DNA scaffolds for tunable spatiotemporal control over receptor kinase assemblies.

INSERM DR Grand Ouest; France; Sur place; EUR 5 800 - 7 100; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

INSERM DR Grand Ouest in Rennes, France, invites applications for a Master internship to support a PhD project on protein–DNA nanostructures using DNA origami. Remuneration is 580€ net/month; duration is 6 months from January to July 2027.

You will express and purify the protein kinase N-terminus, assemble and purify DNA origami structures, bioconjugate proteins, validate with AFM, and evaluate enzymatic activities with established assays.

Qualifications

• Background in chemical biology, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology or related life sciences.
• Motivated student from national and international community.

Responsabilités

• Express, purify and functionalize the protein kinase N-terminus.
• Assemble and purify DNA origami structures.
• Bioconjugate proteins on DNA origami using DNA hybridization.
• Validate by AFM microscopy of the protein–DNA nanostructure.
• Evaluate enzymatic activities using established biochemical assays.

Connaissances

English (Good)

Molecular biology

Formation

Master Degree or equivalent

Outils

DNA origami

Description du poste

Biological sciences » Biological engineering

Biological sciences » Biology

Organisation/Company INSERM DR Grand Ouest Research Field Biological sciences » Biological engineering Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Master Positions Application Deadline 18 Oct 2026 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Supervisors: Dr X. Guillory (PI), C. Walter (PhD); Remuneration: 580€ net/month; Duration: 6 months between January and July 2027

Scientific background– Cellular stress induced by the abnormal accumulation of improperly folded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is emerging as a major actor in disease development and an appealing actionable target.[1] ER stress levels are under constant surveillance by the unfolded protein response (UPR), a major adaptive mechanism that lies at the core of cellular homeostasis and is responsible for cellular life-or-death decisions. The Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), the most evolutionary conserved UPR transducer, is an ER-resident transmembrane protein with a cytosolic dual kinase/RNase activity controlling pro-survival or pro-death signals. Yet, despite >20 years of investigations, the precise molecular mechanisms by which IRE1 is activated and exerts its catalytic and scaffolding functions still remain unclear and a subject of debate.[2] The group aims at deciphering the molecular mechanisms of IRE1 activation through a unique and novel prism at the interface of chemical biology, supramolecular chemistry and structural biology.

Description of the project & duties - This internship is in support of a PhD project focusing on using a programmable synthetic platform made of DNA structures (i.e. DNAorigami) to control the nanoscale organization and nature of different complexes of a kinase protein.[3]

As part of this internship, you will focus on :

• 1 –Expressing, purifying and functionalizing the protein kinase N -terminus using a small molecule reagent.
• 2 - Assembling and purifying DNA origami structures.
• 3 - Bioconjugating proteins on the DNA origami using DNA hybridization principles.
• 4- Validating by AFM microscopy the functionalized Protein-DNA nanostructure obtained.
• 5 – Evaluating the enzymatic activities of the protein using established biochemical assays and molecular biology techniques.

Main activities and techniques involved –

• Molecular biology (design and conception of plasmids).
• Protein expression in eukaryotic cells.
• Protein engineering, bioconjugation, purification (affinity & SEC chromatography).
• Enzymatic assays.
• Structural characterization of protein-DNA conjugates (AFM, CryoEM).

Research Field Biological sciences » Biological engineering Education Level Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

Applicant profile – We encourage applications from highly motivated students from the national and international community with a background in chemical biology, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, or other life sciences and with outstanding qualifications.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Additional Information

Remuneration: 580€ net/month; Duration: 6 months between January & July 2027

Selection process

Interviews are conducted as I receive applications. The position might be filed before the application deadline if a suitable candidate has been found.

Number of offers available 1 Company/Institute Inserm U1242 Oncogenesis, Stress, Signaling laboratory Country France State/Province ILLE ET VILAINE City Rennes Postal Code 35042 Street Avenue de la Bataille Flandres Dunkerque, Centre Eugène Marquis, porte D, 1er étage