PhD Position in EU Doctoral Network \"PANDORA\" – DC4

Sorbonne Université; France; On-site; EUR 28,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Mobility allowance

Family allowance

Job summary

Sorbonne Université, located in Paris, invites applications for a PhD position within the MSCA Doctoral Network PANDORA. The project investigates how complement dysregulation drives immune cell accumulation in AMD using human retina samples and iPSC-derived models.

The candidate will map complement components, study interactions with RPE and microglia, and employ single-cell transcriptomics and proteomics to elucidate disease mechanisms. Mobility and intersectoral training are provided.

Qualifications

• Solid knowledge of cellular biology and/or immunology.
• Excellent written and oral English proficiency.
• Ability to work in a team and independently.

Responsibilities

• Map complement cascade components in human retina using multiplex immunohistochemistry.
• Study Chr1-risk interactions in iPSC-derived RPE, microglia and MoMF in co-culture.
• Perform single-cell and bulk transcriptomics and proteomics analyses.
• Test complement inhibitors for restoring immune balance.

Skills

Cellular biology

Immunology

English proficiency

Teamwork

Independent work

Education

Master degree or equivalent

Job description

Organisation/Company Sorbonne Université Department Medecine Faculty Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Medical sciences » Other Neurosciences » Other Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 30 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Marie Curie Grant Agreement Number 101312030 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The position focuses on "Evaluating how complement dysregulation influences mononuclear phagocyte accumulation in AMD" within the MSCA Doctoral Network PANDORA (Discovering Pathomechanisms and Novel Drug Optimization for AMD).

Subretinal mononuclear phagocytes (MPs) build up in the photoreceptor cell layer, a zone normally kept free of immune cells by the immunosuppressive retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). This build-up is a key driver of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). MPs include microglia and monocyte-derived inflammatory macrophages (MoM φ ). Our team has shown that activated MPs evade RPE-mediated clearance. We have also shown that the AMD-linked CFH 402H variant impairs the removal of subretinal MPs independently of its role in the complement system. How complement dysregulation contributes to immune cell accumulation in the subretinal space in AMD remains poorly understood.

The PhD student will first map where complement cascade components are found in the human retina. Using multiplexed immunohistochemistry on post-mortem retinal sections from AMD donors and age-matched controls, the student will localise components of the classical, lectin and alternative pathways, their activation products, regulators (CFH and Factor H-related proteins) and receptors. These components will be mapped relative to subretinal MPs, the RPE, photoreceptors and drusen.

The student will then study how the Chromosome 1 (Chr1) AMD risk haplotype affects RPE, microglia and MoM φ and their interactions. They will use control and Chr1-risk iPSC-derived cells in a well-defined co-culture system developed in our laboratory. The student will also study the role of plasma-derived Factor H-related proteins (FHR1-5) using depleted human plasma and purified complement factors.

Using single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing and proteomics, the student will analyse how complement dysregulation affects:

• microglia and MoMφ polarisation
• the interaction of these cells with the immunosuppressive RPE
• key inflammatory pathways and immune functions in the subretinal microenvironment, in health and in AMD

Finally, the student will test whether complement inhibitors (anti-C5, anti-C3) can restore immune balance.

The project is supervised by Dr. Florian Sennlaub (Institut de la Vision, Paris) It is carried out in close collaboration with other PANDORA doctoral candidates.

Techniques and Training Include:

• Multiplexed immunohistochemistry on human donor retinal sections (AMD and age-matched controls), whole-slide/confocal imaging and quantitative image analysis
• Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived RPE, microglia and macrophage models, and immune cell/RPE co-cultures
• Primary human monocyte isolation and differentiation, and work with human plasma and purified complement factors
• Single-cell and bulk transcriptomics, and proteomics
• Flow cytometry, qPCR, western blot, ELISA/multiplex cytokine assays

Requirements

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

Skills/Qualifications

Essential Skills/Qualifications:

• Solid knowledge of cellular and molecular biology and/or immunology
• Excellent written and oral English proficiency
• Strong motivation for research on retinal degeneration and neuroinflammation
• Ability to work both in a team and independently

Preferred Qualifications:

• Hands-on experience in cell culture (ideally primary immune cells or iPSC-derived cells) and flow cytometry
• Experience with immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence and image analysis
• Background in innate immunity, macrophage/microglia biology and the complement system
• Interest in, or basic experience with, omics data analysis

Language:Excellent English (French not required)

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

• EU-funded 36-month employment contract under MSCA Doctoral Network rules
• Gross salary of approximately 2 800€/month (before taxes and employee social security deductions), as well as mobility allowance and, where applicable, family allowance
• Enrolment in the doctoral programme of Sorbonne Université ED394, leading to a PhD degree
• Work at the Institut de la Vision, one of Europe's largest integrated centres for research on eye diseases, with state-of-the-art core facilities (iPSC, imaging, transcriptomic, flow cytometry platform)
• Participation in PANDORA network-wide training activities: research workshops, complementary skills courses, career perspective workshops and network meetings
• Support for conference participation
• Intersectoral secondments in academic and industrial partner labs

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must meet these requirements:

• They must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 36 months before the recruitment date. Compulsory national service and time spent in refugee status procedures are excluded.
• They must not already hold a doctoral degree.
• They can be of any nationality.

Selection process

• Contact details of one or two academic referees

Doctoral candidates will be evaluated on their scientific qualifications, experience, research interests, additional knowledge and skills, and motivation for intersectoral research training. Recruitment follows the open, transparent and merit-based principles of the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an online interview.