Postdoctoral Position - HIV 1 Innate Sensing (F/M)

About us Institut Imagine is a leading European research center dedicated to genetic diseases, bringing together clinicians, researchers, and patients within a unique translational research environment. Located on the Necker Hospital campus in central Paris, the institute hosts internationally recognized teams working at the forefront of immunology, genetics, and cell biology. Mission The SCInflaNet laboratory, led by Dr. Mickaël Ménager, investigates the molecular mechanisms controlling inflammatory responses using advanced single-cell and multi-omics approaches. Research Project: Lipid Metabolism, Innate Sensing of HIV-1, and Pathways Engaged by Dendritic Cells Dendritic cells (DCs) are critical sensors of viral infection and orchestrators of adaptive immunity. However, HIV-1 has evolved mechanisms that largely evade detection by these cells, limiting antiviral immune responses and facilitating viral spread. Recent work from our laboratory identified an unexpected link between HIV-1 infection, lipid metabolism and type I interferon production in dendritic cells. Building on these findings, this postdoctoral project aims to uncover how lipid metabolic pathways regulate HIV-1 sensing and antiviral immunity. The successful candidate will: • Characterize HIV-1-induced alterations in lipid metabolism and lipid-mediated signaling pathways in human dendritic cells. • Investigate how lipid metabolism influences:

• HIV-1 replication,
• innate viral sensing mechanisms,
• type I interferon responses.

• Employ cutting-edge approaches including:

• lipidomics,
• scRNA-seq,
• scATAC-seq,
• systems biology and computational analyses.

What we offer: • A vibrant and international research environment at Institut Imagine.

• Access to world-class technological platforms, including:
• Single-cell genomics,
• Flow cytometry,
• Advanced imaging,
• Bioinformatics support,
• BSL-3 facilities.
• Strong mentoring and career development opportunities.
• Support for conference attendance, networking, and grant-writing activities.
• Competitive salary according to institutional scales.
• The opportunity to live and work in Paris, one of Europe's leading scientific hubs.

Profile Required qualifications: • PhD in Immunology, Virology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, or a closely related field.

• Strong publication record relative to career stage.
• Experience with primary human immune cell culture (e.g., dendritic cells, macrophages, PBMCs).
• Expertise in molecular and cellular biology techniques such as:
• Flow cytometry,
• qPCR,
• Western blotting,
• CRISPR-based approaches.
• Excellent written and spoken English.
• Ability to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team environment.

Desired qualifications: • Experience in HIV-1 or retrovirology research.

• Experience working in BSL-3 environments.
• Knowledge of lipid metabolism and/or lipidomics.
• Experience with single-cell omics technologies.
• Computational and bioinformatics skills (R, Python, Seurat, Scanpy).

Application procedure: Applicants should submit a single PDF containing:

• Cover letter (maximum 1 page) describing motivation and suitability for the position.
• Curriculum Vitae including publication list.
• Research summary (maximum 1 page).
• Contact information for 2–3 referees (or reference letters).