Postdoctoral position in Autophagy, Stress and Development M/F

Cnrs Inc; France; On-site; EUR 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

CNRS – Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule in France seeks a First Stage Researcher (R1) to study the gene regulatory networks governing stress adaptation in C. elegans.

The project combines wet lab work with single-nucleus RNA-Seq and other transcriptomic analyses, leveraging I2BC sequencing facilities. English proficiency is required, independence is essential, and collaboration across partners is expected.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in global transcriptomic analysis and in using specialized computational tools.
• Experience with the C. elegans model is a significant asset.
• High degree of independence and ability to collaborate with team and external partners.
• Fluency in English is required.

Responsibilities

• Conduct thermal stress experiments on C. elegans strains (controls, mutants, fluorescent markers).
• Perform transcriptomic analyses (RT-qPCR, RNA-Seq, snRNA-Seq) from sample prep to bioinformatic analysis.
• Draft progress reports for the project coordinator and present data at team meetings.
• Monitor scientific literature relevant to the project and contribute to publications.

Skills

Transcriptomic analyses

C. elegans model experience

Bioinformatics

English proficiency

Tools

RT-qPCR

RNA-Seq

snRNA-Seq

Job description

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule Research Field Biological sciences Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 26 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

Living beings are constantly subjected to environmental variations, such as temperature, which can induce stress and lead to physiological dysfunction. The implementation of relevant preventive and/or curative strategies requires improving knowledge of the regulation of stress adaptation systems, as well as developing diagnostic strategies that integrate individuals' adaptive response levels and resilience capacities.
Technological advances in imaging, sequencing, and data analysis enable us to study stress responses and their effects on adaptation in animal models such as the nematode C. elegans. Our team recently developed an acute, non-lethal heat stress in C. elegans to characterize the adaptive response at the individual level (1, 2). Such a stress produces 2 populations of worms with distinct growth, fertility, and longevity characteristics (3).
This project aims to identify the gene regulatory network and characterize the mechanisms underlying individual variability in stress adaptation, as well as the subsequent effects on fitness and health.
Mainly based on transcriptomic analyses in C. elegans, including single-nucleus RNA-Seq, the project will combine experimental work with C. elegans and bioinformatic analyses. The postdoctoral researcher will benefit from the I2BC sequencing and bioinformatic facilities.

1) Chen, Y., Leboutet, R., Largeau, C., Zentout, S., Lefebvre, C., Delahodde, A., Culetto, E., & Legouis, R. (2021). Autophagy facilitates mitochondrial rebuilding after acute heat stress via a DRP-1-dependent process. The Journal of Cell Biology, 220(4), e201909139.
2) Serot, C., Scarcelli, V., Pouget, A., Largeau, C., Sagot, A., El-Hachami, K., ... & Legouis, R. (2025). Reticulon-dependent ER-phagy mediates adaptation to heat stress in C. elegans. Current Biology, 35(10), 2365-2378.
3) Serot, C., Kong, D., Largeau, C., Gallopin, M., Lescure, A., & Legouis, R. (In preparation). Analysis of the interindividual variability in response to heat stress identifies two subpopulations and a negative regulator of the autophagy flux in C. elegans.

The researcher will be responsible for conducting thermal stress experiments on C. elegans strains (controls, mutants, and strains expressing fluorescent markers). He or she will perform all transcriptomic analyses (RT-qPCR, RNA-Seq, snRNA-Seq), from sample preparation to bioinformatic data analysis. He or she will draft progress reports on the project's status for the project coordinator and present the data at team meetings and within the consortium. He or she will be responsible for monitoring the scientific literature relevant to their project and contributing to the drafting of publications. Opportunities to mentor Master's students are available.

The I2BC is a research institute at Paris-Saclay University, comprising 48 research teams. Research at the I2BC covers a variety of topics in integrative biology (biophysics, biochemistry, structural biology, genomics, cell biology, microbiology, virology, and bioinformatics).
The “Autophagy, Stress, and Development” team is part of the Department of Cell Biology. More information about the laboratory and the institute is available at https://www.i2bc.paris-saclay.fr/autophagy-and-development/ .
This position is fully funded by the ANR InVariStress project (2027–2030), which brings together two university laboratories and a company's Research and Innovation department. The project is scheduled to begin in early 2027.

We are seeking highly motivated candidates with solid experience in global transcriptomic analysis and in using specialized computational tools. Experience with the C. elegans model is a significant asset. The position requires a high degree of independence and the ability to collaborate with various partners within the team, across technological platforms, and with external collaborators. Fluency in English is required.