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Located on the international EPN campus (ESRF/ILL/EMBL/IBS), the Institute of Structural Biology (IBS) is a national and international player in the field of integrated structural biology. At the same time a research centre, a technical platform, a reception and scientific training site, the IBS aims to develop research in structural biology, a field of research that is crucial for the understanding of fundamental biological mechanisms. It is based on 12 state-of-the-art platforms. As a joint research unit (CEA-CNRS-UGA) the IBS is composed of 20 research groups, each of these groups offering a multidisciplinary approach, at the frontiers of biology, physics and chemistry, in coherence with 3 research axes. Nearly 300 people work there, researchers, doctoral students, engineers and technicians in a multicultural and international environment. The recruited person will join the Membrane and Pathogens group.

https://www.ibs.fr/fr/recherche/proteines-membranaires-et-glycobiologie/groupe-membrane-et-pathogenes-f-fieschi/

This position is one of 15 doctoral positions in a European doctoral network, called Aureus, whose members are spread across 9 European countries, and which will be operational from 2025 to 2029. The groups involved range from synthetic chemistry and immunology to structural, computational and cellular biology.

In collaboration with 3 others PhDs within the Aureus Network, the structural basis of receptor/ligand complexes will be elucidated. Cryo-electron microscopy for larger complexes will be considered. The fine characterization of binding modes, at the atomic level, will drive the future design of potential drugs that could be used in anti-adhesive and vaccine strategies.

The doctoral candidate will work in collaboration with Universiteit Leiden (ULEI), The Netherlands; National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training Limited (NIBRT), Ireland; Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine (ICL), United Kingdom and Glycodiag (GLYD), France.

This particular PhD project aims to study in depth the recognition of S. aureus by specific receptor proteins, including C-type lectin receptors (CLRs) to obtain more in-depth information on the critical molecular motifs recognized that could be used in certain potential therapeutic strategies.

The capacity of CLRs to recognize molecular motif from S. aureus has been already documented but only for a limited number of CLR and thus it is still a poorly understood aspect of host-pathogen interactions. We have developed expertise in the production of a library of CLRs and the characterization of their interaction with carbohydrate-based motifs from pathogens. Particular attention will be paid to teichoic acids.

• Produce and engineer different proteins, including lectins at different oligomeric states
• Screen and identify the diversity of receptor proteins able to recognize selectively molecular component of S. aureus cell wall (in collaboration with other PhDs, DC1 and DC5 within the European network)
• Characterize proteins interaction with identified ligand investigating their binding affinity and kinetics through biophysical assays, such as ITC, SPR ( and/or BLI)
• Participate in the structural analysis of the complex

• Prior experience in recombinant protein production, biochemistry, biophysics of interaction study (SPR, BLI or ITC) and/or background on structural biology

• Organizational skills

• Fluency in English (level C1 spoken and written)

• Ability to work independently and as a team player in a multidisciplinary environment

• Good communication skills (in the context of a multi-partner project on a European scale)

• Some knowledge of French would be a plus

To be eligible to apply for this position under the European AUREUS project, applicants must meet the following criteria :

• You have not yet obtained (or successfully defended) a PhD
• You have not resided or carried out your main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months during the 36 months immediately preceding your date of entry into service
• Compulsory national service, short-term stays such as holidays and time spent in a procedure for obtaining refugee status are not taken into account
• The research will be done in French or English, however it is expected that the non-French-speaking candidate will strive to learn the basics of French in order to facilitate communication and integration into the laboratory

The PhD candidate will have to perform secondments in other laboratories of the AUREUS Doctoral network for a duration of 3 to 4 months

Salary: €2800 gross per month + €600 gross mobility allowance

Applications must include:

• A cover letter, which includes the motivation for the position and should emphasize the candidate’s strengths regarding the project and the requirements (max 3 pages, font size 12 and single spacing, with figures if necessary). In the cover letter, the applicant should clearly indicate which other project(s), e.g. Project_DC#, the candidate applied to
• An updated CV (max 2 pages)
• The scanned copy of the diploma (usually the Master’s Degree), which formally entitles the applicant to embark on a doctorate degree. In case the Master’s Degree has not been obtained yet at the closing date for application, the candidate has to send a declaration signed by his/her supervisor or from the University stating that the degree will be obtained before the start date of PhD enrollment
• Letter of Recommendation from two appropriate referees or contact details of two references
• Transcripts of records