Post-Doctoral Position in Oncology Biology

Sanofi, Gustave Roussy, Inserm, Institut Polytechnique de Paris and the University of Paris-Saclay are committed to developing personalized medicine in France through a patient-centered oncology cluster – the Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster. The Paris Saclay Cancer Cluster, a center bringing together key players in oncology innovation.

The primary objective of the project is to identify novel therapeutic targets for which no pharmacological agents currently exist, with a specific focus on targets whose inhibition could prevent or delay therapy resistance. This innovative translational resistance program aims at tackling residual disease by targeting the rare drug tolerant persister cancer cells with a specific focus on lung cancer treated by TKI (EGFR, ALK).

The successful candidate will work on the generation of Spatial transcriptomics and their integration with multi-omics data, including Single-cell (scRNA-seq, scATAC-seq, scDNA-seq) as well as bulk RNA-seq and WES/WGS data.

The candidate will lead spatial mapping data analysis both from patient samples and PDX models derived from biopsies of lung cancer patients treated with TKI collected both before, during and after therapy to capture cancer cell heterogeneity and understand the impact of the tumor microenvironment (TME) on the development of drug resistance.

Furthermore, the candidate will play a critical role in identifying molecular signatures and key drivers of bypass signaling pathways in rare drug-tolerant persister cancer cells. This work will involve close collaboration with bioinformatician postdoctoral researchers, who are actively conducting Single-cell omics components of the project.

In this exciting role as a part of the R&D (SANOFI) the candidate will be embedded within U981 INSERM Unit in Gustave Roussy. In this hands-on role the successful candidate will work to design highcontent experiments, to manage data, and to use advanced analytical techniques to identify new targets, treatments combinations and data-driven biomarkers for lung cancer.

Main responsibilities:

• He/she will perform Spatial transcriptomics technologies on FFPE samples from patient biopsies and PDX collected before, during and after TKI therapy.
• He/she will participate in their integration with multi-omics data to identify genes involved in tolerance and resistance to TK inhibitors;
• He/she will perform spatial mapping data analysis to capture cancer cell heterogeneity and understand the impact of the TME on drug resistance;
• He/she will complete the hypothesis validation such as in vitro, in vivo drug treatments and over/down regulation experiments.
• Apply scientific expertise and judgement to interpret and present results, in order to support research projects;

• Publish/present findings in peer-reviewed journals/scientific conferences.

About you:

Educational requirements:

• Ph.D. in cellular, molecular biology or related fields, obtained no more than 3 years ago.

Skills that you have (mandatory):

• An ideal candidate will be collaborative, self-directed and possess the following competencies;
  • Strong experience in tissue processing;
  • Strong expertise in spatial transcriptomics technologies;
  • Prior expertise in oncology, immune-oncology or immunology;
  • Strong experience in biochemical, cellular and molecular biology techniques;
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills;
  • Fluent in English (writing and speaking);
  • The candidate must demonstrate dynamism, autonomy, excellent communication and organization skills, rigor and agility, strong interpersonal skills, and team spirit;
  • Ability to work transversally across sites and functions.

Skills that you could improve in this new position (to develop):

• Contribution to multi-disciplinary collaborations;

Skills that you could offer in addition (nice to have):

• Extensive experience working with genetics data is a plus;
• Experience with machine learning/deep learning techniques is a plus;

CONTACT

Please submit a cover letter summarizing your past experiences and CV including the names and contact information of 2 references via email to Luc Friboulet and Christophe Marcireau.

luc.friboulet@gustaveroussy.fr

christophe.marcireau@sanofi.com