Bioinformatician - Postdoc/ IR (M/ F)

About us

Institut Curie is a major player in the research and fight against cancer. It consists of a hospital group and a Research Center of more than 1000 employees with a strong international representativeness.

The objective of the Research Center is to develop basic research and to use the knowledge produced to improve the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapeutics of cancers as part of the continuum between basic research and innovation serving the patient.

Mission

Laboratory
We are seeking a motivated and productive bioinformatician (M/F) to join our team “Replication Program and Genome Instability” ( Team CHEN ) at the Institut Curie, Paris, France. The team focuses on using cutting-edge high-throughput genomic approaches and genome-wide data analyses to study the spatio-temporal replication program of the human genome and how replication stress impacts on genome stability in normal and cancer cells, in population as well as at single molecule/cell level.
 
The project
The successful candidate (M/F) will join our interdisciplinary effort to uncover the mechanisms safeguarding genome stability during DNA replication and repair. DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) and replication stress are critical threats to genome integrity, linked to diseases like cancer and neurological disorders. Our projects integrate cutting-edge high-throughput single-molecule imaging (e.g. Bionano) and sequencing (e.g. Nanopore) with computational modeling and bioinformatics to study these processes at unprecedented resolution. The interplay between DNA replication and repair is crucial for maintaining genome integrity. Emerson et al. (2022, Nature) highlighted how replication forks can stall and collapse into DSBs, necessitating homologous recombination (HR)-mediated repair, while Li et al. (2023, Cell) described how replication initiates and how replication stress triggers specific signaling cascades to protect genome stability. Our integrated projects aim to map how replication stress induces repair pathways and how misregulation contributes to disease progression.
 
The ANR “SMART” project focuses on homologous recombination (HR), a key pathway for DSB repair, exploring its regulation and interplay with chromatin structure and spatial genome organization. Meanwhile, the “ Impulscience” project investigates DNA replication programs, their adaptation during development, and their deregulation in pathological conditions such as cancer. By leveraging innovative technologies and collaborating with leading experts, we aim to unravel how replication stress and DNA repair intersect to maintain genome stability.
By combining insights from these landmark studies with novel high-throughput approaches, our projects will illuminate how the replication and repair machinery coordinates to preserve genome stability. This interdisciplinary effort is expected to yield transformative insights into the molecular underpinnings of diseases like cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Join our team to contribute to transformative research at the interface of molecular biology, genomics, and bioinformatics, paving the way for new insights into genome maintenance and its role in human disease.
 
Bibliographical references

1.     Arnould, C., Nature, 590, 660-665 (2021).
2.     Wang, W., Mol. Cell, 81, 2975-2988.e6 (2021)
3.     Promonet, A., Nat. Commun. 11:3940 (2020)
4.     Gnan, S., Nat. Commun., 13, 2329 (2022)
5.     Vernekar, DV., Nucleic Acids. Res., 49, 4522-4533. (2021)
6.     Emerson, Nature. 606:812–819 (2022)
7.     Li, J., Cell, 186:98-111.e21 (2023)
8.     Liu, Y., et al. Nucleic Acids. Res., gkac1239 (2023)

Constraints and risks  
-          Occasional travel: to attend project meetings, workshops, or conferences with collaborators.
-          Prolonged sitting: Ergonomic accommodation can be arranged to mitigate discomfort.

Profile

Training and Skills required:
-          Applicant (M/F) should hold, or in the process of completing, a PhD degree in biology, bioinformatics, or related areas.
-          Scientific skills:
o    Solid computational/statistical skills,
o    Solid background in molecule/cellular biology,
o    Strong interest in genome biology.
-          Experience:
o    High-throughput sequencing data analysis,
o    3rd generation sequencing (Nanopore sequencing),
o    Lineage tracing analysis is a plus,
o    High-throughput imaging analysis is a plus.
-          Language skills: very good English level (working language) and communication skills.
 
Abilities
-          Ability to work independently, managerial abilities, aptitude for working in a team.
-          The candidate (M/F) should be highly motivated, curious and enthusiastic to work in a collaborative team.
 
All our opportunities are open to people with disabilities
 
Contract information

Type of contract : Fixed-term contract.
Starting date:   January 2025
Duration : 2 years
Working time : full time
Remuneration : according to the current grids
Benefits : Collective catering, reimbursement of transportation fees up to 70%, supplementary health insurance
Location of the position : Paris, 5eme
Reference: NA

Contact
 
Please send your CV, letter of motivation and 3 references,
CVs to be processed on the go, therefore the position could be filled before the deadline for applications.
 
Publication date: 29/11/2024
 
Institut Curie is an inclusive, equal opportunity employer
and is dedicated to the highest standards of research integrity.
            https://euraxess.ec.europa.eu/sites/default/files/brochures/eur_21620_en-fr.pdf