PhD in Analytical Chemistry (M/F)

CNRS; France; On-site; EUR 21,000 - 28,000; Full time

Job summary

CNRS invites applications for a doctoral student position in Strasbourg, co-supervised between LSMBO (IPHC) and IBMP. The project uses mass spectrometry to study protein biochemistry and plant interactions, with access to LC-MS/MS instruments and data processing tools, and will be affiliated with the University of Strasbourg’s ED222 doctoral school.

The candidate must hold a Master’s degree, demonstrate solid knowledge of protein biochemistry, MS, chromatography, and show interest in

Qualifications

• Must hold a Master’s degree.
• Solid knowledge of protein biochemistry, mass spectrometry and chromatography.
• Interest in biology, bioinformatics and data processing is an advantage.
• Good command of written and spoken English to report and present results.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on a doctoral thesis co-supervised by LSMBO (IPHC) and IBMP.
• Apply optimized MS-based methods to study plant-microbe interactions.
• Characterize molecular dialogues between Spirited Streptomyces and barley.
• Present results at conferences and contribute to publications.

Skills

Protein biochemistry

Mass spectrometry

Chromatography

English (written and spoken)

Education

Master's degree in relevant field

Tools

LC-MS/MS data processing software

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut de biologie moléculaire des plantes Research Field Chemistry Biological sciences Pharmacological sciences Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 2 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Dec 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 CNRS (National Center for Scientific Research) is France's leading public research organization, operating under the supervision of the Ministry of Research. It covers all scientific fields, from the life sciences to the humanities, through laboratories often shared with universities, and ranks among the world's leading research institutions. The doctoral student will join the LSMBO team at the IPHC and the IBMP team (co-supervised thesis). The LSMBO (Laboratory of Bio-Organic Mass Spectrometry) is a team at the Hubert Curien Multidisciplinary Institute (IPHC, CNRS / University of Strasbourg). It develops mass spectrometry approaches for protein analysis, ranging from large-scale proteomics to the structural characterization of biomolecules and complexes, particularly within the national ProFI infrastructure. The IBMP (Institute of Plant Molecular Biology) is a CNRS unit based in Strasbourg, affiliated with the University of Strasbourg. Its research teams study plant biology at the molecular and cellular levels: gene expression, metabolism, development, and plant interactions with their environment. The doctoral student will have access to all the necessary resources—including equipment (LC-MS/MS instruments), personnel (shared expertise), and IT support (access to all LC-MS/MS data processing software tools)—to successfully complete this thesis project. The thesis will be affiliated with the University of Strasbourg's Doctoral School of Chemical Sciences (ED222). Both sites are located in a green setting and are easily accessible by public transportation. The candidate (M/F) will have access to a nearby university cafeteria at a subsidized rate. The thesis project will be conducted in close collaboration with academic and industrial partners already identified and associated with the ANR StreptOmystress project (LRSV and De Sangosse in Toulouse, I2BC in Paris-Saclay).

Interactions between plants and their microbiota constitute a rapidly expanding field of research, as the microbiota has a strong impact on plant health and development. Bacteria of the genus Streptomyces are abundant and ubiquitous in the rhizosphere and in association with plants. This bacterial genus is enriched within the microbial communities recruited by plants during biotic or abiotic stress. Our previous work suggests that these bacteria establish a specific molecular dialogue with the host plant to facilitate their colonization. The aim of this project is to characterize these molecular dialogues during the interaction between bacteria of the genus Streptomyces and barley (Hordeum vulgare). Metabolomic and proteomic approaches will be developed to identify the molecules involved in this dialogue. The candidate will be involved in optimizing these approaches and will apply the optimized methods to characterize the molecular dialogue between the plant and the bacterium. This project will help characterize the molecular mechanisms involved in the selection of beneficial microorganisms by plants, and their role in mechanisms of tolerance to abiotic or biotic stress.

The candidate must hold a Master's degree and/or an engineering degree. He/she must demonstrate solid knowledge of protein biochemistry, mass spectrometry, and chromatography. A strong interest in biology, bioinformatics, and data processing will be an advantage.
The candidate must have a good command of written and spoken English in order to provide regular reports and present results to collaborators and at conferences.