Engineer in Immunology: 12 month short-term contract, eventually renewable

Inserm; France; Sur place; EUR 60 000 - 80 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research organization in France is seeking a highly motivated engineer to investigate dendritic cells and their effects during influenza infections. The role involves working under the supervision of renowned experts and requires expertise in animal experimentation, flow cytometry, and molecular biology techniques. The position is full-time and offers a competitive salary.

Qualifications

• Excellent command of animal experimentation.
• Mastery of molecular biology techniques like PCR and RT-qPCR.
• Experience with flow cytometry and confocal microscopy.

Responsabilités

• Implement procedures for maintaining health and genetic status of animals.
• Execute experimental protocols in compliance with regulations.
• Perform experiments using flow and spectral cytometry.
• Conduct gene expression profiling on isolated cells.
• Isolate organs for histological analysis.

Connaissances

Animal experimentation

Multiparametric flow cytometry

Molecular biology techniques

Confocal microscopy

Formation

Master of Science in Immunology

Outils

FlowJo

DIVA

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Inserm Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile Other Profession Positions Research Support Positions Country France Application Deadline 17 Dec 2025 - 17:00 (Europe/Paris) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 38.5 Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2026 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

The CIML (Centre d’Immunologie de Marseille-Luminy, AMU UM2, CNRS UMR7280; Inserm U1104), is a dynamic research center located in Marseille that comprises internationally recognized groups focusing on Immunology.

The team of Marc Dalod has made major contributions in the identification and functional study of mouse and human dendritic cell types ( http://www.ciml.univ-mrs.fr/science/lab-marc-dalod/experts ), including participating to the discovery of mouse plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC)1,2. Within the team, Dr. Elena Tomasello is directing a research group focusing on pDC functions and their molecular regulation3-8.

We seek to hire a highly motivated engineer to investigate how pDC, and the type 1 interferons (IFN-I) they produce, exert detrimental functions in mouse models of respiratory Influenza infection.

The engineer will work under the supervision of Dr. Marc Dalod and Dr. Elena Tomasello, in tight collaboration with a PhD student, Marine Zaffran, and an Assistant Engineer, Camille Pierini-Malosse, in the team. This work will be performed also in collaboration with other teams of the CIML, including: i) the team of Mauro Gaya who is an expert in the deciphering of the mechanisms controlling B cell activation and functional polarization including locally during diseases of the respiratory tract; ii) the team of Réjane Rua who is an expert inin the immunosurveillance of the central nervous system during autoimmunity or infections, and more generally in the study of the neuroimmune cross talk and; iii) C. Mionnet, in Marc Bajenoff team, who is expert in the study of mucosal memory immune responses to infections, in particular the role of tissue-resident memory T cells (TRMs). The main aim of the engineer will be to identify the cells targeted by the IFN produced by pDCs, then to dissect the underpinning molecular mechanisms promoting detrimental effects in influenza-infected lungs. In particular, the engineer will address the impact of the IFN produced by pDCs on lung immunopathology, tissue lesions and respiratory defects associated with influenza infection. These studies will be performed by using genetically engineered mouse models, eventually combined with pharmacological inhibitors.

Activity 1: Implement the necessary procedures to ensure the maintenance and monitoring of the health and genetic status of the animals in strict compliance with the corresponding legal and ethical framework.

Activity 2: Implement the experimental protocols included in the research project in strict compliance with protocols approved by dedicated ethical committee and health ministry and with 3R rules, working in a BSL3 confinement, complying with the rules for operation of this facility and contributing to its regular maintenance.

Activity 3: Perform and interpret experiments based on conventional multiparametric flow cytometry (~15 colors) and high-content spectral cytometry (>30 colors) to identify and characterize the cells targeted by pDCs and their IFN isolated from the lungs of influenza-infected control or mutant animals, as well as to characterize memory B and T cell responses induced upon primary infection in the lungs and mediastinal lymph nodes, and anamnestic responses in response to secondary infections.

Activity 4: Carry out bulk and single cell gene expression profiling experiments on hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells isolated from the lungs of influenza-infected control or mutant animals.

Activity 5: Isolate lungs and brains of influenza-infected control or mutant animals, perform organ inclusion for histology, tissue section preparation and staining for spectral confocal microscopy analysis.

The duration of the contract is one year (12 months), eventually renewable.

