Postdoctoral Position - SMART JIA Project (F/M)

Imagine - Institut des maladies génétiques; Paris; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Access to clinical cohorts

Career development opportunities

Live in Paris

Job summary

Imagine - Institut des maladies génétiques in Paris invites applications for a postdoctoral researcher to join the SMART-JIA project validating predictive biomarkers of anti-TNF non-response in JIA and adult RA. The role focuses on single-cell multi-omics, functional assays, and AI-driven stratification tools, with close collaboration to pediatric and adult rheumatology centers.

The successful candidate will work with primary human immune cells, integrate molecular data with clinical cohorts,

Qualifications

• PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline.
• Excellent scientific communication skills (written and oral, in English).
• Ability to work independently in a collaborative, translational research environment.

Responsibilities

• Design, perform, and analyze single-cell multi-omics experiments (10x Genomics Multiome, scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq) from patient-derived PBMCs.
• Develop and execute ex vivo functional assays to investigate molecular mechanisms of treatment resistance.
• Perform computational analyses of single-cell datasets or collaborate with bioinformaticians.
• Contribute to biomarker validation and development of the SMART-Score predictive algorithm with clinical collaborators.

Skills

Sci. communication

Independent work

Translational research

Education

PhD in Immunology

Tools

10x Genomics

Job description

The Ménager lab focuses on deciphering immune cell heterogeneity in inflammatory diseases using single-cell multi-omics, functional immunology, and translational approaches.

https://www.institutimagine.org/en/mickael-menager-187

Project summary:

We are seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral researcher to join the SMART-JIA project, which aims to validate, mechanistically characterize, and clinically translate novel predictive biomarkers of anti-TNF non-response in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA) and adult Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).

Building on our pioneering scRNA-seq analysis of PBMCs from oligoarticular JIA patients prospectively stratified by anti-TNF response — we identified two transcriptomic signatures significantly enriched in non-responders and revealing TNF-independent inflammatory endotypes

SMART-JIA has three integrated aims:

• Aim 1: Prospective validation of Sig1/Sig2 as a SMART-Score in an independent JIA cohort, integrating molecular and clinical data into an AI-driven stratification tool

• Aim 2: Mechanistic characterization of the resistance to anti-TNF

• Aim 3: Cross-disease validation of Sig1/Sig2 in biologic-naïve adult RA patients

Role and responsibilities:

• Design, perform, and analyze single-cell multi-omics experiments (10x Genomics Multiome, scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq) from patient-derived PBMCs

• Develop and execute ex vivo functional assays to investigate molecular mechanisms of treatment resistance

• Perform computational analyses of single-cell datasets (or collaborate closely with bioinformaticians)

• Contribute to biomarker validation and development of the SMART-Score predictive algorithm with clinical collaborators (pediatric and adult rheumatology, Necker and Cochin Hospitals)

We offer:

• An exciting scientific project at the forefront of precision medicine in rheumatology

• A position in a world‑class research institute with highly collaborative and translational environment with direct access to clinical cohorts, biobanks and state‑of‑the‑art single-cell genomics, and bioinformatics core facilities

• Competitive salary according to INSERM postdoctoral scales and experience

• Opportunities for career development, including mentoring, conference attendance, and networking within national/international consortia

• The opportunity to live and work in Paris, one of Europe's leading scientific hubs.

Required qualifications:

• PhD in Immunology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a related discipline

• Strong expertise in flow cytometry/cell sorting and functional immunology assays

• Experience with primary human immune cells, ideally from clinical cohorts

• Familiarity with single-cell omics technologies (10x Genomics) and/or epigenetic approaches

• Ability to work independently in a collaborative, translational research environment

• Excellent scientific communication skills (written and oral, in English)

Preferred qualifications:

• Experience in autoimmunity, or inflammatory/rheumatic diseases

• Computational skills in R/Python for single-cell data analysis

• Track record of publication in peer‑reviewed journals