STAGE MASTER 2 - BIOLOGIE MOLECULAIRE - H/F

Inserm France; Rennes; Hybrid; EUR 11,000 - 16,000; Full time

Job summary

Inserm France is offering an internship in Molecular Biology focused on DNA origami to control kinase assemblies. You will express and purify proteins, assemble DNA nanostructures, and bioconjugate proteins on DNA origami, followed by AFM validation and enzymatic activity assays.

This project supports a PhD focusing on IRE1 activation mechanisms in cellular stress response. The position is a 6-month full-time internship, suitable for Master 1–2 students with a strong background in chemical

Qualifications

• Student enrolled in Master 1–2 in chemical biology, biochemistry, biophysics or molecular biology.
• Strong background in protein expression and biochemical assays.
• Interest in DNA nanostructures and protein–DNA conjugates.

Responsibilities

• Express, purify and functionalize the protein kinase N-terminus.
• Assemble and purify DNA origami structures.
• Bioconjugate proteins on the DNA origami using DNA hybridization.
• Validate functionalized Protein-DNA nanostructures by AFM.
• Evaluate enzymatic activities using established biochemical assays.

Skills

Molecular biology

Protein expression

Bioconjugation

Enzymatic assays

Education

Master's degree in life sciences

Tools

AFM microscopy

CryoEM

DNA origami

Job description

STAGE MASTER 2 - BIOLOGIE MOLECULAIRE - H/F

The company

About the position

Internship in Chemical Biology

DNA scaffolds for tunable spatiotemporal control over receptor kinase assemblies.

Scientific background – Cellular stress induced by the abnormal accumulation of improperly folded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is emerging as a major actor in disease development and an appealing actionable target.[1] ER stress levels are under constant surveillance by the unfolded protein response (UPR), a major adaptive mechanism that lies at the core of cellular homeostasis and is responsible for cellular life-or-death decisions. The Inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1), the most evolutionary conserved UPR transducer, is an ER-resident transmembrane protein with a cytosolic dual kinase/RNase activity controlling pro-survival or pro-death signals. Yet, despite >20 years of investigations, the precise molecular mechanisms by which IRE1 is activated and exerts its catalytic and scaffolding functions still remain unclear and a subject of debate.[2] The group aims at deciphering the molecular mechanisms of IRE1 activation through a unique and novel prism at the interface of chemical biology, supramolecular chemistry and structural biology.

Description of the project & duties

This internship is in support of a PhD project focusing on using a programmable synthetic platform made of DNA structures (DNAorigami) to control the nanoscale organization and nature of different complexes of a kinase protein.[3]

As part of this internship, you will focus on:

1. Expressing, purifying and functionalizing the protein kinase N-terminus using a small molecule reagent.
2. Assembling and purifying DNA origami structures.
3. Bioconjugating proteins on the DNA origami using DNA hybridization principles.
4. Validating by AFM microscopy the functionalized Protein-DNA nanostructure obtained.
5. Evaluating the enzymatic activities of the protein using established biochemical assays and molecular biology techniques.

Main activities and techniques involved

• Molecular biology (design and conception of plasmids).
• Protein expression in eukaryotic cells.
• Protein engineering, bioconjugation, purification (affinity & SEC chromatography).
• Enzymatic assays.
• Structural characterization of protein-DNA conjugates (AFM, CryoEM).

Applicant profile

We encourage applications from highly motivated students from the national and international community with a background in chemical biology, biochemistry, biophysics, molecular biology, or other life sciences and with outstanding qualifications. Application only on this platform.

Application requirements

Required document(s)

Position characteristics

Offer info

Published on 10/08/2026 Contractuel Catégorie A Internship - 6 months Full time Beginner accepted License not required Second year to fourth year university level Master 1 validé

To be defined according to profile

04/01/2027