- Dr. Laurent Martinez, team leader at the Institute of Metabolic and
Cardiovascular Diseases (Inserm / University of Toulouse), invites
expressions of interest from excellent post-doctoral researcher to
apply or Marie Skłodowska-Curie – Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)
scheme with the Inserm as the host organization.
- The project of the LiMitAging team (Lipoprotein and Mitocchondial adaptation in Aging) is
to study the relation between some actors of mitochondrial functions
and aging, and is driven by the hypothesis that enhancing mitochondrial
health and mitochondrial quality-control mechanisms will promote healthy
aging.
- The team's research in the field of lipoprotein and mitochondria
led to identify original actors associated to lipid and mitochondrial
energy metabolism.
- Our objectives are to explore the physiological and pathophysiological roles of those molecular actors that regulate:
- The respiratory chain complex V, also called ATP synthase;
- Autophagy, particularly mitophagy;
- Ectopic ATP synthase and G protein-coupled P2Y receptors signaling pathways
- Team's work has led to the development of original drug candidates
and biomarkers that are currently being validated on preclinical models
and cohorts, to be used for early detection and resolution of
mitochondrial dysfunctions in pre-frail individuals or in population at
high risk of cardiometabolic diseases.
- The selected candidate will be invited co-writing a project aiming
to explore the regulation and function of the mitochondrial ATP
synthase in the aging process by itself and in one specific age-related
disease, choosen according to the candidate's expertise.
Duration
- Up to 3.5 years: a first 18-month national Fellowship is garantee
and will allow to start as soon as October 2021 and to apply twice to
the 2-year MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships (Sept. 2021 and Sept 2022 if
first application is rejected but has received a score above 70%).
Eligibility
- We are looking for candidates holding a PhD in biology (see eligibility criteria and formal requirements sections)
Desired qualification:
- Strong academic credentials and previous publications
- Experience with aging biology and cellular senescence
- Experience with mitochondrial metabolism
- Experience with any specific disease or organ dysfunction.
Personal qualities
- Personal suitability, good communication and teamwork skills,
inventiveness, and a proactive approach, will be emphasized in the
evaluation as well as relevant practical experience. The Postdoctoral
Fellow will be expected to contribute to an active research community
that promotes the personal and professional growth.
- The position places great demands on the applicant’s capacity for
independent goal-oriented work, ability to concentrate and attention to
detail.
- In return, we offer the opportunity to contribute to the strategic
capabilities of a world-class research organization. The Postdoctoral
fellow will collaborate with top scientists in your field and have
excellent prospects for personal development in an innovative working
environment for aspiring researchers.
- Applicants will be assessed on the basis of academic background and
results, attainment, and any previous research and development work.
Eligibility criteria
- The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships provide living allowance covering
one to two years' salary, a mobility allowance, as well as research,
training and networking costs and overheads for the host institution.
The applicants submit proposals for funding jointly with the host
organisation (Inserm). The MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship proposals are
evaluated on their research quality, the researcher's future career
prospects, and the support offered by the host organisation. All area of
health research and technological development are eligible for funding.
Formal requirements for the applicants at the date of the call deadline:
- A doctoral degree (PhD) by the time of the call deadline (Sept. 15, 2021)
- All nationalities
- At the call deadline, the applicant must have a maximum of 8 years
full-time equivalent experience in research, measured from the date that
the applicant was in a possession of a doctoral degree
- The applicant cannot have resided or carried out his/her main
activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the beneficiary
(France) for more than 12 months in the last three years immediately
before the call deadline
- Only one proposal per individual researcher may be submitted to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships call
- The research proposal is written jointly with the host organisation (LiMitAging Inserm Team)
About the host institute and research environement
- The Institute of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases (I2MC) is
recognized for its translational research in the field of metabolic
(obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemias) and cardiovascular (thrombosis,
atherosclerosis, cardiac and renal failure) diseases.
- Currently, the I2MC is composed of 11 research teams.
- The teams share a similar "research philosophy" consisting in
multidisciplinary approaches from basic science to clinical trials. In
terms of basic research, the laboratories have a large expertise in
membrane and intracellular receptors, cell signaling, metabolic
pathways, cell/cell interactions and the mechanisms of tissue
remodeling. To establish the pathophysiological relevance of the results
obtained in basic research, I2MC teams have created original animal
models and phenotyping techniques that have gained national recognition
and are one of the highlights of the Institute. Translation to the
clinic is greatly facilitated by the location within the Rangueil site
of Toulouse University Hospitals. Notably, clinical departments devoted
to nutrition, cardiovascular and renal diseases, obesity and diabetes
are in close vicinity of I2MC. It helps the involvement of a large
number of MD-PhD to the scientific activity of the laboratories. More
than 25 clinical research protocols coming from original research
obtained by I2MC teams have been performed during the last three years.
- The industrial valorization of the research is another strength of
I2MC. Numerous structured collaborations are ongoing with industrial
partners, from SMEs to big pharmas. I2MC research directly contributed
to the creation of 4 start up companies.
- I2MC offers scientists a diverse set of competence through its 7
core facilities (Lipidomics, Imaging, Bioinformatics, Functional
Biochemistry, Cytometry, Histology, Genomics &
Transcriptomics). These Facilities are central to the scientific
development of I2MC and a major asset in terms of recognition.
The research topic's links to the research environement in Toulouse:
- The LiMitAging team participates in the large regional Inspire
program on healthy aging, launched in 2019. The Inspire consortium
brings together the Gérontopôle of the Toulouse University Hospital and
several research laboratories which have decided to combine their
expertise to address key biological components (immunity, inflammation,
metabolism, repair mechanisms) present in all organs, essential for
their functioning and altered during aging.
How to apply?
- Submit your expression of interest via e-mail to laurent.martinez@inserm.fr including a single pdf file consisting of:
- Motivation letter (max 1 page)
- CV (max 4 pages)
- Summary of the project idea (max 1 page)
- Deadline for submissions: 21 May 2021.
- Candidates for further interactions will be pre-selected following
an internal evaluation. The candidates will be informed of the
pre-selection results no more than two weeks after the deadline. All the
selected applicants will be supported by the Inserm research services
in preparing the final proposals.
- For more information, please contact Laurent.martinez@inserm.fr