MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND BIOPHYSICS ENGINEER - M/F

Description:

A biophysical structuring initiative jointly coordinated by the IRCAN institute in Nice, under the direction of Dr. Étienne Boulter, and the DyNaMo unit in Marseille, under the direction of Dr. Michael Sebbagh, is funded by Canceropôle PACA. Together, these two regional hubs bring together complementary expertise in cancer biology, biophysics, and mechanobiology to offer a unified and centralized interface providing access to cutting-edge technologies such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), traction force microscopy, and mechanical stimulation. The establishment of this structured ecosystem aims to accelerate interdisciplinary collaborations, strengthen innovation, and position the PACA region as a competitive hub in cancer mechanobiology. The proposed position is based in Marseille (DyNaMo), where the engineer will play a central role in supporting the Nice-Marseille collaboration and in the effective integration of mechanobiology approaches at the regional scale.

Profile sought:

The engineer will coordinate operations by managing the routing of scientific requests, providing support for the implementation of experiments, and ensuring communication, training, and the organization of workflows between partner teams.

Main activities:

• Manage the single interface, receive scientific requests, and perform an initial screening.
• Forward each request to the appropriate expert team or refer complex cases to the steering committee.
• Coordinate interactions and communication between partner laboratories in Nice, Sophia Antipolis, and Marseille.
• Support experimental implementation, including preliminary testing when technological development proves necessary.
• Organize communication and visibility, ensuring that researchers can easily identify available technologies and expertise.
• Structure and maintain workflows, protocols, and standardized operating procedures for all mechanobiology methods.
• Facilitate training and knowledge transfer to user teams to strengthen their autonomy in using AFM, TFM, and other techniques.
• Manage common documentation and data analysis pipelines, notably using powerful tools such as AFM and TFM analysis software.
• Monitor project progress, collect user feedback, and contribute to the continuous improvement of the regional platform.
• Encourage interdisciplinary collaboration by connecting biologists, physicists, clinicians, and engineers to foster innovation.

Associated activities:

• Contribute to ongoing research projects by participating in sample preparation, imaging, or biophysical measurements. Promote the integration of mechanobiology processes between the two sites and contribute to the maintenance, calibration, and routine operational controls of shared devices and experimental systems.

Know-how:

• Strong experimental skills in cell biology and biophysics. Proficiency in immunofluorescence staining techniques, microscopy, and standard molecular biology techniques; experience in histology is appreciated but not mandatory. Ability to analyze, organize, and format experimental data. Good knowledge of AFM, traction force microscopy, or related mechanobiology approaches is a major asset. Ability to implement standardized workflows and ensure compliance with common protocols within partner teams.

Skills:

• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Strong organizational skills, particularly regarding planning and meeting deadlines.
• Good written and oral communication skills in English, adapted to an international working environment.