Ingénieur d'études en microbiologie et génétique (M/F)

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Laboratoire de Microbiologie et de Génétique Moléculaires Research Field Biological sciences Researcher Profile Recognised Researcher (R2) Application Deadline 30 Mar 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Jul 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Offer Description

The aim of the project is to characterise the mobile genetic elements that influence the synthesis, biochemistry or regulation of the extracellular capsule and how they can impact horizontal transfers in the enterobacterium Klebsiella pneumonia.

Responsibilities

Identification and validation of genes influencing production of the capsule

• Cloning of regulators and/or capsule synthesis genes in expression vectors
• Quantification of the capsule (biochemically and microscope image analyses)
• Quantification of horizontal transfer

The project will be developed under the scientific direction of Olaya Rendueles (at CBI-Toulouse). It involves identifying and characterising the diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) that modify the capsule. Using comparative genomics, we will screen MGEs for capsule genes and capsule regulatory elements, and identify common genomic signatures of capsule-modifying MGEs. We will then experimentally validate the impact of these MGEs on the capsule production of their host and test whether they act selfishly to limit the absorption of other MGEs, thereby restricting gene flow due to altered capsule production.

Knowledge

• Coding in R for data analysis, classical population microbiology techniques
• Ability to generate mutants in Klebsiella pneumoniae
• Ability to analyse genomic data, including the identification of different mobile genetic elements

Skills

• Proficiency in English
• Writing articles in English
• Implementation and optimisation of molecular genetics protocols

Interpersonal skills

• Interacting positively with team members, respect for others
• Helping team members
• Knowledge transfer