Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Univ. of Lille/Inserm U1286, France

The team headed by Jean-Luc Desseyn is looking for a candidate for the Marie Sktodowska-Curie Action (MSCA) European postdoctoral fellowship. Details for the call:https://marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-postdoctoral-fellowships-2024

The goal of MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, inter-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships will be open to excellent researchers of any nationality.

Project
The research program is dedicated to women's health to develop knowledge of cervico-vaginal mucus in pregnant and non-pregnant women. The aim is to study the regulation of gelling mucins and the properties/role of mucus in fertility/infertility, as well as mucus abnormalities in susceptibility to premature birth.
The project will mainly use an integrated approach involving transgenic mouse lines, as well as studies using primary epithelial, fluorescent, and KO cells obtained from several mouse transgenic lines of the team.

The candidate will determine the optimal conditions (hormones) for maximum mucin production/secretion. Mucus, with or without changes in mucins and/or composition, will be studied using microrheology methods.

Experiments will aim to determine susceptibility to premature farrowing based on genetic modifications of genes involved in cervical mucus plug formation (modification of porosity for pathogenic bacteria).

Those interested must look at the website of the team: http://lille-inflammation-research.org/en/projects/191-mucus-barrier

The successful candidate undertakes to spend a few days at the beginning of June 2024 visiting the laboratory and presenting the results of his/her PhD and possibly postdoc, as well as attending a 2-day course (5-6 June) at the University of Lille to help prepare the funding application. The cost of travel and accommodation for this stay will be covered up to a maximum of €600 for a candidate from the EU and €1500 for a candidate from outside the EU, with the possibility of additional funding from the laboratory if necessary. The deadline for applicants to submit its full proposal with the Principal Investigator is 11 September 2024.

Essential Requirements
- PhD degree obtained before June 2024.
- Less than 8 years' research experience (full-time equivalent) after obtaining doctorate.
- Not have lived or carried out their main activity (employment, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months during the 3 years preceding the closing date of the call for projects.
- Demonstrated track record of publications and communications relative to opportunity.

Desirable Requirements
- Demonstrated ability to carry out work in microbiology (experimental infection of mice) and/or regulation of gene expression.
- Proven interest in mucus/mucins and/or women's health.

Location
The successful candidate will be based at the Univ. of Lille, France, in the laboratory Infinite located on the campus of the Lille university hospital center. The campus is 5-10 min subway from downtown. Located at the crossroads of Europe, close to Paris (1 hour high-speed train), Brussels and London, Lille is a youthful and dynamic city with close to 107,000 students. It is one of France’s most attractive cities and an exceptional place to live. With its location in a cross-border region, the University of Lille places Europe and the international dimension at the heart of its policy and its actions. Its ambition is to be the leading French university in North-Western Europe. Through a range of integrational and innovative programs and projects, University’s structures are becoming increasingly international. They combine training, research, and high-quality support with a spirit of inclusion and openness to the rest of the world. The international dimension is also a key part of the University’s strategy of inclusive excellence. The University of Lille boasts major research facilities of the highest level: 47 platforms and 10 national research centers. The excellence of its research enhances the University’s reputation far beyond its borders. ULille works with 21 International Associate Laboratories and four International Research Projects alongside a diverse range of partners worldwide. It also shines through its participation in 12 European Research Projects and 10 Horizon 2020-funded projects.