Mission/Activities :

The unit of technology and services Photonic BioImaging (UtechS PBI directed by S. Shorte and N. Aulner) is an imaging facility dedicated to the study of infectious, systemic and tumoral diseases. The platform activities encompass imaging consulting, user training as well as multidisciplinary and collaborative research and development activities. The facility has a wide range of state-of-the-art microscope systems suited to adapt to most needs of the scientific community within the Institut Pasteur and beyond. They are maintained by a team comprising seven specialist engineers dedicated to user interaction and quality insurance.

The Imaging and Modeling unit directed by C. Zimmer has developed an open-source 3D super resolution technique based on single molecule localization microscopy (SMLM) method that allows exploring fixed samples at high tissue depth enabled by key optical elements located in the detection path. This technique improves conventional resolution by an order of magnitude in all directions and has already produced encouraging results. Financial support from Region Ile de France (program DIM ELICIT) has opened the opportunity to provision access through the UtechS-PBI, requiring the reliability of the system be demonstrated through meticulous characterization and performance assessment in an ISO 9001 environment. As part of this technological implementation the UtechS PBI team are seeking to recruit another research engineer expedite the work program under the supervision of the Instrumentation R&D lead engineer (E.Esposito). The successful candidate will assure the following activities:

  • Characterization of the SMLM based super-resolution optical system performance in 3 dimensions (X,Y,Z) depending on specific optical elements introduced.
  • Measurement of instrument drift during experimental condition
  • Ensure measurement repeatability and instrument reliability in ISO 9001 certified environment.
  • Redact an acquisition procedure to be used by PBI users wishing to benefit from such a system

 

Profile :

We are looking for a highly motivated Master level Biomedical engineer with interest in Optical instrumentation and physical measurement seeking a first experience in an exciting multidisciplinary environment. The successful candidate would show interest in open source technology and a hands-on approach to problem solving.

Skills required:

  • Good knowledge of biomedical instrument, in particular microscope systems
  • Rigorous in instrumental measurement taking and result presentation
  • Good oral and written skills
  • Fluent written and spoken English essential; basic French highly desirable
  • Team player
  • Computing development skills (Python/Java) would be a strong plus.

 

 

Contract type : Contrat à Durée Déterminée. Fixed contract

Contract duration : 12 month

Working hours: Full-Time

Week-end duties: No

Emergency duties: No

Travelling duties: No

 

Criteres Candidat

Experience level required : 0  to 2 years

Study Level required : BAC + 5 (Master Level)

Specific required certiffication or habilitation: None

Language Skills :                             English  (B2-Operational)

French (B2 Operational)

Position localisation : Paris, France

 

Availability :

Position available as of 1/03/2022

 

To apply : INSTITUT PASTEUR – Ingénieur de recherche – CDD 12 mois H/F

Several postdoctoral positions are opened at the Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) to visualize the topological and functional dynamics of small regulatory pieces of DNA, called enhancers, in the animal genome. Successful candidates will join a collaborative and interdisciplinary venture in the newly formed unit Physics of Biological Function of biophysicist Thomas Gregor.

Presentation of the unit and its research topics:

The Unit for the Physics of Biological Function at Institut Pasteur studies the basic physical principles that govern the existence of multicellular life. A core focus of the lab is to understand biological development–the complex process through which an organism grows from a single cell into a differentiated, multicellular organism–from a physics perspective. As such, we formulate and experimentally validate quantitative models that describe how individual cells interact and organize in order to generate complex life forms. Our main interests lie in:

  • multicellular pattern formation
  • transcriptional regulation in the context of development
  • molecular limits to biochemical sensing
  • emergence of collective behaviors in multicellular system
Description of a representative project:

The dynamic organization 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. We are developing state-of-the- art high-resolution live imaging techniques to resolve multiple enhancers in space and time to correlate the 3D motion of the DNA polymer with gene activity. The challenge is to develop the right imaging modalities that optimize our need for high temporal and spatial resolution, and to image a large field of view with multiple (≥ 4) colors simultaneously. [For more information see: Chen et al. (2016). Direct visualization of transcriptional activation by physical enhancer-promoter proximity. bioRxiv 099523; doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/099523.]

Expected profile of the candidate:

Candidates will have a strong interest for collaborative and interdisciplinary research. They should have a proven successful track record equipped with a combination of the following skills:

  • live-cell microscopy, single molecule imaging
  • microscope design and implementation
  • hard- and software design for microscope control
  • computational image analysis

Ability to work independently and in collaboration with members of the lab and international collaborators in a dynamic, diverse and multinational group is essential. English is the working language.

Contact: thomas.gregor@pasteur.fr 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. Long-term funding is possible upon mutual agreement. Alternative projects that match with the overall goals of the unit can be discussed at the interview stage.

The Institut Pasteur Unit for Technology & Services Photonic BioImaging (UTechS-PBI-Imagopole) is recruiting a full-time permanent faculty level research engineer.

Our large team of some 15-20 scientists and engineers provides scientific services to support research using light-based imaging technologies to study biology in situ. We support mainly the 120 research units of the Institut Pasteur Paris, and external academic and industrial partners.

We are looking for a scientist with experience and training in optics (e.g. physics, biophysics, advanced microscopy, laser spectroscopy, or other related disciplines) to join us a senior scientific engineer able to contribute to all aspects of our activities and especially to R&D.