzing the impact of structural modifications on various membrane proteins. To do this, we will express the proteins of interest in modified cells with an altered phosphatidylserine structure and then measure their activity and localization. This will allow us to establish a link, with unprecedented precision, between a lipid's structure and its functions.

This project will be conducted in collaboration with another team from the University of Tokyo, Japan, and visits to our collaborators' laboratory are planned. This collaboration will allow the student to translate the findings into in vivo experiments, thus establishing close links between the structure of phosphatidylserine and physiology.

Through this project, the student will acquire extensive knowledge in genetic engineering, lipidomics/metabolomics, lipid metabolism, imaging, biochemistry, and molecular and cellular biology.

Your Work Environment

The Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC) is a research center at the CNRS, Inserm, and Université Côte d'Azur (UCA) located at Sophia Antipolis, close to Nice and Antibes. It is a multi-thematic research center with 22 research groups with various disciplines encompassing membrane biology, neurobiology, endocrinology, genomics, among many others. The candidate will have access to the various advanced platforms (e.g. proteomics/lipidomics, genomics, imaging and cytometry) to conduct high-quality research.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

2300 € gross monthly

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