Publications related to the project:

1 Dalod, M. et al. Interferon alpha/beta and interleukin 12 responses to viral infections: pathways regulating dendritic cell cytokine expression in vivo. J Exp Med 195, 517-528 (2002). https://doi.org:10.1084/jem.20011672

2 Dalod, M. et al. Dendritic cell responses to early murine cytomegalovirus infection: subset functional specialization and differential regulation by interferon alpha/beta. J Exp Med 197, 885-898 (2003). https://doi.org:10.1084/jem.20021522

3 Tomasello, E., Pollet, E., Vu Manh, T. P., Uze, G. & Dalod, M. Harnessing Mechanistic Knowledge on Beneficial Versus Deleterious IFN-I Effects to Design Innovative Immunotherapies Targeting Cytokine Activity to Specific Cell Types. Front Immunol 5, 526 (2014). https://doi.org:10.3389/fimmu.2014.00526

7 Ngo, C., Garrec, C., Tomasello, E. & Dalod, M. The role of plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) in tissue immunity during viral infections and beyond. Cell Mol Immunol 21, 1008-1035 (2024). https://doi.org:doi : 10.1038/s41423-024-01167-5

• Required: excellent command of animal experimentation (applicator level; documented ability to implement the necessary procedures to ensure the maintenance and monitoring of the health and genetic status of the animals, and to design, manage and carry out experimental protocols tailored to the scientific questions asked and in strict compliance with the corresponding legal and ethical framework).
• Required: excellent command of conventional (~15 colors) multiparametric flow cytometry or spectral cytometry (>30 colors) (preparation of cell suspensions from lungs and bone marrow; multi-color cell labeling; sample acquisition on cytometer analyzer; data analysis with software such as DIVA or FlowJo).
• Required: excellent mastery of molecular biology techniques including DNA extraction, RNA extraction, DNA and RNA quatification and qualitative analysis, PCR, RT-qPCR.
• Highly valued: hands-on positive experience with end-to-end generation of bulk and/or single-cell mRNA sequencing libraries (preparation of 96-well plates for single-cell recoveries sorted one per well; design of plate sorting strategy using conventional multiparameter flow cytometry; cDNA synthesis; amplification, purification, quantification and quality control; library production; quantification, quality control and library pool; generation of the metadata file required for sequencing design and analysis).
• Highly valued: expertise in working in a BSL3 facility for manipulating infected animals, with flexibility in working hours.
• Highly valued: excellent command of spectral confocal microscopy (organ harvesting and inclusion, tissue section preparation and staining; sample acquisition on confocal microscopy; data analysis with software such as Zen 3.7, Fiji ImageJ, QPath)

Other know how skills.

Good command of the English language.

Oral presentation in English of own results during team meetings.

Ability to read scientific articles in English.

Good interpersonal skills, ability to work as part of a team in a multidisciplinary environment.

Excellent organizational skills.

Thoroughness, scientific rigor, reliability.

Excellent analytical and summarizing skills.

Ability to listen and make suggestions; self-reliance, self-confidence, sense of initiative.

Languages ENGLISH Level Good

Languages FRENCH Level Good

Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Years of Research Experience 1 - 4

Additional Information

The CIML is currently composed of 16 research teams ( http://www.ciml.univ-mrs.fr/science ), 6 scientific core facilities ( http://www.ciml.univ-mrs.fr/immunology-nanoscience-system-biology ), as well as administration and technical services. The CIML is located on the Luminy campus regrouping fundamental research laboratories in all disciplines of life sciences, in informatics, physics, chemistry and mathematics, and biotech start-up companies, including several that emerged from CIML work: Immunotech, Innate Pharma and Oz Bioscience. The team of Marc Dalod also belongs to the CenTuri Institut Convergence ( http://centuri-livingsystems.org/ ) which aims at fostering tight collaborations between biologists, mathematicians, physicists and bio-informaticians to understand how biological function emerges from the organization and dynamics of living systems. The applicant will thus benefit from strong collaborations with other teams.

Eligibility criteria

Master of Science in Immunology preferentially, otherwise in Biochemistry, Biotechnology, or related disciplines.

Excellent command of animal experimentation (applicator level; documented ability to implement the necessary procedures to ensure the maintenance and monitoring of the health and genetic status of the animals, and to design, manage and carry out experimental protocols tailored to the scientific questions asked and in strict compliance with the corresponding legal and ethical framework).

Excellent mastery of molecular biology techniques including DNA extraction, RNA extraction, DNA and RNA quatification and qualitative analysis, PCR, RT-qPCR.

Excellent command of conventional (~15 colors) multiparametric flow cytometry or spectral cytometry (>30 colors) (preparation of cell suspensions from lungs and bone marrow; multi-color cell labeling; sample acquisition on cytometer analyzer; data analysis with software such as DIVA or FlowJo).

*a short description of the techniques mastered and tasks achieved during laboratory training or in previous positions,

*the contact information for at least two professional referees,

Additional comments

Monthly salary: approximately €2,494.30 gross monthly salary, adapted to the level of experience.