Functional Genomics of LCCL Postdoctoral Researcher

Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne; Reims; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 48 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

Le Centre ESCAPE de l'Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne recrute un chercheur postdoctoral pour étudier une famille de protéines Cryptosporidium possédant des domaines LCCL. Le poste s’inscrit dans un programme rébiné sur CRISPR et phénotypage avancé, en collaboration internationale et avec un financement récent.

Le candidat mènera des cribles CRISPR ciblés, générera des lignées mutantes et développera des assays phénotypiques, en vue d’établir des liens fonctionnels entre les protéines LCCL

Qualifications

• PhD dans le domaine pertinent requis.
• Expérience en biologie moléculaire ou cellulaire expérimentale.
• Excellentes capacités de rédaction scientifique et de communication.

Responsabilités

• Établir et optimiser un crible CRISPR ciblé des gènes LCCL-domain.
• Générer et analyser des lignées Cryptosporidium modifiées.
• Développer des tests phénotypiques robustes pour identifier des gènes candidats.
• Prioriser les protéines LCCL sur la base des preuves génétiques et phénotypiques.
• Valider les candidats prometteurs par des perturbations génétiques indépendantes.
• Caracteriser les phénotypes par des approches moléculaires et de microscopie.

Connaissances

Rigueur scientifique

Aborderes expérience expérimentale

Rédaction scientifique

Collaboration multidisciplinaire

Formation

PhD en parasitologie / microbiologie / biologie moléculaire

Outils

CRISPR/Cas

Microscopie

Manipulation génétique

Description du poste

À propos de nous

As the 5th largest employer in the Champagne-Ardenne region, the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne employs approximately 2,500 permanent staff members spread across 6 campuses.

Choosing the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne means joining a dynamic, ambitious, and innovative university deeply rooted in its region and open to the international community. It also means contributing to the quality of life and success of our students while supporting the development of research projects.

Mission

The ESCAPE Research Unit at the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (URCA) is seeking a motivated and creative Postdoctoral Researcher to investigate a poorly characterized family of Cryptosporidium proteins containing LCCL domains.

The position is part of a newly funded research program supported by Coefficient Giving (USA). The project aims to establish the functional relevance of LCCL-domain proteins in Cryptosporidium and identify candidate proteins associated with the formation and development of infectious parasite stages. LCCL domains are found in proteins associated with developmental and structural processes in several Apicomplexa, but their biological functions in Cryptosporidium remain poorly understood. Our preliminary observations point to a group of LCCL-domain proteins associated with the crystalloid body (CB), a distinctive structure observed during parasite development (Fig. 1). The central objective of the project is to move from this initial observation to functional evidence by systematically testing candidate LCCL-domain proteins.

Research program

The project will establish a targeted CRISPR-based functional screening strategy for LCCL-domain proteins in Cryptosporidium.

The Postdoctoral Researcher Will

• establish and optimize a targeted CRISPR screen of LCCL-domain protein genes ;
• generate and analyse genetically modified Cryptosporidium lines ;
• develop robust phenotyping assays to identify candidate genes associated with parasite development ;
• prioritize LCCL-domain proteins on the basis of genetic and phenotypic evidence ;
• validate the most promising candidates through independent genetic perturbations ;
• characterize the resulting phenotypes using molecular and microscopy-based approaches ;
• investigate the localization and cellular context of selected LCCL-domain proteins ;
• establish the first functional links between LCCL-domain proteins and parasite developmental processes ;
• generate discovery data providing the foundation for subsequent mechanistic studies ;
• contribute to the preparation of manuscripts and future research proposals arising from the project.

The project is deliberately designed as a discovery program. The successful candidate will therefore have an important role in deciding how promising candidates should be followed up as new results emerge.

Profil

We are looking for a highly motivated researcher with an interest in functional genomics, parasite biology and molecular mechanisms of development.

Required Qualifications

• PhD in parasitology, microbiology, molecular biology, cell biology, infection biology or a related field ;
• strong experience in experimental molecular or cellular biology ;
• ability to design, perform and analyze experiments independently ;
• good scientific writing and communication skills ;
• ability to work effectively in a collaborative and multidisciplinary environment.

Desirable experience

Experience in one or more of the following areas will be particularly valued :

• CRISPR/Cas-based genome engineering ;
• functional genomics or genetic screening ;
• Cryptosporidium or other Apicomplexa ;
• parasite culture and genetic manipulation ;
• fluorescence microscopy or live-cell imaging ;
• quantitative phenotyping ;
• molecular characterization of proteins.

Type of recrutement

• Category A position, Postdoctoral researcher
• Fixed-term contract (CDD) starting from 01/01/2027 until 31/12/2028.

Application deadline

22/10/2026

Référence de l'offre : qotgiq49xf