3 year post-doc position: Deciphering and correcting developmental trajectories in pediatric cancers using Drosophila

A post-doctoral position in molecular biology is open for recruitment in the “Neural stem cell plasticity” team at the Institut de Biologie du Développement de Marseille (IBDM) to study how genetic programs are deregulated during the initiation of developmental cancers, and how they can be corrected. Recent work by our team and others has shown that pediatric cancers recapitulate the differentiation trajectories observed during embryonic development. However, these differentiation trajectories appear to be aberrantly regulated in the tumorigenic context. In order to understand the underlying causes, a single-cell multiomics approach (scRNA-seq/ATAC-seq) will be implemented on a Drosophila pediatric brain cancer model.

This model organism offers unrivalled knowledge of developmental mechanisms and the power of its genetic manipulation tools. This, combined with computational analysis of the sequencing data in collaboration with Dr Florence Cavalli’s team at the Institut Curie, will enable us to decipher the mechanisms by which genetic programs are deregulated and provide predictions aimed at intervening in the gene regulatory networks (GRNs) responsible for tumorigenesis.

The results will provide basic hypotheses for the treatment of the corresponding cancers in humans, which can be tested by Franck Bourdeaut’s team at the Institut Curie.

The post-doc will benefit from a collaborative framework with the Institut Curie and the scientific environment of IBDM (https://www.ibdm.univ-amu.fr/), a world-renowned institute working on embryonic development and associated diseases.

References:

1. Gaultier C, Foppolo S, Maurange C. Regulation of developmental hierarchy in Drosophila neural stem cell tumors by COMPASS and Polycomb complexes. Science Advances. 2022 May 13;8(19):eabi4529. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abi4529. Epub 2022 May 11. PMID: 35544555
2. Maurange C. Temporal patterning in neural progenitors: from Drosophila development to childhood cancers. Disease Models & Mechanisms. 2020 Jul 22;13(7):dmm044883. doi: 10.1242/dmm.044883. PMID: 32816915; times cited: 13
3. Genovese S, Clément R, Gaultier C, Besse F, Narbonne-Reveau K, Daian F, Foppolo S, Luis NM, Maurange C. Coopted temporal patterning governs cellular hierarchy, heterogeneity and metabolism in Drosophila neuroblast tumors. Elife. 2019 Sep 30;8:e50375. doi: 10.7554/eLife.50375. PMID: 31566561
4. Narbonne-Reveau K, Lanet E, Dillard C, Foppolo S, Chen CH, Parrinello H, Rialle S, Sokol NS, Maurange C. Neural stem cell-encoded temporal patterning delineates an early window of malignant susceptibility in Drosophila. Elife. 2016 Jun 14;5:e13463. doi: 10.7554/eLife.13463. PMID: 27296804

Activities

– Drosophila genetics

– Single-cell RNA-seq/ATAC-seq approaches

– Basic bioinformatics analysis

– Immunolabelling and confocal microscopy analysis.

The progress of the work will be presented regularly in English at team and consortium meetings and at scientific conferences.

Skills

In addition to his/her own motivation and enthusiasm to participate in the advancement of scientific knowledge, the successful candidate will need to have the following skills or experience:

Skills required :

– Mastery of molecular biology techniques

– Solid knowledge of developmental biology, cancer and gene regulation

– Basics in genomic data analysis

– Ability to speak and write in English

Skills appreciated but not required:

– Drosophila genetics

Profile required:

– Recent PhD in molecular biology

– Good communication skills

– Collaborative spirit and ability to work in a team, ability to listen and make suggestions.

– Self-motivated

Working environment

IBDM is located in Marseille on the Luminy Campus, in the heart of the Calanques National Park, and comprises around 240 permanent researchers, lecturers, engineers and technicians and non-permanent staff on fixed-term contracts, post-docs, PhD students and trainees working in 21 research teams and 11 technical platforms and services.

IBDM is a joint research unit under the supervision of the CNRS and the AMU, exploring the field of developmental biology and associated pathologies.

The work will be carried out within the “Neural stem cell plasticity” team led by Cédric Maurange (cedric.maurange@univ-amu.fr).

As the team is made up of several nationalities, English is essential.

Further information

Please send a CV, motivation letter and the contact details of two referees to cedric.maurange@univ-amu.fr