Optimizing molecular fluorophores for biochemical applications and super-resolution imaging thr[...]

Organisation / Company Université de Strasbourg Laboratory UMR 7021 - LBP Is the Hosting related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Keywords: Fluorophore photophysics; Biophotonics; Biomolecular interactions; Biochemical mechanisms; Super-resolution microscopy; Single-molecule localization microscopy; Advanced optic instrumentation

Offer description: We express our intention to host a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellow within the Biophotonics of Molecular and Cellular Interactions team (BIMC, UMR 7021) for an interdisciplinary research project at the interface of physics, chemistry, and biology. The fellowship will be supervised by Dr. Elisa Bombarda, whose expertise lies in the thermodynamics, molecular kinetics, and conformational dynamics of biomolecules studied using fluorescence spectroscopy and complementary biophysical techniques. The research will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Mayeul Collot (UMR 7199), a leading expert in the development of molecular and nanostructured fluorescent probes responsive to biochemical and cellular environments.

This project aims to develop and apply quantitative fluorescence-based methodologies to characterize long-lived triplet, redox, and other non-emissive (“dark”) states of fluorophores, in order to elucidate the blinking mechanisms of photoconvertible probes synthesized in Mayeul Collot’s team. These mechanistic insights will enable the rational optimization of such dyes and support their application in super-resolution and quantitative imaging, particularly single-molecule localization microscopy (SMLM). The postdoctoral researcher will benefit from the access to the Quantitative Imaging Platform hosted within the BIMC facilities, which includes state-of-the‑art commercial and custom-built instrumentation and is part of France and Euro-BioImaging infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in physics and a keen interest in exploring the chemical properties of fluorophores to address biologically relevant questions.

The host environment offers an exceptional interdisciplinary training framework, combining biophysical investigations, photophysics, instrument development, probe design and advanced imaging, with strong academic and industrial visibility.

Who can apply?

Researchers of any nationality who:

• Have completed a PhD or will complete it at the date of the call deadline (September 2026).
• Have a maximum of 8 years full-time equivalent experience in research at the time of the call deadline.
• Have not resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in France for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the call deadline.

Beware that applicants who have applied to the MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship 2025 call and received an evaluation below 80% are not eligible for an application in 2026.

How to apply?

We encourage all motivated and eligible postdoctoral researchers to send their expressions of interest to the supervisor’s e‑mail address before 24th April 2026.

Your application shall include:

• a CV (5 pages max),
• a cover letter outlining your research background and its synergies with the supervisor’s field and/or the proposed research topic.

Estimated timetable:

• Deadline for sending an expression of interest: 24th April 2026
• Selection of the applicant: May 2026 at the latest