Temporary position OT-25488
Research Engineer in Molecular Biology and Plant Virology
33140 VILLENAVE D'ORNON
INRAE presentation
The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment (INRAE) is a public research establishment gathering a community of 12,000 people with more than 270 units including fundamental and experimental research, spread out throughout 18 regional centres in France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in agricultural and food sciences, plant and animal sciences, as well as in ecology and environmental science. It is the world’s leading research organisation specialising in agriculture, food and the environment. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, the depletion of resources and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in providing the knowledge base supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions, to address the major global challenges.
Work environment, missions and activities
You will be welcomed in the unit UMR 1332 Biologie du Fruit et Pathologie (BFP). Currently counting slightly over 160 staff members including non-permanent personnel, UMR 1332 BFP is a partnership between INRAE [Divisions of Biology and Plant Breeding (BAP) and Plant Health and Environment (SPE)] and the University of Bordeaux. It constitutes the major pillar of plant biology research in Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Within BFP, you will join the plant virology team (Viro). The multidisciplinary Viro team brings together expertise in plant virology, genetics, molecular and cell biology, biochemistry, metabolomics, metagenomics and bioinformatics. Using a translational approach, we seek to understand the virus diversity, the plant-virus interactions, and the genetic basis of plant responses to virus infections.
Your mission will be to contribute to the EXPLORAE – PATHPHLO project by investigating the molecular mechanisms of phloem-restricted pathogenesis caused by Barley Yellow Dwarf Virus (BYDV). You will develop and apply advanced molecular, proteomic, and imaging approaches to identify virus-host interactions within phloem tissues in cereal crops.
You will be more specifically in charge of:
- Carrying out electron and confocal microscopy, and other imaging techniques, to analyze virus-host interactions and phloem ultrastructural changes upon BYDV infection.
- Conducting proximity labeling (TurboID), protein purification, and validation of protein-protein interactions via co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC).
- Wheat protoplast isolation and transformation to study the impact of gene editing / gene silencing of selected candidate genes on BYDV infection.
Training and skills
Recommended training: Master 2 or PhD in Molecular Biology, Plant Virology, Biotechnology, or Plant Sciences. Proven experience in correlative, electron and confocal microscopy is essential. Strong scientific writing skills are required for producing high-quality research reports and contributing to innovative project proposals. Expertise in planning and executing a range of plant molecular biology and biochemistry protocols is highly valued.
Desired knowledge:
- Electron microscopy and correlative microscopy on plant tissues
- Protein-protein interaction analysis (CoIP, BiFC, Y2H)
- Proximity labeling techniques (TurboID or similar)
- Virus movement in plant vascular system
Appreciated experience:
- Experience with cereal transformation or protoplast manipulation
- Previous work on phloem tissue
- Familiarity with proteomics and mass spectrometry workflows
Skills:
- Rigor and attention to detail
- Ability to work independently and in a team
- Strong organizational and data management abilities
- Good communication skills, both written and oral
- Scientific English proficiency
INRAE's life quality
By joining our teams, you benefit from (depending on the type of contract and its duration):
- up to 30 days of annual leave + 15 days "Reduction of Working Time" (for a full time);
- parenting support: CESU childcare, leisure services;
- skills development systems: training, career advise;
- social support: advice and listening, social assistance and loans;
- holiday and leisure services: holiday vouchers, accommodation at preferential rates;
- sports and cultural activities;
- collective catering.
How to apply
Please send a cover letter and CV.
By email : syed.zaidi@inrae.fr
or
By mail : Syed Shan ZAIDI
UMR 1332 BFP, Viro
71 avenue Edouard Bourlaux, CS 20032
33882 Villenave d’Ornon Cedex
France
All persons employed by or hosted at INRAE, a public research establishment, are subject to the Civil Service Code, particularly with regard to the obligation of neutrality and respect for the principle of secularism. In carrying out their functions, whether or not they are in contact with the public, they must not express their religious, philosophical or political convictions through their behaviour or by what they wear. > Find out more: fonction publique.gouv.fr website (in French)