Research Engineer in Immunology and Virology

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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 join the Immunocare team within the BIOEPAR joint research unit (INRAE–Oniris), which specializes in infectious diseases of farm animals and their impact on animal health and livestock production systems.

The team comprises two research groups focusing on respiratory health in pigs and cattle, respectively. It develops innovative approaches to better understand interactions between pathogens and the immune system, with the aim of improving disease prevention and vaccination strategies.

The successful candidate will join the group led by Dr Nicolas Bertho, comprising two INRAE researchers, one academic researcher/lecturer, one assistant engineer and one PhD student. The position will be under the scientific supervision of Dr Pauline Maisonnasse, the project leader.

The FluOrganoVax project aims to reproduce ex vivo the immune responses induced in porcine lymph nodes following vaccination, with the goal of developing a predictive model for assessing vaccine formulations without systematically relying on animal experimentation. The project is conducted in collaboration with Lisa Chakrabarti’s team and Samy Gobaa’s Organ-on-Chip Platform at Institut Pasteur, as well as CEVA Santé Animale. The research engineer will work closely with a postdoctoral researcher based at Institut Pasteur, who will develop an organ-on-chip model using the same cells. Both approaches will be developed in parallel and compared to build an innovative vaccine-evaluation platform.

This position offers the opportunity to contribute to an ambitious collaborative project at the interface of immunology, virology, organ-on-chip technology and vaccine development, within a network bringing together academic and industrial partners. It is suited to someone keen to lead experimental work independently while collaborating closely with team members on a daily basis.

 

Main responsibilities

• Develop an ex vivo porcine lymph node model:
• Establish and optimize the model and culture conditions.
• Standardize experimental protocols.
• Characterize the model’s cellular composition and immune responses using:
• Spectral and/or conventional flow cytometry, including panel development for myeloid cells and lymphocytes.
• Confocal microscopy.
• ELISpot assays (to be established in the laboratory).
• ELISA for antibody and cytokine measurements.
• Virus neutralization assays.
• Analyse and present data: statistical analysis, interpretation, graphical presentation and scientific writing.

 

Analysis and dissemination of results

• Contribute to experimental study design.
• Analyse experimental results.
• Present findings internally and externally.
• Contribute to scientific publications as a co-author (potentially as first author, depending on involvement).

Laboratory activities

• Comply with laboratory hygiene, safety and quality procedures.
• Contribute to the day-to-day organization of the laboratory.
• Potentially supervise Master’s students, depending on project progress.

Work in a biosafety level 2 (BSL-2) laboratory. No direct animal handling, but work with fresh porcine tissue and blood samples. Occasional travel to Paris may be required, as well as attendance at national and international scientific meetings and conferences.

Training and skills

Education : 

• Five to eight years of higher education (Master’s to PhD level) in biology, biotechnology, immunology, microbiology, virology or a related discipline.
• Preferred qualification: Master’s degree, engineering degree or PhD.

 

Essential skills

• Hands-on experience in cell culture.
• Experience with ELISA techniques.
• Substantial experience in flow cytometry (spectral flow cytometry is an advantage).
• Knowledge of immunology and virology.
• Ability to present results in French and English.
• Good understanding of biosafety laboratory procedures.

Desirable skills

• ELISpot assays.
• Virus neutralization assays.
• Porcine immunology.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (R, FlowJo or equivalent).

 

Personnal qualities : 

• Independence, initiative and scientific rigor.
• Team spirit and strong interpersonal skills.
• Interest in methodological development.
• Ability to troubleshoot experimental problems.
• Interest in the interface between immunology and virology.

 

Other

• A category B driving licence would be an advantage.

INRAE's life quality

• Integration into a dynamic, close-knit team.
• A stimulating scientific environment combining fundamental and applied research.
• Opportunities to acquire and develop skills in immunology, virology and molecular biology, including training.
• Interaction with researchers, academic staff, engineers and PhD students.

The opportunity to contribute to research addressing major animal health challenges

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