Post-doctorat en bio-informatique (H/F) : Institute for Integrative Biology, France

Summary

The Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell (I2BC – UMR 9198) is seeking a motivated Postdoctoral Researcher in bioinformatics. This position is part of a French-German collaborative project funded by the ANR aiming to establish a high-level taxonomic classification and functional annotation framework for bacteriophages using co-evolving phage genetic modules (PGM). The selected candidate will apply structural bioinformatics, deep learning frameworks (e.g., AlphaFold, ESMFold), and protein language models to predict and screen biomolecular interactions (protein-protein, protein-nucleic acid, short linear motifs) across phage genomes.

Post-doctorat en bio-informatique (H/F) : exploration des interactions biomoléculaires pour la prédiction de fonction des protéines de bactériophage

Designation

Chercheur en contrat CDD / Postdoctoral Researcher (Fixed-Term Contract)

Job Overview

Research Area

• CNRS Scientific Section / Research Domain: Mathematical, computational, and physical modeling for life sciences (Modélisation mathématique, informatique et physique pour les sciences du vivant).
• Keywords: Structural Bioinformatics, Machine Learning / Deep Learning, Bacteriophage Biology, Macromolecular Assemblies, Protein-Protein / Protein-Nucleic Acid Interactions, Evolutionary Analysis.

Location

• Workplace: Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC), CNRS / CEA / Université Paris-Saclay
• City: Gif-sur-Yvette (91198), Essonne, Île-de-France, France (accessible within one hour from central Paris)

Eligibility & Qualifications

• Education: PhD (Doctorate) in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, Microbiology/Viral Ecology, or a closely related quantitative/biological discipline.
• Technical Skills:
  • Demonstrated experience in scientific data analysis and methodology development.
  • Proficiency in relevant programming languages (Python strongly preferred).
  • Familiarity with distributed computing and High-Performance Computing (HPC) environments.
  • Experience with structural data (protein and RNA structures), biological networks, or statistical modeling is highly desirable.
  • Knowledge of bacteriophage biology is a strong asset.
• Soft & Language Skills:
  • Strong motivation for interdisciplinary research combining computational methods and biology.
  • Autonomy, problem-solving mindset, and ability to collaborate effectively within an international consortium.
  • Fluency in written and spoken scientific English (French language proficiency is not required).

Job Description

Core Responsibilities

• Structural & Computational Modeling: Evaluate modern 3D structure prediction tools (AlphaFold, ESMFold) and biological language models to model phage protein complexes at varying scales (individual modules up to genome-wide screens).
• Challenging Biomolecular Interactions: Refine methods to capture intricate interfaces, including short linear motifs in intrinsically disordered regions and protein-nucleic acid complexes involved in viral replication and recombination.
• Tool Development: Develop statistical and machine-learning workflows, reusable scripts, and scoring metrics to estimate the interaction propensity between pairs of phage proteins.
• Data Integration: Curate and format prediction data for integration into the public viral database repository (VirJenDB).
• Scientific Communication & Team Life: Present findings at consortium meetings and international conferences, write scientific manuscripts, maintain up-to-date literature awareness, and participate in co-supervising students.

How to Apply

1. Go to the official CNRS job portal posting: Portail Emploi CNRS – Offre UMR9198-JESAND-007.
2. Create or log in to your applicant account on the CNRS portal.
3. Click the “Postuler” (Apply) button on the posting page and upload the required application documents (CV, cover letter detailing research interests, and references/recommendation letters).

Last Date to Apply

• Application Deadline: Thursday, September 10, 2026, at 23:59 (Paris Time)

Link