MSCA PhD Fellow (M/F) : Glycocalyx softness and control of bacterial adhesion

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Laboratoire interdisciplinaire de physique Research Field Physics Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 31 Mar 2026 - 00:00 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Sep 2026 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Horizon Europe - MSCA Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The project is a collaborative effort between the teams of Dr Delphine Débarre at the Lab. for Interdisciplinary Physics in Grenoble and of Dr Sigolène Lecuyer at the Physics Laboratory at ENS Lyon. You will be based principally in Grenoble, with secondments in Lyon and other laboratories of the network.Grenoble is the largest city in the French Alps. It is one of the most renowned scientific areas in France, providing a vibrant and collaborative scientific environment. The Laboratory for Interdisciplinary Physics (LIPhy) at the Grenoble Alpes University brings together about 200 researchers in soft matter physics, biophysics, physico-chemistry, biology and optics.

SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for an enthusiastic and rigorous experimental soft matter physicist, physico-chemist, biophysicist or microbiologist with solid experimental skills and a keen interest in multidisciplinary work. Experimental work will include microbiology, surface biofunctionalization, microfluidics and microscopy. Previous experience in one of these fields will be appreciated, good experimental skills in general and a taste for meticulousness are essential. In parallel, interest for soft matter concepts and modelling will be of help to interpret the data. Experience in data analysis (including programming) is a plus.The working language of the team is English: a good level is required, as well as good communication skills to ensure efficient collaboration between the labs. Good time management and planning skills are essential, with a proven ability to meet tight deadlines and to manage competing demands effectively, responsibly and without close support. You should be able to work well both independently and as part of a team, as demonstrated by previous experience.

In addition, the position is in a sector related to the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST) and therefore requires, in accordance with regulations, that your arrival be authorized by the competent authority of the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR).

Applications are invited for a 36 months position as PhD Fellow to work in the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Doctoral Network GLYCOCALYX.

ABOUT THE NETWORK

GLYCOCALYX (glycocalyx.org) brings together 15 leading European partners in a transnational network, implementing a multidisciplinary and intersectorial research and training programme between the academic and industrial partners, to research the self-organisation and barrier functions of the mammalian glycocalyx.Virtually all mammalian cells are covered with a dense and complex coat of sugar chains (glycans) known as the glycocalyx, which is essential for multicellular life. Glycocalyces accomplish critical functions in inter-cellular communication, controlling tissue development, homeostasis and repair, inflammatory and immune responses, neuronal connectivity, and symbiosis with bacteria. However, when dysregulated, they can promote immune diseases, neurodegeneration and cancer. Glycocalyces also act as the first line of defence against pathogens, but some pathogens have evolved to hijack the glycocalyx to promote infection.Despite their importance, mammalian glycocalyces remain the 'dark matter' of biology, under-studied owing to the historical lack of preparative and analytical tools to probe the local molecular composition and transient interactions of molecules within glycocalyces, and missing physics rules to interpret experimental observations.The GLYCOCALYX Network will train 15 PhD Fellows in physics, chemistry and biology methods and concepts required to resolve the dynamic organisation of glycocalyces. The project will establish a new level of understanding of how glycocalyces perform their many selective barrier functions. The PhD Fellows will receive cutting edge scientific training, alongside industry-relevant transferable skills, e.g. to equip them for careers in the medical technology sector and its underpinning research and innovations.

ABOUT THE PHD PROJECT – Glycocalyx softness and control of bacterial adhesion

As MSCA PhD Fellow in Grenoble, you will study how bacteria adhere to model glycocalyces of various physico-chemical properties, and develop analytical models to rationalize your experimental findings.Pathogenic bacteria such as P. aeruginosa sense their biochemical and mechanical environments. We and others have recently demonstrated that surface colonisation by such bacteria is strongly affected by surface elasticities in the kPa range. Conversely, mammalian glycocalyces act as gate keepers controlling pathogen colonisation of endothelia and epithelia, and their extreme softness (1-100 Pa range) may play a key role in regulating bacterial adhesion.How bacterial cells integrate mechanical cues on such soft, fuzzy interfaces is, however, unknown. Using our combined expertise in building well-defined model glycocalyces in microfluidic devices, and in monitoring bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, you will study how the softness of model glycocalyces impacts the early stages of surface colonisation and the onset of biofilm formation.The project will combine molecularly defined glycocalyx models and microfluidics, dynamic optical microscopy, bacterial biophysics, and theoretical modelling of soft matter systems.The aim is to define the key glycocalyx physical properties that regulate bacterial colonisation. This will advance our understanding of the role of a healthy and diseased glycocalyx in the early stages of bacterial infection, and provide new avenues for the design of biomimetic anti-fouling surfaces.You will interact and develop research collaborations with our GLYCOCALYX academic and industrial partners, and in addition you will participate in activities of the Doctoral Network, including attending training courses and work placements at other sites.