Postdoc (M/F) in molecular biology and biochemistry

Organisation/Company CNRS Department Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule Research Field Chemistry Physics » Biophysics Biological sciences » Biological engineering Researcher Profile First Stage Researcher (R1) Application Deadline 12 Nov 2026 - 23:59 (UTC) Country France Type of Contract Temporary Job Status Full-time Hours Per Week 35 Offer Starting Date 1 Apr 2027 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by a EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No

Spermatogenesis is a complex biological process essential for species survival. One intriguing phenomenon that disrupts this process is sex-ratio (SR) meiotic drive, which alters normal inheritance patterns to bias offspring sex ratios. This mechanism, found in various organisms, manipulates sex chromosome segregation during meiosis, yet its molecular basis remains largely unknown. We study an X-linked (XSR) meiotic drive system, known as the Paris sex-ratio (SR) system, in D. simulans. In males carrying the XSR chromosome, we observe non-disjunction of the sister chromatids of the Y chromosome during meiosis II, resulting in defective spermatids that fail to produce functional sperm. Consequently, XSR carrying males produce strongly female-biased progeny (>90%). The drive is associated with a dysfunctional allele of HP1D2. HP1D2 exhibits three notable features: (1) It belongs to the Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) family, involved in heterochromatin regulation; (2) it originated from a duplication of the autosomal HP1D/Rhino gene; (3) HP1D2 is expressed in spermatogonia and binds the Y chromosome. The goal of this project is to characterize the function of HP1D2 during spermatogenesis and understand its contribution to the Paris SR meiotic drive.

The project comprises three major objectives:

• 1. Characterize the binding sites of HP1D2 on the Y chromosome. The postdoc will develop a CUT&Tag approach in Drosophila testes.
• 2. Identify HP1D2 protein partners. In collaboration with Peter Andersen (Aarhus University, Denmark), the postdoc will establish a TurboID proximity-labeling strategy in Drosophila testes.
• 3. Characterize the phenotypic impact of an HP1D2 knockout. The postdoc will design and generate a HP1D2 knockout line using transgenesis and assess its effects on spermatogenesis.

The Institut de Biologie Intégrative de la Cellule (I2BC) is a joint research unit (CNRS, CEA, and Université Paris Saclay) located on the CNRS campus of Gif sur Yvette. The institute is made up of around sixty research teams divided into five departments, as well as 17 high-level technological platforms. The project will be conducted within the “Intragenomic Conflict and Evolution – EVOGEN” team in the “Genome Biology”department. This 2-year postdoctoral position is funded through an ATIP-Avenir grant.

Research Field Biological sciences » Biological engineering Years of Research Experience None

Additional Information

Eligibility criteria

• PhD in biology (genetics, genomics, evolutionary biology, or related fields).
• Strong interest in molecular biology, evolutionary genetics, and genome regulation.
• A solid background in biochemistry (e.g., protein-protein interactions) is a strong asset. Experience with Drosophila, bioinformatics, or confocal microscopy is advantageous but not required.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Initiative and capacity to lead a research project.

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