Post-Doc in Biochemistry (M/F)

CNRS - National Center for Scientific Research; France; On-site; EUR 38,000 - 49,000; Full time

Job summary

CNRS, Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule, located in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, invites applications for a post-doctoral fellow in Biochemistry/Biophysics. The project investigates Fe-S cluster biogenesis and its link to fatty acids synthesis, using in vitro reconstitutions of ISC machinery and multiple biophysical methods.

The successful candidate will purify proteins, reconstitute complexes under anaerobic conditions, and perform comprehensive biochemical and biophysical analyses.

Qualifications

• PhD in biochemistry/biophysics or related field.
• Strong background in protein purification and metallo-proteins.
• Experience with spectroscopic methods (UV-Vis, CD, NMR).

Responsibilities

• Purify proteins and reconstitute complexes under anaerobic conditions.
• Carry out sample preparation and analyses using biochemical and biophysical techniques.
• Collaborate within the Biochemistry of Metalloproteins and Associated Diseases team at I2BC (CNRS).

Skills

Protein purification

Metallo-proteins

Spectroscopy methods

Structural biology

Education

PhD in biochemistry/biophysics or related field

Tools

UV-Vis spectroscopy

Circular dichroism (CD)

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC)

Biolayer interferometry (BLI)

Mass spectrometry

NMR

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule Research Field Chemistry Physics » Biophysics Biological sciences » Biological engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 23 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jan 2027 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

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are essential and ubiquitous small protein metallocofactors acting in diverse cellular functions including ATP production, biosynthesis of metabolites, gene expression, DNA repair and signaling. These cofactors cannot be acquired from external sources, they must be synthesized de novo by multi-proteins machineries. Fe-S cluster biogenesis is tightly linked to cellular metabolism. In eukaryotes, Fe-S cluster biogenesis by the ISC machinery is regulated by fatty acid synthesis (FASII pathway) via the acyl carrier protein (ACP). Fatty acids are precursors for membrane phospholipids and lipopolysaccharides, as well as for essential cofactors, including biotin and lipoic acid. Conversely, Fe-S cluster enzymes are tightly linked to fatty acids: the respiratory chain producing ATP integrates lipids and several membrane Fe-S cluster enzymes, biotin and lipoic acids synthesis require Fe-S cluster enzymes and acetyl-CoA, the substrate for the generation of fatty acids is also a substrate for the Krebs cycle which relies on the Fe-S cluster enzyme aconitase. Recent data from the laboratory point to a regulation of Fe-S cluster biogenesis by the FASII pathway in prokaryotes via direct interaction of ACP with the ISC machinery, but via a completely different mechanism compared to eukaryotes. The goal of this project is to elucidate the biochemical mechanism connecting fatty acids synthesis and Fe-S clusters biogenesis using in vitro reconstitutions of the prokaryotic ISC machinery, biochemical and biophysical approaches to assess kinetics, protein-protein interaction and structural modifications.

The post-doctoral fellow will be responsible for protein purification and the reconstitution of protein complexes under anaerobic conditions. He/she will carry out sample preparation and analysis using biochemical, enzymatic, and biophysical techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), biolayer interferometry (BLI), FIDA technology, mass spectrometry, and NMR.

The Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC, CNRS – CEA – Université Paris-Saclay, located in Gif-sur-Yvette, France is one of the leading institutes at Université Paris-Saclay in the fields of biology, biochemistry, and biophysics, bringing together nearly 600 researchers on the CNRS campus in Gif-sur-Yvette. The postdoctoral researcher will join the "Biochemistry of Metalloproteins and Associated Diseases" team, which is internationally recognized for its work on the biosynthesis mechanisms of Fe-S clusters and their physiological impact.
The team is part of the Department Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology - B3S

Research Field Biological sciences » Biological engineering Years of Research Experience None

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

Strong background in biochemistry and/or biophysics, specific skills in protein purification, metallo-proteins, structural and spectroscopic methods will be appreciated.