Researcher in chemical functionalisation of carbon nanomaterials (M/F)

CNRS; France; Sur place; EUR 30 000 - 40 000; Plein temps

Résumé du poste

A leading research institution in France is seeking a postdoctoral researcher for a project focused on the development of new nanobiosensors for pancreatic cancer diagnostics. The ideal candidate will hold a PhD, have expertise in materials chemistry and organic synthesis, and be skilled in various molecular characterization techniques. This role involves designing and synthesizing carbon nanotubes and characterizing them using advanced techniques, contributing significantly to cancer biomarker identification and patient stratification strategies. The position is full-time with a starting date in April 2026.

Prestations

Proximity to public transport

Access to analysis platforms

Administrative restaurant nearby

Qualifications

• PhD required, strong background in materials chemistry and organic synthesis.
• Proficient in molecular characterization techniques.
• Independent and well-organized with good interpersonal skills.

Responsabilités

• Design and synthesize new carbon nanotubes functionalized with fluorescent peptides.
• Characterize conjugates using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques.
• Manage research and coordinate various aspects of work.

Connaissances

Materials chemistry

Organic synthesis

Molecular characterization techniques

Interpersonal skills

Formation

PhD in relevant field

Outils

NMR spectroscopy

FT-IR spectroscopy

XPS

Thermogravimetric analysis

Description du poste

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Immunologie, Immunopathologie et Chimie Thérapeutique Research Field Pharmacological sciences Engineering Technology Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Country France Application Deadline 8 Jan 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2026 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

Despite the increase in targeted cancer therapies, there are few early and personalized diagnostic approaches, particularly for pancreatic cancer. Protein kinases are notoriously dysregulated in cancer and are involved in signaling pathways that undergo significant reorganization, thus constituting attractive biomarkers. Therefore, the development of technologies to characterize the functional signatures of protein kinases would allow for a strategy for personalized and predictive diagnosis, which could help guide the choice of cancer treatments. In this project (funded by Inserm, PCSI program, coordinator: May Morris, Montpellier), we propose to develop new nanobiosensors based on a previous proof of concept (Tîlmaciu et al. Small 2021, 2007177), namely peptide-carbon nanotube hybrids capable of reporting the kinase activities involved in cell proliferation, inflammation, and metabolism in pancreatic cancer models. In collaboration with two laboratories in Montpellier, these nanobiosensors will be optimized. Their potential to provide a functional fingerprint of kinase activities will be explored ex vivo, using pancreatic cell lines with different genetic backgrounds, organoid/ex ovo models, subcutaneous and orthotopic tumor xenografts in animal models, and finally, in human cancer biopsies. The nanobiosensors will also be used to track and quantify kinase activities in vivo by multimodal imaging in animal models of pancreatic cancer, thus providing insight into the nanomechanical response of tumors to nanobiosensors, taking into account the impact of the extracellular matrix and the tumor microenvironment. This approach will ultimately lead to a highly sensitive and selective biosensor technology that can contribute to pancreatic cancer screening through the identification of kinase biomarkers and patient stratification, while guiding clinicians in their choice of therapies. In this context, this postdoctoral project is focused on the covalent chemical functionalization of carbon nanotubes with biosensor fluorescent peptides.

The activities of this project will cover the design and synthesis of new carbon nanotubes functionalized with fluorescent peptides and fluorophores. The conjugates will be characterized by various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, as well as by thermogravimetric analysis.

This project will be developed in the Laboratory of Immunology, Immunopathology and Therapeutic Chemistry (CNRS UPR 3572, I2CT), which belongs to the CNRS and is located at the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology in Strasbourg (France), in particular in the group Therapeutic multifunctional carbon and 2D nanomaterials (led by Dr. Alberto Bianco) and under the supervision of Dr. Cécilia Ménard-Moyon. The research unit has a unique and internationally recognized expertise in autoimmune diseases and nanomedicine, in particular the development of carbon nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes, for biomedical applications and the assessment of their potential toxicity.
The laboratory is located on the Esplanade university campus, very easily accessible by public transport, with an administrative restaurant nearby and access to several analysis platforms.

The candidate must hold a PhD and have a strong background in materials chemistry and organic synthesis, particularly the functionalization of nanomaterials and/or nanoparticles, and related disciplines. They must be proficient in various molecular characterization techniques such as NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy, as well as the physicochemical characterization of nanomaterials/nanoparticles (XPS, thermogravimetric analysis, etc.).
The candidate must be an independent, well-organized and rigorous person. He / she must have good interpersonal skills. The recruited person must manage his/her own research and coordinate the different aspects of the work to meet deadlines. He / she must provide ideas for new research projects, carry out scientific bibliography, compile results for publication in peer-reviewed journals and present the results orally. The recruited person should actively participate in laboratory meetings.
Interested candidates must send their application with a cover letter, a curriculum vitae, and the contacts of three reference persons.