A postdoctoral position is available at INRA Jouy-en-Josas, France to work on the H2020 CHASSY project “Combinatorial metabolic pathway engineering and identification of new targets in the industrial yeasts Yarrowia lipolytica: construction of tailor-made chassis strains”. 

Project details

• The postdoc project will be to engineer metabolic pathways in the yeast Y. lipolytica using synthetic biology tools for construction of tailor-made chassis strains, that are optimized for synthesis of key precursor molecules for commercially-valuable compounds.
• The project also involves identification and characterization of new gene/pathways identified in silico by different partners that can provide advantages to the chassis strains developed.
• The postdoc recruited will be part of the funded European CHASSY project and will work on a collaborative research program with multiple partners across Europe designed to fulfill the overall project goals. This may include research visits to partner laboratories.

About CHASSY

• CHASSY is a new project of academic and industrial partners that will deliver a suite of yeast strains that can serve as platforms for the production of high value oleochemicals and aromatic molecules. This will be achieved by integrating the knowledge gained from systems biology with the engineering tools of synthetic biology, to redesign metabolic pathways in several target yeast species.
• These redesigned strains, or “chassis”, will have optimized levels of core precursors and thus the capacity to act as flexible hosts for biosynthesis of a wide variety of commercially-valuable metabolites.
• The project expects to boost technological innovation for European industries to keep their leadership in the food, feed, fuel, cosmetics and pharmaceutical sectors.
• Furthermore, the project will offer substantial opportunities for additional SMEs in the bio-based sector who wish to develop new microbial cell factories.

Ideal candidate

• A PhD in a relevant discipline.
• Good laboratory skills.
• Good communication, and organization skills.
• Experience in molecular biology and microbiology.
• Ability to work in an international environment.
• Experience with yeasts will be a plus.

To apply:

Please submit a short cover letter and C.V. to Jean-Marc Nicaud (jean-marc.nicaud@inra.fr) and Tristan Rossignol (tristan.rossignol@inra.fr). When applying please include ‘CHASSY – post-doc Application’ in the subject line of your email.

Please contact Dr Jean-Marc Nicaud (Head of the Bimlip Team) or Dr Tristan Rossignol for more information.