Research Engineer / Assistant Research Engineer- Preclinical Sarcoma Models (F/M)

Institut Curie; Paris; Hybrid; EUR 42,000 - 66,000; Full time

Job summary

Institut Curie’s RACER team in Paris advances preclinical modeling for rare cancers, focusing on sarcomas and cancers of unknown primary using cell lines, organoids, and PDX. You will work under Dr. Sarah Watson and collaborate with core facilities at Institut Curie.

The role covers establishing models from patient material, developing 3D culture systems, and performing molecular analyses to support target validation and drug screening in a biosafety 2 environment.

Responsibilities

• Establish and characterize sarcoma-derived cell lines, organoids, and PDX models from patient samples
• Develop and optimize 3D culture systems and co-cultures with stromal or immune cells
• Maintain, monitor, and annotate models and associated biobanks
• Perform functional assays, including viability, dose–response, and drug screening studies
• Extract nucleic acids and proteins and perform quality assessment
• Prepare sequencing samples and liaise with sequencing platforms
• Conduct RT-qPCR, Western blotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry
• Perform genetic engineering using transfection, lentiviral transduction, and CRISPR/Cas9
• Contribute to quality control and preliminary data analysis
• Ensure experimental traceability, data management, and regulatory compliance
• Participate in inventory management, purchasing, and equipment maintenance
• Train and support students and new team members in cell culture and preclinical modeling techniques
• Present research findings and contribute to publications, grant reports, and regulatory documentation

Job description

Laboratory

The RACER (Rare Cancers Exploration and Research) team, led by Dr. Sarah Watson within the Chemical Biology of Cancers Unit (INSERM U1339, CNRS UMR366), conducts translational research focused on rare cancers, particularly cancers of unknown primary (CUP) and soft tissue sarcomas. The team integrates genomic and transcriptomic approaches, including single-cell analyses, with innovative preclinical models and direct access to patient cohorts and biological samples from Institut Curie.

This position aims to support and expand the team's preclinical modeling activities, including cell lines, 3D cultures, organoids, and PDX. These models are central to therapeutic target validation and drug screening projects in sarcoma research. The successful candidate will work under the direct supervision of Dr. Watson and interact closely with researchers and technological platforms at Institut Curie.

Missions

Development and Characterization of Models

• Establish and characterize sarcoma-derived cell lines, organoids, and PDX models from patient samples
• Develop and optimize 3D culture systems and co-cultures with stromal or immune cells
• Contribute to the maintenance, monitoring, and annotation of models and associated biobanks
• Perform functional assays, including viability, dose-response, and drug screening studies

Molecular and Cellular Characterization

• Extract nucleic acids and proteins and perform quality assessment
• Prepare sequencing samples and/or libraries and liaise with sequencing platforms
• Conduct standard molecular and cellular biology techniques, including RT-qPCR, Western blotting, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry
• Perform genetic engineering using transfection, lentiviral transduction, and CRISPR/Cas9
• Contribute to quality control and preliminary data analysis

Laboratory Organization and Scientific Contributions

• Ensure experimental traceability, data management, and regulatory compliance
• Participate in laboratory operations, including inventory management, purchasing, and equipment maintenance
• Train and support students and new team members in cell culture and preclinical modeling techniques
• Present research findings and contribute to publications, grant reports, and regulatory documentation

Constraints and risks

Work in a Biosafety Level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory handling human samples

Occasional schedule flexibility required to accommodate cell culture experiments, in vivo studies, and receipt of clinical specimens.