Several postdoctoral positions are opened at the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) to understand the functional relationship between the 3D organization of the mammalian genome and gene activity. Successful candidates will join a collaborative and interdisciplinary venture between the research groups of biophysicist Thomas Gregor (at Pasteur, starting July 2017) and developmental biologist François Spitz.
GOAL: The dynamic organisation of the genome in time and space plays a crucial role in the functional specification of a cell. In particular the interplay between multiple distant enhancers and their target gene promoters has critical mechanistic consequences on gene activity patterns during cell differentiation and development. By combining state-of-the-art high-resolution live imaging of transcription and enhancer–promoter positions in live mouse embryos with engineered genetic, genomic and epigenetic perturbations, we aim to unravel the mechanisms that organize the folding of genomes in distinct domains, regulate interactions between distant cis-acting elements, and establish the principles that underly the impact of these interactions on gene expression dynamics.
Profile: Candidates will have a strong interest for collaborative and interdisciplinary research. They should have a proven successful track record equipped with one, but ideally a combination of the following skills:
-cell microscopy, single molecule imaging, and computational image analysis
-gene regulation and chromatin analysis
-computational biophysics and modeling
-genome engineering
-mammalian cell and embryo culture
Ability to work in collaboration with members of the lab and international collaborators in a dynamic, diverse and multinational group is essential. English is the working language.
Inquiries regarding the position and specific projects should be addressed to François Spitz (francois.spitz@pasteur.fr) and Thomas Gregor (tg2@princeton.edu). Applications should include a statement of research interests and motivation, a CV, and contact information for three references. Applications will be reviewed as soon as they are received. Funding is available for multiple positions but candidates will be encouraged to apply for independent competitive grants.
