Post-Doc M/F: Study of cytoplasmic crowding during antifungal drug tolerance

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 40 000 - 60 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institution in France is seeking a Biology Researcher to study cytoplasmic crowding and antifungal drug tolerance in Candida albicans. The role involves utilizing live-cell microscopy and collaborative research to investigate molecular genetics and imaging approaches. Candidates should have experience in microscopy and be proficient in English. This position is full-time and offers a challenging yet enriching scientific environment.

Qualifications

• Experience with fungal cells is a plus but not necessary.
• Experience in microscopy is required.
• Ability to communicate in written and oral English.

Responsabilités

• Determine the heterogeneity of cytoplasmic crowding in cells.
• Quantify cytoplasmic crowding in stress response mutants.
• Investigate the link between drug tolerance and cytoplasmic crowding.

Connaissances

Microscopy

Ability to work independently

Teamwork

Communication

Organizational skills

Controlled experiments

English proficiency

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut de Biologie Valrose Research Field Biological sciences Biological sciences " Biology Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Country France Application Deadline 3 Dec 2025 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Feb 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon 2020 Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The candidate will take advantage of a live-cell microscopy method, that has been recently established in Candida albicans, to quantitate cytoplasmic crowding in this opportunistic human pathogenic fungus, using a variety of molecular and cellular approaches.

Our team studies the spatial and temporal regulation of filamentous growth using a range of state-of-the art microscopy approaches. Drug tolerance is generally described as microbe survival or growth above inhibitory concentrations and subpopulations of C. albicans can grow above minimal inhibitory drug concentrations. Tolerance, i.e. slow growth in presence of drug, is dependent on cell stress response pathways. Cytoplasmic crowding is intimately tied to protein abundance, and hence affected by stresses such as starvation, which are activated via amino acid sensing, and also likely to affect drug tolerance. The goal of this collaborative project is to determine the link between antifungal drug tolerance and cytoplasmic crowding at the single cell level. The project will take advantage of cutting‑edge imaging approaches, molecular genetics and image analyses to investigate relationship between physical characteristics of the cytoplasm and antifungal tolerance in C. albicans cells and communities.

Objectives

• Determine the heterogeneity of cytoplasmic crowding in a population of cells and whether it correlates with an antifungal drug tolerance.
• Determine the link between intracellular antifungal drug concentration and cytoplasmic crowding.
• Quantify cytoplasmic crowding in a range of stress response mutants and clinical isolates.

The Valrose Institute of Biology (28 teams; 300 people; 25 nationalities) is an international institute (English is the working language) with a very rich scientific environment. The iBV provides cutting‑edge technological infrastructures and platforms, with a collaborative and lively atmosphere in a very attractive city / region. (ibv.unice.fr)

Desired Experience

• An experience with fungal cells is a plus but is not necessary.
• Experience in microscopy.
• Sense of initiative and ability to work independently.
• Ability to work in a team and to communicate.
• Ability to carry out careful controlled and rigorous experiments.
• Sense of organization and autonomy.
• Ease of communication in written and oral English.