Post-doctorate in synthetic biology and micro-biology

Back to jobs listing

INRAE presentation

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) is a major player in research and innovation. It is a community of 12,000 people with 272 research, experimental research, and support units located in 18 regional centres throughout France. Internationally, INRAE is among the top research organisations in the 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. INRAE’s goal is to be a key player in the transitions necessary to address major global challenges. Faced with a growing world population, climate change, resource scarcity, and declining biodiversity, the Institute has a major role to play in building solutions and supporting the necessary acceleration of agricultural, food and environmental transitions.

Work environment, missions and activities

° You will be working in the Mollicutes team (UMR 1332), a group comprising 13 permanent researchers, lecturers and engineers, 9 technicians, and 9 PhD students and post-doctoral researchers. The Mollicutes team focuses on bacteria belonging to the class Mollicutes, a group of so-called "minimal" bacteria lacking a cell wall and possessing very small genomes, including the animal pathogenic mycoplasmas and the plant pathogenic bacteria phytoplasmas and spiroplasmas. The team's overall objective is to generate fundamental knowledge on the biology and evolution of these bacteria, and the molecular mechanisms governing interactions with their eukaryotic hosts. This knowledge forms the basis for applied developments aimed at controlling the diseases caused by these bacteria, notably on ruminants (mycoplasmas of the mycoides group) and grapevines (Flavescence Dorée phytoplasma).

Among the various aspects of our research is the development of tools to study and genetically engineer Mollicutes, in particular through synthetic biology approaches. One of these approaches is called “Whole Genome Transplantation”. It consists in the replacement of a cell’s native genome (the Recipient cell) by a heterologous genome (the Donor genome) isolated either from another cell or produced synthetically. Whole Genome Transplantation is currently functional for a limited set of Mycoplasma species, and the molecular determinants of a successful transplantation are currently poorly understood.

From February 2026, part of the Mollicutes team will be working on the ANR-funded research project ExEGeSyS: Expression of an Entire Genome in an acellular heterologous System (more information at https://anr.fr/Projet-ANR-25-CE44-4299).

The aim of ExEGeSyS is to further our knowledge of Whole Genome Transplantation, by focusing on the genetic expression occurring when the transplanted Donor genome enters the Recipient cell cytoplasm. To study these phenomena, we propose to perform a set of in vitro experiments called Whole Genome Expression Assay, in which complete Donor chromosome will be incubated in a cell-free extract prepared from the Recipient cells. The genetic expression in the extract will be monitored in both a gene-specific manner (RT-qPCR and Western-Blot) and in a target-agnostic approach using (RNA-sequencing and proteomics by Mass Spectrometry). Strategies to enhance expression will also be explored, including the doping of the extract with recombinant protein and the re-loading of the cell-free extract with the Recipient genome. This project will require the production and optimisation of a functional cell-free extract, prepared from our standard Recipient cell Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum. Whole Genome Expression Assay will be performed using an array of Donor genomes, collected from a set of Mycoplasma species for which Whole Genome Transplantation is known to succeed or fail. 

° As part of this project, you will be in charge of (i) the development, validation and optimisation of the Mycoplasma capricolum subsp. capricolum derived cell-free extract, (ii) performing the Whole Genome Expression Assay experiment, (iii) the identification of the molecular determinants underpinning expression during transplantation 

Work in the L2 containment laboratory

Training and skills

• Recommended training: PhD in molecular biology (or equivalent) or microbiology
• Required knowledge: a strong experience with cell-free expression systems is essential, as well good overall knowledge and prior experience in molecular biology, microbiology, and bioinformatics
• Appreciated experience: omics data analysis, genome engineering
• Skills sought: (i) autonomy, organizational skills, rigor; (ii) team work; (iii) oral and written communication skills; and (iv) good command of English.

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

I send my CV and my motivation letter