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Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions Postdoctoral Fellowship in infectiology and multidrug resistant bacteria

Main research fields: Life Science and Chemistry

Research sub-fields: Infectiology, multi drug resistant bacteria, OneHealth, Secondary metabolites.

The University of Tours (France) is looking for talented and motivated postdoctoral candidates interested to apply for the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2023 call.

The supervisors: Emilie Camiade, is a senior lecturer at University of Tours. She is part of the Maternal-Fetal Risk Laboratory (BRMF) of the Infectiology and Public Health (ISP) UMR located at the faculty of Medicine. Since her arrival in the laboratory, she has been developing a theme on the involvement of carbon metabolism in the adaptation of Streptococcus agalactiae to its environment. Recently, this expertise on bacterial metabolism allowed her to be contacted by geological colleagues in order to obtain an APR-IR funding on the implication of environmental bacteria metabolism in the clogging of boreholes with geothermal objectives. Finally, the second big part of her current research activity concerns a project that started at the end of 2018 in collaboration with organic chemist colleagues from the University of Tours on the antibacterial activity of natural phthalide pharmacomodulations.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Emilie-Camiade 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/emilie-camiade-989a2820

Co-supervision: Julien Petrignet is a senior lecturer at the University of Tours. He has been carrying out is research in synthesis methodology and medicinal chemistry in the laboratory “Synthesis and Isolation of BioActive Molecules (SIMBA).
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Julien-Petrignet 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/julien-petrignet/

Project idea: Eco-conception of new antibacterial phthalides and characterization of their bacterial target(s).

The nosocomial pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are resistant to numerous antibiotics, represent a major public health problem that urgently requires the development of new antibiotic molecules. It is in this context that the Synthesis and Isolation of Bioactive Molecules team is developing syntheses of natural phthalides, such as cytosporone E, a metabolite from an endophytic fungus that has shown antibiotic properties. A first thesis work allowed the identification of a chlorinated analog of this natural product (i) inactive against Gram-negative bacteria such as P. aeruginosa, (ii) relatively cytotoxic and (iii) presenting an excellent activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains.
This project will therefore consist in carrying out new pharmacomodulations in green solvents (NaDES) on various positions of the molecule, in order to extend its spectrum of action to Gram-negative bacteria. The antibacterial activities and cytotoxicity of the new analogues will then be determined. Finally, the mechanism of action of the molecule will be determined in S. aureus by searching for its target.

Ultimately, the goal is therefore the eco-designed synthesis of an anti-MRSA and anti-P. aeruginosa antibiotic. The formulation of this antibiotic in a biocompatible green solvent that potentiates the molecule will make it possible to offer treatments in the form of skin cream to treat skin superinfections caused by these bacteria. This project is innovative because it combines the OneHealth approach, the ecological transition and the search for new antibiotic therapies.
For more information about the research project, please contact: emilie.camiade@univ-tours.fr

Requirements: For this research project, the candidate must have a PhD in biology, or preferably in bacteriology. It is essential that he/she has very strong skills in bacteriology, molecular biology and biochemistry. He/she should also have an interest in medicinal organic chemistry in order to be able to be trained in the synthesis of pharmacomodulations of phthalides. He/she should also understand French in order to be able to communicate with the students and other young researchers of the team.
Finally, the candidate will have to integrate two research teams on a transdisciplinary subject combining organic chemistry and bacteriology.

Presentation of the Recruiting Institution: UT is a multidisciplinary university offering high-level education to its 30,000 students. It provides internationally leading research in different fields with its 35 research laboratories and promotes innovation (startups) and scientific advice. UT is the n°1 public research institution in region Centre – Val de Loire in France, gathering more than 1,200 academic staff, 1,290 administrative and technical staff. UT participates in a large number of collaborative projects with regional, national and international public institutions, as well as with companies. UT hosted 3 MSCA fellows under H2020 and Horizon Europe. https://international.univ-tours.fr/

If your proposal is funded, you will carry out your research activities within the Infectiology and Public Health (ISP) joined research unit between INRAE and the University of Tours. https://www6.val-deloire.inrae.fr/infectiologie-santepublique_eng/ 

Position detail:
- Salary: 5669€ (growth amount) + mobility allowance 600€ + family allowance if eligible.
- Duration of the fellowship: 24 months.

Eligibility criteria: The candidate must
- Be in possession of a doctoral degree by September 13th 2023 (candidates who have defended their thesis but are not yet been awarded the doctoral degree are eligible).
- Have maximum 8 years in research from the date of the awarded degree (except for career breaks, experience outside research, maternity leave, compulsory national service and time spend as part of a procedure for obtaining refugee status under the Geneva Convention).
- Not have resided more than 12 months in the country of the recruiting institution in the last 36 months.

Your application must include:

• CV including professional experience, education, organization/participation in conferences, a short summary (approx. 15 lines) for each research project you have been involved in.
• List of publications.
• 2 pages maximum: Your motivations, including the appropriateness of your skills and previous experiences in relation with the proposed research project, your career perspectives and how this fellowship will help you achieve your career goal and the synergies between your competences and those of the supervisors (two-way transfer of knowledge).

Please contact emilie.camiade@univ-tours.fr before sending your application to get more information about the research project.

If you are interested, please send your application to emilie.camiade@univ-tours.fr and julien.petrignet@univ-tours.fr before June 2nd 2023.

Selection procedure: The University of Tours will check the eligibility of your profile. The supervisors will select the most promising candidate.
If you are selected, you will be invited to submit an MSCA PF proposal. The deadline is September 13th 2023. You will benefit from the support of the supervisors to help you write your proposal. The European project officer of UT will also provide guidance for your application (administrative, writing and proofreading of your proposal).

MSCA PF is an EU funded, highly selective, program for postdoctoral researchers. This is an opportunity to be exposed to an international environment, to broaden your network and improve your employability and career prospect. The applicant works on an individual research project. More information about the MSCA PF 2023 Call: https://ec.europa.eu/info/fundingtenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/wp-call/2023-2024/wp-2-msca-actions_horizon-2023-2024_en.pdf