Postdoc position (ERC funded), Cell Death and Epithelial Homeostasis lab, Institut Pasteur Paris

Our research group (Cell Death and Epithelial Homeostasis) located in Institut Pasteur (Paris, France) in the department of Developmental and Stem Cell Biology is seeking a postdoc that will be covered by an ERC CoG (initially for 2 years,  can be extended up to 4.5 years), ideally to start in the fall of 2024.

Our group is interested by the fine tuning of cell death in epithelial context using Drosophila as a model system (https://research.pasteur.fr/en/team/cell-death-and-epithelial-homeostasis/). We use a wide range of live imaging technics, live sensors, optogenetic, image analysis (including machine learning assisted cellular event recognition) and modeling to dissect quantitatively the feedback fine tuning cell death. Our pojects are currently focusing on studying the impact of mechanical stress on apoptosis regulation, the role of apoptosis in the fine tuning of tissue growth and morphogenesis, the coupling between proliferation and death, the coordination of cell extrusion by caspases and the fine tuning of epithelial cell death decision downstream of caspase activation. The current position will focus on the identification of new parameters regulating the engagement in cell death downstream of caspase activation combining optogenetic based screening and correlative analysis and study its potential impact on cell competition (related to our ERC Project https://research.pasteur.fr/en/project/erc-consolidator-grant-prapedoc-predicting-apoptosis-engagement-downstream-of-caspasese/ ).

We are looking for a candidate with good knowledge in cell and developmental biology, good expertise in live imaging and a clear taste for manipulating quantitative data. Basic knowledge in coding is a plus but not mandatory. There is no requirement for past experience with Drosophila.

The applicant will join a dynamic and supportive group that promotes healthy work life balance, with members coming from various backgrounds, and located in a collegial and vibrant department. The application will also get direct technical support from the various platforms in Pasteur and engineers dedicated to image analysis in the group and the department.

If you are interested, please, send a single pdf document with CV, cover letter, and reference contact to [email protected] (with the subject “postdoc application”).

Relevant references:

Matamoro-Vidal, A., Cumming, T., Davidovic, A., and Levayer, R. Patterned apoptosis modulates local growth and tissue shape in a fast-growing epithelium. Current Biology 34, 1-13, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.12.031 (2024)

Cumming, T and Levayer, R.Toward a predictive understanding of epithelial cell death. Sem Cell Dev Biol  156, 44-57. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.semcdb.2023.06.008. (2024).

Villars, A., Letort, G., Valon, L. & Levayer, R. DeXtrusion: automatic recognition of cell extrusion through machine learning in vivo. Development 150 (13) doi: https://doi.org/10.1242/dev.201747 (2023).

Villars, A., Matamoro-Vidal, A., Levillayer, F. & Levayer, R. Microtubule disassembly by caspases is an important rate-limiting step of cell extrusion. Nat Commun13, 3632, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-31266-8 (2022).

Herbert S.*, Valon L.*, Mancini L., Dray N., Caldarelli P., Gros J., Esposito E., Shorte S.L., Bally-Cuif L., Aulner N., Levayer R., Tinevez J.Y., LocalZProjector and DeProj: a toolbox for local 2D projection and accurate morphometrics of large 3D microscopy images., BMC Biol 2021 Jul; 19(1): 136, doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12915-021-01037-w (2021).

Valon, L., Davidovic A., Levillayer, F., Villars, A., Chouly, M., Cerqueira-Campos, F., & Levayer, R. Robustness of epithelial sealing is an emerging property of local ERK feedback driven by cell elimination. Developmental Cell56, 1-12. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.devcel.2021.05.006 (2021).

Moreno, E., Valon, L., Levillayer, F. & Levayer, R. Competition for Space Induces Cell Elimination through Compaction-Driven ERK Downregulation. Current Biology, 29, 23-34 e28, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.11.007 (2019).