A postdoctoral position in mucosal immunology is available in the team " Intestinal infection and immunity" in the research center for immunology of viral infections and autoimmune diseases (ImVA-IDMIT) at the CEA, under the supervision of Dr.Mariangela Cavarelli.

 A focus of our research is the analysis of innate immune responses to HIV and SIV infection and host-pathogen interaction in the gastrointestinal tract, with the ultimate aim to translate our findings into the clinics.The selected candidate will help to shed light on the role played by a population of intestinal mononuclear phagocytes (MNPs) expressing the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 during untreated and treated HIV-1/SIV infection. Those cells have emerged as crucial sentinels for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis and the results obtained by our group indicate that they play a major role in the complex immunological events leading to impaired epithelial barrier, microbial translocation, inflammation and immune activation that characterize HIV-infected subject even under ART treatment. This project will require a wide variety of techniques including multi-parametric flow cytometry, cell culture, transcriptome and microbiota analyses applied to the study of non-human primate cohorts.

We seek highly motivated and enthusiastic postdoctoral fellows, able to work independently with excellent communication skills. Applicants should have a Ph.D. or similar degree in virology, immunology or a related discipline since less than 3 years. Experience in cell processing, culture and flow cytometry is required. Having worked with big data analysis is an asset. Experience with animal models is a plus, but not a requirement.

Langues : Anglais (French optional)

Candidates should send their application including CV, a cover letter including a brief description of research accomplishments and list of publications, a recommendation letter and contact of referees into a single PDF file to Mariangela Cavarelli. (mariangela.cavarelli@cea.fr).