PhD Thesis (M/F) Human neural stem cell lineages

Institut Curie - Research Center; France; Sur place; EUR 26 000 - 28 000; Plein temps

Avantages offerts par ce poste

Collective catering

70% transportation reimbursement

supplementary health insurance

Résumé du poste

Institut Curie - Research Center invites applications for a First Stage Researcher (R1) PhD position in the field of medical sciences, cancer research. The host team studies mammalian neocortex development using neural stem cells and live imaging. The project combines single-cell transcriptomics with lineage tracing to map fate decisions.

The doctoral contract lasts 3 years with full-time working time. Remuneration is €2,400 gross per month, and starting date is end of 2026.

Qualifications

• PhD training in biology or related field.
• Experience with microscopy and cell culture is desirable.

Responsabilités

• Conduct research on neural stem cell fate decisions across cortical regions.
• Apply Live-seq and lineage analysis to map cell lineages.
• Collaborate with ERC Synergy project teams and participate in weekly lab meetings.

Connaissances

Cell biology

Developmental biology

Microscopy

Cell culture

Description du poste

Organisation/Company Institut Curie - Research Center Department Administration Research Field Medical sciences » Cancer research Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions PhD Positions Application Deadline 13 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 22 Jul 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - ERC Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The hosting structure

The Curie Institute Research Center

Faithful to the legacy of its founder, the Institut Curie is deeply committed to promoting equal opportunities, diversity, and inclusion. Convinced that diversity of backgrounds and experiences contributes to collective performance, we strive to provide everyone with a respectful and equitable working environment and encourage all candidates to apply for our job opportunities.

The team investigates the mechanisms of mammalian neocortex development, with a strong focus on neural stem cells. We aim to understand how these cells shape the cel type diversity of the brain, using live imaging-based approaches.

Description of the PhD thesis project

The remarkable expansion of the human neocortex during recent primate evolution is thought to result from increased production of neuronal and glial cells by neural stem cells, known as radial glial (RG) cells. However, the cell fate decisions that generate this diversity, and how they vary across developmental stages and cortical regions, remain poorly understood. This PhD project aims to uncover the lineage relationships and fate decisions of human neural stem cells across cortical regions using a combination of human fetal tissue and next-generation regionalized cortical organoids developed within an ERC Synergy project. Building on a live/fixed correlative imaging pipeline established in the host laboratory, the student will directly observe RG cell divisions and assign the identities of their progeny through immunostaining. By quantifying proliferative, neurogenic, and gliogenic division modes across space and time, they will generate a comprehensive map of neural stem cell fate decisions during human cortical development and determine how these programs vary between cortical areas. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying these fate choices, they will combine single-cell transcriptomics with lineage analysis. Using Live-seq, a minimally invasive approach that enables transcriptome profiling of living cells, they will sample individual RG cells in 2D prior to division and subsequently determine the identity of their daughter cells through live/fixed correlative imaging. This strategy will establish direct links between the molecular state of neural stem cells and their developmental output, allowing us to identify transcriptional signatures associated with specific fate decisions and test whether RG cells are molecularly precommitted to fate decisions before mitosis. Together, this work will provide an unprecedented spatiotemporal map of human neural stem cell lineages, reveal the molecular determinants of fate specification, and establish new principles governing regional diversification of the developing human cortex.

Candidate Profile

Training and Skills required

• Training: Cell biology or developmental biology
• Scientific skills: microscopy, cell culture

Ability to work independently,aptitude for working in a team, ability to communicate.

All our opportunities are open to people with disabilities

Contract information

Type of contract: doctoral contract

Starting date: end of 2026

Duration: 3 years

Working time: full time

Remuneration: €2,400 gross per month, according to the current grids

Benefits: Collective catering, reimbursement of transportation fees up to 70%, supplementary health insurance

Institut Curie is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer

and is dedicated to the highest standards of research integrity.