Postdoctoral position: Probing bacterial antibiotic response using microfluidics
A post-doctoral position is available in the Physical Microfluidics and Bioengineering lab, under the direction of Charles Baroud. The aim of this project is to quantify and understand bacterial response to antibiotics at the single-cell level.
Scientific summary: Our lab has developed a unique suite of droplet microfluidic methods and analysis protocols to measure the growth of small communities from individual bacterial cells [1]. The droplet format allows us to finely control the contents within each droplet, while following the progeny of an individual cell.
More recently we have been probing the ability of cells to survive to sub-lethal doses of antibiotics, and its relation to the SOS response and other DNA repair mechanisms (see image below). Our preliminary data show that it is possible to detect the heterogeneity of outcomes within a monoclonal population of cells, which in turn leads to strong variations in final outcome for the individual colonies.
In this project we would like to understand how certain cells are able to survive in the presence of antibiotics, and what distinguishes these cells from others within the population. For this we will use a mix of microfluidics, quantitative imaging and mathematical modeling, while working closely with microbiologists.
The candidate: The ideal candidate should have a proven track record in biophysics, microfluidics, or other related field. He/she should be comfortable with experiments that involve both physical and biological aspects, while working closely with other group members who bring complementary skills. A desire to work in a multidisciplinary team is a prerequisite.
The research lab: The project will take place at Institut Pasteur in Paris, where our research is focused on understanding the link between the single-cell characteristics and the collective properties that emerge at the scale of a population. The team is currently made up of about 10 physicists, engineers, and biologists, working on 3D cell culture, yeast, and bacterial biology.
The project will be in collaboration with the group of Didier Mazel at Institut Pasteur, who have a long-standing experience with bacterial DNA repair and response to antibiotics.
The position is funded through an ANR grant for 18 months, with a possibility to look for supplementary funding for a successful candidate.
To apply or for further information: Applicants are invited send a CV with a publication list and the names of three referees to Charles Baroud (charles.baroud@pasteur.fr). A cover letter indicating the main achievements in the relevant field is welcome.
[1] See e.g. G. Amselem, C. Guermonprez, B. Drogue, S. Michelin, and C. N. Baroud. Universal microfluidic platform for bioassays in anchored droplets. Lab on a Chip, 16:4200-4211, 2016.