Chimie Organique jobs in France

Organisation/Company: CY Cergy Paris University

Department: Chemistry

Research Field: Chemistry » Biochemistry

Researcher Profile: First Stage Researcher (R1)

Positions: PhD Positions

Country: France

Application Deadline: 15 Apr 2025 - 18:00 (Europe/Paris)

Type of Contract: Temporary

Job Status: Full-time

Hours Per Week: 35

Offer Starting Date: 1 Oct 2025

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

Context:
Protein misfolding and aggregation and the “gain of toxic function” are associated with more than 30 serious and incurable human diseases. Amyloid protein aggregation occurs through misfolding, leading to oligomeric precursors and the deposition of fibrillar species, responsible for cellular dysfunction and toxicity. The design of peptides and peptidomimetics capable of interacting and inhibiting the oligomerization process of amyloid proteins by protein-protein interaction is a fast-growing therapeutic strategy. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated the ability of short fluorinated peptides to inhibit the aggregation of the Ab protein involved in Alzheimer's disease. More recently, our team has developed a first series of fluorinated foldamers which have shown very promising preliminary results for the inhibition of amyloid protein aggregation (hIAPP and a-synuclein). In parallel, we have initiated a new research axis focusing on understanding the biological mechanisms of tauopathies and developing peptide inhibitors of Tau protein aggregation. This work has already identified non-fluorinated peptide sequences capable of preventing Tau protein aggregation, and some of the results are now the subject of a patent application.

Objectives:
The aim of this thesis project is to develop a new generation of peptides capable of selectively inhibiting the aggregation of amyloid proteins. In this thesis project, we propose to carry out the rational design of peptide sequences to increase inhibitory activity and refine interactions with target amyloid proteins (Tau, Ab, hIAPP).

Methods:
The first step of the PhD project will involve the synthesis of peptides. We will study the effect of the incorporation of both chiral fluorinated amino acids and D-amino acids at key residue positions. The stereoselective synthesis of fluorinated amino acids will be developed for application to larger scale synthesis and Solid Phase Peptide Synthesis as has been optimized in our laboratory over many years. New methods of peptide synthesis of fluorinated amino acids will also be established. The second aspect of the thesis will be the study of the structure of the synthesized peptides by NMR, X-Ray, Circular Dichroism, and IR spectroscopy. These structural studies will be supported by modelling studies. In parallel, biophysical (proteolytic stability, cell permeability) and biological (inhibitory activity, cytotoxicity, target selectivity) experiments will be carried out on the peptides. High end equipment (High field NMR and cryo-EM, WAX) techniques will be done in collaboration with International and national collaborators who are experts in neurodegenerative disease.

Candidate profile:
Holder of Master 2 degree (or international equivalent) with a specialization in organic chemistry, the candidate must have an attraction for research at the interface with biology. Good theoretical and practical knowledge of organic chemistry is required. Knowledge of NMR analysis and peptide chemistry would be highly appreciated. A good level of English is essential for bibliographical research and interaction within our European research team.

E-mail: gregory.Chaume@cyu.fr

Research Field: Chemistry » Organic chemistry

Education Level: Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications:
Holder of Master 2 degree (or international equivalent) with a specialization in organic chemistry, the candidate must have an attraction for research at the interface with biology. Good theoretical and practical knowledge of organic chemistry is required. Knowledge of NMR analysis and peptide chemistry would be highly appreciated. A good level of English is essential for bibliographical research and interaction within our European research team.