Summary Join the Antigen Evolution & Design Lab at the Institut Pasteur as its first postdoctoral researcher to help define the future of AI-driven antigen evolution and vaccine design. This is a unique opportunity for an early-career scientist to shape a new research program intersecting computational biology, protein language models, structural biology, and immunology.
Postdoc Opportunity: AI-Driven Antigen Evolution at Institut Pasteur, France
Designation Postdoctoral Researcher
Job Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Position | Postdoctoral Researcher |
| Department/Lab | Antigen Evolution & Design Lab |
| Duration | 1-year contract (renewable up to 3 years) |
| Start Date | October – November 2026 (Negotiable) |
| Location | Institut Pasteur, Paris, France |
| Contact | Spyros Lytras (spyros.lytras[at]pasteur.fr) |
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Research Area
Computational Biology, Machine Learning, Protein Language Models, Structural Biology, Virology, and Immunology.
Location
Institut Pasteur, 15th arrondissement, Paris, France.
Eligibility/Qualification
- Degree: PhD in Computational Virology, Computer Science, or a closely related field.
- Timeline: PhD must be awarded before the start of this appointment.
- Experience: No previous postdoctoral experience is required.
- Track Record: Must possess a demonstrated track record of productive research.
Job Description
Main Missions:
- Build and curate large-scale antigen sequence datasets for training and fine-tuning protein language models across clinically relevant pathogens.
- Develop novel computational methods to infer biological function directly from protein sequences, including modeling epistatic interactions and residue-residue contacts.
- Leverage state-of-the-art protein structure prediction tools (such as AlphaFold3, ESMFold, and ESM3) to study antigen evolution and guide protein design.
- Collaborate across multiple interlinked projects and assist in mentoring students and early-career researchers.
- Drive independent, high-impact research while contributing to a vibrant laboratory environment.
Required Skills:
- Familiarity with training and using protein language models (or similar experience with non-protein large language models).
- Expertise in Python and machine learning implementations (e.g., PyTorch). Proficiency in other coding languages (e.g., Julia, C++) is a plus.
- Ability to work well within an interdisciplinary team and alongside external collaborators (molecular biology, immunology, computer science).
Recommended (but not required) Skills:
- Previous experience or familiarity with molecular phylogenetics.
- Prior work on protein sequence data focusing on viruses.
- Experience with protein structure predictions.
How to Apply
To apply, please prepare an application package that includes:
- A Cover Letter
- Your Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Names and email addresses of two professional references
Submit these materials through the online form: Apply here!
For any specific queries regarding the position, you may contact the Principal Investigator, Spyros Lytras, directly at spyros.lytras[at]pasteur.fr.
Last Date for Apply
- Deadline: September 1, 2026 (Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews on a rolling basis, with final interviews expected to take place in September).
