Researcher - Chagas Disease (M/F)

IRD Occitanie; France; Hybrid; EUR 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

32 days of annual leave + RTT

Catering facilities

Association membership

MGEN health protection

Mobility and commuting support

Job summary

IRD Occitanie seeks a postdoctoral researcher to drive drug discovery against Trypanosoma cruzi. You will synthesize compounds, manage L3 biosafety experiments, and develop assays to identify potent antiparasitic candidates. Your work will integrate chemistry and biology in a One Health context.

You should hold a PhD with postdoctoral experience and strong publication and proposal-writing skills. English proficiency required; teleworking options may be available.

Qualifications

• PhD in chemical, biochemical or biomedical sciences with at least two years of postdoctoral experience.
• Experience in chemical synthesis and medicinal chemistry approaches.
• Experience handling cell cultures and biological assays related to Trypanosoma cruzi.
• Strong writing and publishing of original research articles; grant/proposal experience is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Apply chemistry knowledge to synthesize compounds guided by SAR studies.
• Maintain host cell cultures and parasite life cycles in a biosafety (L3) lab on Montpellier campus.
• Design and implement biological assays to evaluate anti-T. cruzi compounds.
• Investigate mechanisms of action and relation to pathogenicity during infection.

Skills

Chemical synthesis

Medicinal chemistry

Biology handling

Scientific publishing

Proposal writing

Education

PhD in chemical/biochemical/biomedical sciences

Tools

L3 biosafety laboratory

Job description

Organisation/Company IRD Occitanie Research Field Biological sciences » Biology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Positions Postdoc Positions Application Deadline 30 Nov 2026 - 00:00 (Europe/Paris) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Offer Starting Date 1 Mar 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Other EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

Duration: 18 months

UMR: Intertryp in Montpellier

As a French institute for international scientific research, the IRD (Institut de recherche pour le développement) contributes to strengthening the resilience of societies in the face of global change. The Institute is present in more than 50 countries across Africa, Latin America, Asia and the Pacific, as well as in mainland France and the French Overseas Territories.

Its research activities address priority needs in practical ways, including climate change mitigation and adaptation, the fight against poverty and inequalities, biodiversity conservation, access to healthcare, and understanding social dynamics. Research questions are developed together with stakeholders in the field and local communities. Our teams bring together different perspectives, disciplines and forms of knowledge through long-term partnerships to build robust, high-impact solutions.

The research unit you will join

UMR Intertryp (IRD/Cirad/Univ Montpellier) is a research unit dedicated to combating neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), in particular those caused by trypanosomatids, with the aim of improving human and animal health.

Our research focuses on an integrated study of humans, animals, vectors and parasites and their interactions through a One Health approach, addressing in particular trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis and Chagas disease in order to improve the control and elimination of these NTDs. We are a WHO Collaborating Centre (for HAT) and a WOAH Reference Laboratory (for Animal Trypanosomoses).

Under the supervision of a researcher holding an academic position called “Junior Professor Chair”, and the co-supervision of the Director of the Research Unit, your mission will focus on the discovery of new drugs for Chagas disease.

You will contribute to the discovery and development of new drugs targeting the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi , the causative agent of Chagas disease.

There are currently two antiparasitic drugs available: benznidazole and nifurtimox, which have similar chemical structures. Both are effective during the acute phase of infection, but their efficacy is reduced and they may cause toxicity when administered during the chronic phase, which is the stage at which most diagnosed patients are found.

The position will involve research aimed at understanding the pathogenesis mechanisms associated with infection, in order to identify new therapeutic targets and enable targeted drug development. It will also involve the design and development of new phenotypic biological assays for the unbiased identification of potent and specific inhibitors of parasite replication.

Your main activities will include:

• Applying knowledge of chemistry and synthetic chemistry to the synthesis of compounds based on structure activity relationship (SAR) studies.
• Maintaining host cell cultures and parasite life cycles, including genetically modified parasites, in a biosafety laboratory (L3 laboratory) at the Agropolis Campus of the IRD in Montpellier.
• Designing and implementing biological assays for the evaluation of anti- T. cruzi compounds.
• Investigating the mechanisms of action of identified compounds and their potential relationship with changes in pathogenicity during infection.

Analyzing and presenting results at internal research unit meetings and at national and international conferences, as well as writing original research articles and literature reviews.

Your future team

You will join a research unit comprising around 60 staff members, with expertise spanning a range of disciplines, including parasitology, genomics, genetics, epidemiology, ecology and entomology.

Together with our partners, we conduct research across four continents: Europe, Africa, Latin America and Asia.

Your work will be carried out primarily in the L3 laboratory located on the IRD Agropolis Campus in Montpellier.

You have developed the following skills and expertise:

• Experience in chemical synthesis and medicinal chemistry approaches.
• Experience in handling cell cultures, as well as conducting and developing biological assays involving T. cruzi.
• Proven experience in writing and publishing original research articles.
• Experience in preparing and submitting scientific research proposals would be an advantage.

English: C1 level. Knowledge of Spanish at B2-C1 level would be an additional asset.

You have the following personal qualities:

• Ability to work independently.
• Team spirit and collaborative skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify and implement solutions.

We are looking for a candidate who will complete our team by bringing in-depth expertise in chemistry. Candidates with postdoctoral experience in multidisciplinary projects combining chemistry and biology and aimed at discovering new antiparasitic chemical entities will be particularly considered, especially those with previous experience in T. cruzi research and Chagas disease.

You hold a PhD in chemical, biochemical or biomedical sciences, together with at least two years of postdoctoral research experience.

Languages ENGLISH Level Excellent

Additional Information

Throughout your career at IRD, the Institute will support you in developing your skills and professional career.

IRD provides a range of tools and opportunities, including a digital onboarding program, access to continuing professional development and training, career development and mobility opportunities.

Depending on the activities associated with the position, IRD offers the possibility of teleworking one to three days per week. The activities associated with this position are compatible with teleworking.

By joining IRD, you will benefit from:

• 32 days of annual leave + 13 RTT days for full-time staff working 38.5 hours per week.
• Access to collective catering facilities.
• Optional annual membership of the Association des Œuvres Sociales, providing access to holiday, leisure, sports and cultural activities.
• Membership of the MGEN supplementary social protection scheme, providing comprehensive health and welfare coverage.
• A pleasant working environment close to nature, served by Tram Line 5, accessible by bicycle and benefiting from a car-sharing scheme under a mobility agreement with the Montpellier metropolitan authority.