Applications are sought for a Research Assistant during a period of 20 months (starting period: fall 2010) with Dr Mathias L. Richard at the “Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique” to work on the ‘Contribution of cell wall proteins to Candida albicans virulence’. The successful applicant will collaborate with other members of the FINSysB Network [http://www.finsysb.eu/] a team of very competitive partners, with private, academic or clinical background, each bringing their expertise into the project. Each partner is internationally renowned in his or her chosen field and each brings complementary research skills. The consortium is set up to train young students in a collaborative study of the pathogenomics of Candida albicans and the host responses to Candida infections, using in vivo and in vitro models, genomic transcript profiling, advanced mass spectrometric techniques, and modeling of infection-related signaling pathways. An extensive international course program will be part of the training.

In the host laboratory, the applicant will be part of a team focusing on the study of C. albicans cell surface proteins: the GPI-anchored proteins. These proteins are targeted to the plasma membrane and the cell wall of fungi. This surface localization and results from the literature suggest that they play a critical role in sensing and responding to extracellular signals, both biotic and abiotic. We launched a systematic invalidation program of these genes and, based on a preliminary phenotypic analysis of 47 mutants we identified 10 genes with potential phenotypes on the cell wall biosynthesis but also during interaction with the host immune cells. The work of the student will be to decipher in which mechanisms are involved these proteins, with biochemical, cell culture and genetic approaches. He/She will be also asked to performed experiments in the laboratories of other member of the consortium. In this way the fellow will contribute to the FINSysB research program on the ‘Pathogenomics and systems biology of fungal infections – an integrative approach’.

Applicants must conform to the eligibility rules of the European Commission for Marie Curie Initial Training Networks. They must, at the time of recruitment, be in the first four years of their research careers; they can be nationals of any country other than France and they must not have resided in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment. The successful applicant will become integral member of the FINSysB Network, receiving a thorough training in multidisciplinary research and complementary transferable skills.

Please send your application composed of a CV, a covering letter and reference letters to Dr Mathias L. Richard: mathias.lavie-richard@grignon.inra.fr